Logo for awards program on green background

2021 State and Territory Landcare Award

Nominations are now closed for the 2021 State and Territory Landcare Awards which recognises individuals, communities, and community groups across the country for their outstanding contributions to preserving the unique Australian landscape. The Landcare Awards support the sharing of knowledge and achievements while promoting leadership and resilience in communities. The Landcare Awards are proudly supported by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program, Australian Community Media, KPMG Australia, Steadfast and Woolworths.

 

Thank you to our sponsors for your support of the following eight National Landcare Award categories:

  • Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award
  • Australian Government Partnerships for Landcare Award
  • Australian Government Landcare Farming Award
  • Coastcare Award
  • ACM Landcare Community Group Award
  • Woolworths Junior Landcare Team Award
  • KPMG Indigenous Land Management Award
  • Steadfast Young Landcare Leadership Award
  • See below for additional awards offered in ACT, SA and VIC

2019 State & Territory Landcare Awards events have been taking place across the country to celebrate the impressive achievements in the Landcare community.

Landcare has played a leading role in changing Australia’s approach to sustainable agricultural practices, environmental protection, conservation of land and waterways, coastlines, biodiversity and landscapes.

The 2019 State & Territory Landcare Awards profiles individuals and groups from urban and rural communities who are working together to care for our country.

From the coast to the country, and from cities to the outback, Landcare’s greatest asset is its people – all motivated by a shared vision to restore and protect the environment in their local community.

69 Landcare champions for nine national award categories have been announced in VictoriaNorthern Territory, Western AustraliaTasmania, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and Australian Capital Territory.

Winners of the 2019 State & Territory Landcare will go forward to be finalists in the 2021 National Awards in Sydney on Thursday 5 August 2021.

Due to COVID-19, the 2020 National Landcare Awards will now take place in 2021. The 2021 State & Territory Landcare Awards Program will be launched after March 2021.

Congratulations to the following 2019 State & Territory Landcare Award winners:

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About the awards

Landcare is a grassroots movement of groups and individuals across Australia with a shared vision to protect, enhance or restore the natural environment in their local community through sustainable land management and conservation activities. Landcare enables people to actively care for the natural environment in their community. For more than 30 years, landcare has evolved to become one of the largest volunteer movements in Australia. There are thousands of people and countless communities working together towards sustainable land use and undertaking on-ground action to protect, enhance or restore an area on behalf of the community. The landcare model has been so successful it has been adopted in over 20 countries.

From the coast to the country, and from urban cities to the outback, landcare’s greatest asset is its people. With over 6,000 groups and 100,000+ volunteers, the landcare movement is diverse and encompasses farmers and farming systems groups, landowners, Landcare groups and networks, Traditional Owners, Bushcare and ‘Friends of’ groups, Coastcare, Dunecare and Rivercare groups, Landcare facilitators and coordinators, youth groups and other community groups involved in protecting, enhancing or restoring their local environment. The Junior Landcare program provides a pathway for children to become lifelong landcarers starting with early learning childhood centres through to primary and secondary schools.

Landcare activities deliver a diverse range of positive environmental and community outcomes. These include the environmental protection, enhancement and conservation of land, water, waterways and coasts, natural habitat restoration to enhance biodiversity, building resilience in Australia’s food and farming systems, and helping create social cohesion and wellbeing in communities.

Faced with the devastation of the Black Summer bushfires, the impact of the drought and floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic, Landcarers across the country have rallied in the wake of unparalleled challenges. Landcarers have been locally active rebuilding communities with on-ground projects including habitat restoration for threatened species, bushland regeneration, wellbeing and mental health activities, as well as engaging volunteers who want to contribute.

The 2021 State and Territory Landcare Awards is an opportunity to celebrate and honour Landcare champions from urban and rural communities excelling in sustainable agricultural practices, environmental protection, conservation of land and waterways, coastlines and biodiversity.

Winners of the 2021 State & Territory Landcare Awards will go forward as nominees for the 2022 National Landcare Awards to be held in Sydney on Wednesday 24 August 2022, during the 2022 National Landcare Conference. The National Landcare Awards ceremony also includes the presentation of the 2022 Bob Hawke Landcare Award and the 2022 General Jeffery Soil Health Award sponsored by the Australian Government.

