Finalists in the Engagement Australia 2021 Excellence Awards Announced

Some 20 of Australia and New Zealand’s most exceptional university community-building and economic-advancement initiatives have been shortlisted in the Engagement Australia 2021 Excellence Awards.

The Awards identify and celebrate the transformative engagement activities undertaken by universities that demonstrate far-reaching impact and innovation in Australia and New Zealand.

In its second year of transition from the Business-Higher Education Round Table (BHERT) Awards we are delighted that it has been one of the busiest years yet for judges, with 107 submissions from 35 universities across Australia and New Zealand.

The judging panel commented on the exceptional quality of the 2021 nominations.

Please visit our Awards page for more details about the finalists. The winners will be announced at an online event on 30 November.

Award for Excellence in Community Engagement

Recognising outstanding collaborations between communities, higher education and industry for societal benefit. Emphasis placed on partnerships that engage rural, regional, urban, disadvantaged or marginalised groups within Australia and New Zealand.

• The Alliance for Suicide Prevention – Sunshine Coast, University of the Sunshine Coast
• The Deakin Centre for Refugee Employment, Advocacy, Training and Education, Deakin University
• Sparking Change – Science Camps for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children, Macquarie University
• Enhancing girls’ wellbeing through father-daughter physical activity – The ‘Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered’ program, University of Newcastle
  

Award for Excellence in Indigenous Engagement

Recognising outstanding collaborations between Indigenous communities, higher education and industry that directly reduce disadvantage, empower and give voice to Indigenous peoples.

• Enhancing access to specialist health services through the use of telehealth for Indigenous Australians, The University of Queensland
• UniSA APY Hub, University of South Australia
• Wunungu Awara: Animating Indigenous Knowledges, Monash University

Award for Excellence in Industry Engagement

Recognising outstanding contributions to enhancing the quality of learning and teaching in higher education by members of tertiary education institutions, community and industry partners.

• Woodside Monash Partnership, Monash University
• Applied Agricultural Remote Sensing Centre – a new spatial understanding of agriculture, University of New England
• Queensland Future Skills Partnership, CQUniversity

Award for Outstanding Engagement for Research Impact

Recognising excellence in research and development activity, that makes a substantial difference to the community, or Australian prosperity, undertaken jointly by researchers in tertiary education institutes and partners in the community, business and industry. 

• BCEC|WGEA Gender Equity Insights Research Program, Curtin Univesity
  
• Physical Literacy in Australia: a journey from research to community impact, Deakin University
• Epidemiological modelling supporting Australia’s COVID-19 response, The Peter Doherty Institute
• ‘Better Beginnings’: The development and impact of a State library and University partnership on a family literacy program, Edith Cowan University
• Northern Territory Point-of-Care Testing Program, Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing

Award for Excellence in Student Engagement

Recognising outstanding contributions that improve student engagement on campus, with industry and/or in community.

• Social Workers in Schools, University of New England
• Industry and Community Project Units, University of Sydney
• Monash Student Teams Initiative, Monash University

Award for Excellence in Alumni Engagement

Recognising outstanding contributions to enhancing the quality alumni engagement and support in higher education. 

• 30 Minutes A Month, CQUniversity
• UTS Young Alumni Program, University of Technology Sydney

Award for Outstanding Leadership in Engagement

Recognising an individual who has made notable contributions to engagement above and beyond that expected for their role, resulting in sustained and impactful partnerships. 

• Professor John Thwaites AM, Monash University
• Mervat Quirke, University of the Sunshine Coast
• Boe Rambaldini, Bundjalung elder and University leader, Poche Centre for Indigenous Health
  

Please join us online as we celebrate the Awards winners on Tuesday 30 November 6-8pm (AEDT) –  register here for this complimentary event.