Nominating is easy. If you know an individual, group or organisation in your community making a difference to the environment and sustainable land use, nominate them for a Landcare Award.

The 2021 State and Territory Landcare Awards are proudly support by the Australian Government’s the National Landcare Program, Woolworths, ACM and KPMG.

Who can be nominated?

Landcare Australia encourages nominations from groups, networks, organisations and individuals involved in protecting and improving their local environment. They include:

  • Sustainable farmers and farming systems groups
  • Indigenous land and sea managers
  • Landcare networks, groups and individuals
  • Urban landcare groups including ‘Friends of’ and bushcare groups
  • Coastcare, Rivercare, Dunecare groups and individuals
  • Environmental community groups
  • Natural resource management agencies
  • Landcare facilitators
  • Local government
  • Research agencies
  • Agricultural co-operatives, industry associations, suppliers or individual primary producers
  • Junior Landcare (including day care centres, primary and secondary schools)
  • Youth groups including Scouts and Girls Guides.

Please see the nomination criteria for each award category.

Nomination opening & closing dates

Landcare Australia supports the Landcare Award Coordinators in every state and territory to deliver the awards promotion campaign and events, they include Landcare peak bodies and government agencies.

Every state and territory select the open and closing dates for nominations, and the Landcare Award event date. Following are the opening and closing Landcare Award nomination dates for each region:

 

  Opens Closes
ACT May 1, 2021 Aug 16, 2021
NSW May 3, 2021 Oct 31, 2021
NT Sep 20, 2021 Dec 18, 2021
QLD Apr 26, 2021 Nov 30, 2021
SA Apr 26, 2021 Dec 6, 2021
TAS Jun 1, 2021 Aug 24, 2021
VIC Apr 26, 2021 Jul 11, 2021
WA Jun 15, 2021 Sep 12, 2021

 

All nominations close at 11:59pm on their respective closing dates.

2021 State and Territory Landcare Awards Event Dates
Date Awards Event
Saturday 2 October, 2021 Tasmania Landcare Awards
Friday 19 November, 2021 WA Landcare Awards
Friday 26 November, 2021 Victorian Landcare Awards
Saturday 19 February, 2022 Queensland Landcare Awards
Thursday 10 March, 2022 Australian Capital Territory Landcare Awards
Wednesday 16 March, 2022 New South Wales Landcare Awards
Wednesday 30 March, 2022 Northern Territory Landcare Awards
Monday 31 March, 2022 SA Landcare Awards

 

* Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award

About the Category

The Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award acknowledges the significant contribution made by an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to landcare. There are many people who, through their actions, have had a positive impact on improving land management practices through practical on-ground activities, and/or by creating awareness of landcare in their local community.

 

Who can be Nominated

Nominations are open to an individual who may be a farmer, landowner, Landcare facilitator or coordinator, Traditional Owner, teacher, or a volunteer from or member of a Landcare group/network or any other environmental care group.

 

Selection Criteria:

  1. Describe who is being nominated. Please include how long they been involved, why they got involved and the location of the project.
  2. Describe what the individual has done and why they should be recognised as an outstanding Landcarer, include any key challenges the nominee has faced and the strategies used to overcome them.
  3. Describe how the individual has implemented landcare activities in their local area or region; include how they have encouraged others in the community to be involved (e.g. by speaking about landcare to schools, training, workshops, media promotions, creating partnerships with groups, councils, Indigenous land managers, local businesses and natural resource management organisations etc).
  4. In 25 words (2-3 sentences), please summarise your nomination, highlighting the key messages that best describe why this individual should be recognised for outstanding achievements to landcare.

 

logo for Australian Government National Landcare Program

* Australian Government Partnerships for Landcare Award

About the Category

The Australian Government Partnerships for Landcare Award acknowledges a partnership of individuals, groups, networks, or organisations that has demonstrated leadership and achievement in landcare-related activities as a result of the partnership.

 

Who can be Nominated

Nominations are open to partnerships that include Landcare groups/networks groups, natural resource management regional organisations, other government agencies, research organisations, local government, environmental groups, farmers, landowners, community groups, schools and youth groups.

 

Selection Criteria:

  1. Describe who is involved in the landcare partnership that you are nominating; including how the partnership has involved other groups/networks or programs in landcare activities as a result of the partnership (e.g. these may include other agencies, businesses, organisations, neighbours, schools and community groups).
  2. Describe why the partnership was formed, the issues it is addressing and what it has achieved; describe any key challenges the partnering nominees have faced and the strategies used to overcome them.
  3. Describe how the partnership has led to outstanding natural resource management outcomes including the benefits to the community impacted by the landcare project; provide a maximum of three examples only of how the partners have worked together and provide simple supporting documents (e.g project plan, communications plan, community engagement strategy, environmental plan, media reports, testimonials and any other supporting documents that will support the submission); consider including a letter of support from a Landcare group/network that acknowledges how the partnership has involved them to improve capacity and increase participation in on-ground projects.
  4. In 25 words (2-3 sentences), please summarise your nomination, highlighting the key messages that best describe why this partnership should be recognised for outstanding achievements to landcare.

 

logo for Australian Government National Landcare Program

* Australian Government Landcare Farming Award

About the Category

The Australian Government Landcare Farming Award acknowledges an individual, group, network or organisation that has demonstrated excellence and leadership in implementing sustainable and integrated land management practices on a farm property, or properties, that protect soils, water, vegetation and biodiversity. The award also recognises practices that deliver improved natural resource management and farm productivity outcomes.

 

Who can be Nominated

Nominations are open to farmers, Landcare groups/networks, farming systems groups, primary producers and/or farming enterprises.

 

Selection Criteria:

  1. Describe who is being nominated, please include how long they been involved, why they got involved, the location of the project.
  2. Describe how the individual, group, network or organisation has demonstrated excellence and leadership in implementing integrated land management practices on a farm property or properties that protect soils, water, vegetation and/or biodiversity; include examples of improved productivity, commercial outcomes and natural resource management delivered through this practice. The following are examples of activities that could be used to demonstrate success:
    • Activities that improve any of the following: soil condition, water quality, native vegetation, weed and pest management. Integrated projects such as increasing the growth of native grasses to reduce soil erosion, the loss of soil nutrients and improved productivity. For aquaculture, activities could include those targeting improvements in water quality and environmental health.
    • Other activities could be used to demonstrate success: a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions; increased biodiversity; increased ground cover particularly during periodic seasonal feed gaps, reduced soil erosion, improved management and handling of livestock to provide both animal welfare, development of innovative practices and improved natural resource management outcomes.
  3. Describe how the individual, group, network or organisation has gone beyond usual practice and demonstrated leadership and encouraged the involvement of others in sustainable and integrated land management practices that improved natural resource management and farm productivity outcomes (e.g. field demonstration days, radio interviews or blogs) and include any key challenges the nominee has faced and the strategies used to overcome them.
  4. In 25 words (2-3 sentences), please summarise your nomination, highlighting the key messages that best describe why this individual, group, network, or organisation should be recognised for outstanding achievements to landcare.

 

logo for Australian Government National Landcare Program

* Coastcare Award

About the Category

The Coastcare Award acknowledges a community group or network that has contributed to the significant improvement of a coastal or marine environment. This may include estuaries, coastal and marine wetlands, river systems and salt marsh ecosystems. The Coastcare activities may include sand dune restoration, protection of threatened species, removing invasive species that are impacting on native flora, plastics and waste removal, education and volunteer engagement, and mitigating urban impact on marine environments like storm water pollution or the control of access to sensitive and vulnerable areas.

 

 

Who can be Nominated

Nominations are open to a community group or network, including Coastcare and Landcare groups/networks, Dunecare, Rivercare, Bushcare, ‘Friends of’ groups, youth groups and other community groups responding to local environmental issues.

 

Selection Criteria:

  1. Describe who is being nominated. Please include how long they have been involved, why they got involved and the location of the project.
  2. Describe what coastal or marine environmental issue the group/network is responding to and the cause and impact of the issue, describe any key challenges the nominee has faced and the strategies used to overcome them.
  3. Describe how the project activities of the group/network have made an improvement to the coastal or marine management issue and the impact on the community; include examples of how the project activities have increased community awareness and engagement with coastal or marine environmental issues, include information about any partnerships formed (e.g. with local councils, businesses, schools, other community groups, academic institutions etc).
  4. In 25 words (2-3 sentences), please summarise your nomination, highlighting the key messages that best describe why this group/network should be recognised for outstanding achievements to Coastcare.

 

Logo with two hands   Logo with two hands

* ACM Landcare Community Group Award

About the Category

The ACM Community Group Award acknowledges an outstanding community group that is improving sustainable land use and/or is undertaking on-ground action to protect, enhance or restore the natural values of an area on behalf of the wider community.

 

Who can be Nominated

Nominations are open to a group only. This includes environmental community groups that include Landcare groups, youth groups, Coastcare, Dunecare, Rivercare, Bushcare, ‘Friends of’ groups, youth groups and other environmental community groups.

 

Selection Criteria:

  1. Describe the group you are nominating. Please include how long they have been involved, why they got involved and the location of the project.
  2. Describe what natural resource management issue the group is responding to with their landcare project activities; describe any key challenges the nominee has faced and the strategies used to overcome them.
  3. Describe how the group has repaired degraded land or natural assets, including the wider community/public benefit from on-ground project activities; include how the group has sought advice, worked with and involved the wider community, other landcare/community groups, government, local business, natural resource management agencies, schools and youth groups, and Indigenous land managers in the development and implementation of its plans and projects.
  4. Provide examples of how the group has shared and communicated its ideas, plans, skills, and results to encourage others in the community to increase engagement and participation in landcare (e.g. field days, school visitation program, community education campaigns, training workshops, online or media promotions, creating partnerships).
  5. In 25 words (2-3 sentences), please summarise your nomination, highlighting the key messages that best describe why this group should be recognised for outstanding achievements to landcare.

* Woolworths Junior Landcare Team Award

About the Category

The Woolworths Junior Landcare Team Award acknowledges a school, youth organisation or young community landcare team that contributes to raising awareness, sharing knowledge and promoting participation of landcare amongst young people. The award recognises Junior Landcare teams who implement landcare practices within the local community or school.

 

Who can be Nominated

Nominations are open to young people aged 18 or under, eligible groups include primary schools, secondary schools, Scouts, Girl Guides, youth organisations or young community landcare teams.

 

Selection Criteria:

  1. Describe the school or youth group you are nominating. Please include information about the school, details of the program, how many students are involved, why they took the initiative to be involved.
  2. Describe what natural resource management issue the school or youth group is responding to with their Junior Landcare project activities; include any key challenges the nominee has faced and the strategies used to overcome them.
  3. Describe how the school or youth group’s activities have led to an improved understanding among their team members and the community about landcare, the environment and natural resource management issues; include examples of how the project activities the team has implemented have inspired their school, group or community to extend their learning and skills-development into practical on-ground activity; include if the nominee created environmental resources or events to help increase participation in Junior Landcare in the community.
  4. In 25 words (2-3 sentences), please summarise your nomination, highlighting the key messages that best describe why this nominee should be recognised for outstanding achievements to landcare

 

* KPMG Indigenous Land Management Award

About the Category

The KPMG Indigenous Land Management Award acknowledges an outstanding Indigenous community group or individual that is working towards improving land use and/or enhancing or protecting an area on behalf of the community.

 

Who can be Nominated

Nominations are open to an individual and/or Indigenous community groups.

 

Selection Criteria:

  1. Describe the individual or group you are nominating. Please include how long they have been involved, why they got involved and the location of the project.
  2. Describe how the nominee looks after Country, including land and/or sea, including some key examples of the type of work that has been undertaken; include information about if/how the individual or group uses Indigenous ecological knowledge, Traditional Land Management practices in their work; include any key challenges the nominee has faced and the strategies used to overcome them.
  3. Describe what the impact has had in the community by the individual/group looking after Country (e.g. has the work created jobs for Indigenous people in the community, have young people learned new skills or had Indigenous ecological knowledge passed on to them?)
  4. Explain how the group or individual has worked with others on the project (e.g. with community elders, landcare groups or networks, government, natural resource management organisations and others within the community); and how the group or individual has shared Traditional Land Management practices and techniques with the wider community
  5. In 25 words (2-3 sentences), please summarise your nomination, highlighting the key messages that best describe why this individual or group should be recognised for outstanding achievements to landcare.

 

KPMG logo

* Steadfast Young Landcare Leadership Award

About the Category

The Steadfast Young Landcare Leadership Award acknowledges an individual or a youth group* between the ages of 15 – 35 years who promote excellence in landcare through on-ground projects and/or awareness raising activities.

 

Who can be Nominated

Nominations are open to an individual or youth group who can demonstrate their capacity to lead and encourage the wider community to engage and participate in managing the environment and natural resources in their local area.

 

Selection Criteria:

  1. Describe the individual or youth group that is being nominated. Please include how long they have been involved, why they got involved and the location of the project.
  2. Describe how the individual or youth group has displayed leadership and excellence in landcare practices and how they have encouraged others (particularly their peers) in promoting or implementing activities that improve natural resource management outcomes; (e.g. school visitation programs, training workshops, media promotions, creating partnerships with groups, involving councils, working with landholders, Indigenous Land managers, local businesses and natural resource management organisations etc.)
  3. Describe what the nominee has done to communicate environmental and natural resource management issues, or raised awareness about landcare to a wider audience (e.g. use of media and social media, events, speeches or presentations, posters, letters etc.); include any key challenges the nominee has faced and the strategies used to overcome them.
  4. In 25 words (2-3 sentences), please summarise your nomination, highlighting the key messages that best describe why this nominee should be recognised for outstanding achievements to landcare.

 

*The majority of the group’s membership must be between the 18-35-year age range.

 

Additional awards VIC

Additional award categories VIC

Additional awards ACT

Additional award categories for ACT:

  • ACT Government Citizen Science Award
  • ACT Government Quiet Achiever Award
  • Landcare ACT Photography Award – Kids
  • Landcare ACT Photography Award – Amateur
  • Landcare ACT Photography Award – Professional

Please login to the Awards Portal for a full list of criteria for these awards.

Additional award SA

Additional award category for SA:

  • Green Adelaide Urban Landcare Award

Please see the full list of criteria for this award or login to the Awards Portal.

Entry Guidelines

Applicants must respond to all the criteria for their nominated award category, with a maximum of 500 words allowed for each criteria point.

All entries MUST include:

  • All details requested for both the applicant/nominee and the nominator (if different).
  • A nomination summary that can be used for Awards event booklets or promotional use, along with any photographs supplied.
  • Information that demonstrates how the applicant/nominee meets ALL criteria in the nominated award category.
  • Contact details for two referees that the judging panel may contact when your application is being assessed.
  • At least two good quality photographs to illustrate your nomination should be attached and adhere to the following guidelines:
    • Photographs must be digital, high resolution files in JPEG or TIFF format and a minimum of 1MB in size.
    • To be safe, set your camera on the highest possible resolution setting.
    • Take photographs in landscape orientation (sideways, not up and down) and don’t leave the date stamp on your camera.
    • Photographs with people are preferable. The Landcare Awards are about recognising the dedication and commitment of the people involved – we want to see you!
    • Photographs may be used by the organisers at any time in promotional activities relating to the Awards or landcare, and all permissions relating to their use must be confirmed by the nominee prior to submission.
    • Please download and complete these usage permission forms as appropriate and attach with your application in the nomination portal. Photo & video release form | Under 18 release form

Supporting Attachments

Applicants are urged to only include supporting documentation if explicitly requested in the criteria of your nominated category or absolutely essential to demonstrate how you have addressed the criteria.

Any supporting documentation that is included must be attached using the online entry portal, and can only be in .doc, .docx, .xls, .ppt or PDF format for documents, and JPEG or TIFF documents for images.

Please do not post hard copies of supporting documents. Please note, entries that do not include each of the items listed above may not be accepted.

The State & Territory Landcare Awards is administered by Landcare Australia through funding from the Australian Government’s Landcare Program.

Entry Rules & Conditions
  1. Acceptance of an entry into the 2021 State & Territory Landcare Awards is at the sole discretion of Landcare Australia Limited and the State/Territory Landcare Award organising body (the organisers) to the extent that they can refuse to accept or reject any entry without providing a reason.
  2. The organisers accept no responsibility for nominations not received by the final date. The closing date for entries are Australia Capital Territory – 16 August 2021, New South Wales – 31 October 2021, Northern Territory – 18 December 2021, Queensland – 30 November 2021, South Australia – 6 December 2021, Tasmania – 24 August 2021, Victoria 11 July 2021 and Western Australia – 12 September 2021. All nominations close at 11:59pm on their respective closing dates.
  3. Entries must be submitted via the online entry portal. If you are having any technical difficulties with the portal, please contact [email protected]. If you are unable to access the portal and need to submit your nomination another way, please contact your State/Territory Landcare Award Coordinator. All entries must include at least two images, at least 1MB in size, and high-resolution (300dpi) JPG or TIFF files.
  4. Nominees can enter only once in each category.
  5. Winners and finalists from previous Landcare Awards campaigns are eligible to re-enter, however they must declare the category and if they were announced a winner or finalist for the judging panel review.
  6. The prize for each State & Territory Landcare Awards is determined by the State & Territory Landcare Award organisers managing the awards.
  7. The decision of the judges will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
  8. The nominee or applicant acknowledges and agrees that the organisers do not accept any responsibility for errors or omissions when content is reproduced for presentations or promotional activity, or if the nominee or applicant’s supplements and nomination is lost or damaged or any other circumstance.
  9. Awards are contingent upon the nominee or applicant permitting the organisers or their agents to publish sufficient information about the entry so that the general public can understand it. This information may be used for media and promotional purposes for the awards and landcare.
  10. Entries may be submitted by a representative of a company/organisation or individual who, working alone or in a team, are primarily responsible for the project.
  11. Joint entries that represent the work of several groups or organisations are accepted where approval of accreditation is required by either party, this will remain the sole responsibility of the nominee or applicant. The organisers bear no responsibility for obtaining accreditations regarding the origination of any entries. Only one prize will be awarded and this will be to the entrant that has made the submission.
  12. Employees or immediate family members of the organisers are eligible to enter provided their nomination is for their volunteer work undertaken outside their paid role. Former employees may enter but must not submit entries based on their work at Landcare Australia or the State & Territory Landcare Awards organising body.
  13. Entries must be in English.
  14. The provision of all relevant information for the judges is the responsibility of the nominee or applicant however judges may seek further information or clarification if necessary.
  15. The judges reserve the right not to award finalists or winners within categories or to move entries within categories.
  16. Each entry is submitted with an expectation of winning the competition. The organisers may use the content provided for media and promotional activity or presentations to describing the entry.
  17. No guarantee of confidentiality can be provided, however if there is information associated with an entry that the nominee or applicant wishes to remain confidential, the nominee or applicant should first contact the organisers.
  18. Winners of the national categories at the 2021 State & Territory Landcare Awards subsequently become finalists of the 2022 National Landcare Awards (excluding the People’s Choice category winner, a photographic Award or any specific state/territory category winners).
  19. The organisers reserve the right to use at any time the information from the entries – including photographs – in any marketing or public relations promotion for the sole purpose of promoting Landcare and the ethos. All rights are reserved.
  20. The organisers will use information disclosed in submissions and entries for evaluating the entry.
  21. Please note that all materials provided to the awards organisers may be destroyed following the judging process. The exception may be for the category finalists and winners; these materials may be retained by the organisers. The award entrant grants the organisers permission to show the entries at the Landcare Awards events and at such other places or times as deemed appropriate at the sole discretion of the organisers. No entry or materials will be returned to the entrant; this includes use of supplied images.
Tips for writing quality Landcare Awards nominations

This resource has been kindly provided by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s Victorian Landcare program.

Overview
The key to a well-written Landcare awards nomination is providing specific examples that illustrate how an individual, group, network, organisation or team’s achievements meet or exceed each of the selection criteria for the award category. Often, the challenge is sticking to the imposed word count when addressing each of the criteria. Try to be as clear, concise and as compelling as possible.

Before you start
Underline/highlight the key words in selection criteria that you will use within your response to ensure you stick to your main point.

For example: Demonstrate how the individual has implemented Landcare activities and has helped others to implement Landcare activities in their area.

Write down as many words as you can. They don’t need to be in sentences; just single words that come to mind when you reflect on the words that you’ve highlighted for each selection criteria. Then think about the meaning and tone of those words you’ve written and choose the ones that feel right to shape your response.

Collect your evidence
Much of your evidence to demonstrate what you have achieved will already exist in some form or other, including:

  • data collected
  • reporting on grants
  • previous awards nominations
  • text from websites or web pages, fact sheets, presentations, speeches, newsletters and articles

Getting started
You are asked to provide a summary of your nomination. Start with a clear and explicit statement about why the nominee deserves recognition. Include enough information for the assessor to become familiar with the nominee’s specific challenges faced, actions taken, and results or goals met. List the most important information in the first few sentences and then elaborate as necessary.

Support your statements with specific examples that address the award criteria and elaborate on why the nominee’s accomplishments are worthy of the award.

These examples should include outcomes, results, and/or activities above and beyond the nominee’s job description and expectations.
Include qualities that make this person, group or network outstanding, and that are clearly relevant to the award criteria. E.g., collaborative, initiative, contribution, team-building, and leadership.

Consider including the following evidence to answer the ‘who, what, when, where, why, how’ in your supporting statements:
Examples include:

  • WHAT did the nominee do (e.g. projects, activities)?
    • Projects and/or activities above and beyond the nominee’s job description
    • Any challenges or issues encountered and overcome
  • HOW did they do it?
    • Initiative and/or leadership
    • Teamwork
    • Creativity and/or innovation
    • Behaviours and/or attitudes (include, but should not dominate write-up)
  • WHAT were the results and/or impact?
    • What did the nominee’s efforts accomplish? Include data on achievements. For example, secured grants for 100,000 plants for xxx biolink, 100 hectares of private land was revegetated, 100 people involved in project etc.
    • Are there specific benefits that Landcare or the community has derived from those efforts?
    • If the project is still being developed or has not yet produced results, consider identifying major milestones completed and the impact to date, as well as the overall expected outcome.
      Remember, the summary will be used for promotional use; including: case studies, awards and conference program books, media articles, or social media. This is your opportunity to make your nominee shine!

Support your statements with evidence
Avoid sweeping generalities; (i.e. “He’s a hard worker,” or “She goes above and beyond her job duties”. Make every sentence count! Successful nominations have enough details to make the case for the nominee’s achievement.

Weak vs Strong Example
Weak: “She always celebrates diversity.”
Strong: “She was responsible for initiating the Landcare group’s first multicultural Landcare fair. This is now an annual event that has increased participation of migrants and refugees in the local community by 30 per cent. She raises awareness by translating flyers to promote the event into several languages; assists stall-holders with translating their signage and flyers; and invites bi-lingual speakers to present on topics that demonstrate ways to increase biodiversity and promote the sustainable management of land in the region.”

Spell out acronyms
The first time you use an acronym, spell it out: Far East Victoria Landcare (FEVL).

Stick to the word count
The maximum character count for each criteria point is 2,000 characters, or approximately 300 words. Ensure you make every word count!

Use simple, powerful verbs instead of abstract nouns, and delete words that don’t add clarity.
Use “inform” instead of “provide information”.
Use “apply” instead of “make an application”.

No waffle: ‘in terms of’, ‘it’s important to note that’
No clichés: ‘unpack’, ‘moving forward’
No empty terms: ‘appropriate’, ‘not appropriate’

Put yourself in the judges’ position
Remember, the judges are reading multiple Landcare award nominations! Don’t assume that judges know anything about you, your group/network, or project, and what it has achieved.

Present your nomination in a way that sets it apart from others. Be clear. Be concise. Be compelling.

Good Luck!

Questions & Support

Should you have any questions about the 2021 State and Territory Landcare Awards, please call or email the contact person for the State or Territory in which the landcare work was performed.

2021 State & Territory Landcare Award Coordinators:

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY:

Karissa Preuss
Landcare ACT
[email protected]
0412 206 491

Karen (Kaz) Leary
Project Manager
[email protected]
0448 161 980

NEW SOUTH WALES:

Lakshmi Kerr
[email protected]
LLS NSW Government
0459 990 719

NORTHERN TERRITORY:

Karen May
Territory NRM
[email protected]
0427 611 972

Anisha Angelroth
[email protected]
0439 948 717

QUEENSLAND:

Darryl Ebenezer
Queensland Water & Land Carers
[email protected]
0407 696 792

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

Gerry Butler
Landcare Association SA
[email protected]
0407 972 149

TASMANIA:

Kat Traill
Landcare Tasmania
[email protected]
0439 528 538

VICTORIA:

Yvonne Ryczkowski
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
[email protected]
03 9637 8480

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

Caroline Hughes
Landcare WA
[email protected]
0421 750 408

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