Finalists in the Engagement Australia 2024 Excellence Awards Announced

Some 35 of Australia and New Zealand’s most exceptional university community-building and economic-advancement initiatives have been shortlisted in the Engagement Australia 2024 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.

The judging panel commented on the exceptional quality of the 2024 nominations.

Please visit our Awards page for more details about the finalists. The winners will be announced at our awards dinner on 11^th November in Melbourne.

Award for Excellence in Community Engagement

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

• The Shed at Emerton, Western Sydney University
• Sustainable Farms, Australian National University
• UQSchoolsNet, The University of Queensland
• Service Learning in Indigenous Communities (SLIC), University of Sydney
• Children’s University Passport to Learning, Children’s University Australasia and Africa

Award for Excellence in Indigenous Engagement

Recognising outstanding collaborations between tertiary education and Indigenous communities in Australia, New Zealand and beyond, that directly reduce disadvantage, and empower and give voice to First Nations peoples.

• Gunaikurnai Country cultural heritage, education, training, employment and management of Country, GLaWAC–Monash University
• Aboriginal Community Justice Reports for Sentencing Courts, University of Technology Sydney
• Heartbeat and Pathways to Dreaming, Western Sydney University
• Pathways in Place, Griffith University

Award for Excellence in International Engagement

Recognising outstanding international collaborations that raise the profile of tertiary education and make a substantial difference to communities both overseas and in Australia and New Zealand.

• Pacific Islands Virtual Online Training in Surgery (PIVOTS), Monash University
• Science Circus International, Australian National University
• Empowering Communities and Managing the Invisible Resource: The MARVI Project’s Transformative Impact on Groundwater Management in India, Western Sydney University

 Award for Outstanding Engagement for Research Impact

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

• The Melbourne Waterway Research-Practice Partnership, The University of Melbourne
• Advancing Refugee Employment, University of Sydney
• Economics of Cancer Collaboration, Deakin University
• Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered, The University of Newcastle
• Drug checking reducing drug related harm in the community, Australian National University

Award for Outstanding Engagement for Student Learning

Recognising partnerships and engagement practices that enhance the quality of learning and teaching in tertiary education and outcomes for students.

• ITS Capstone: Industry Collaborative Approach for Graduate industry-readiness, University of Canberra
• Preparing students for the digital jobs of the future, The University of Queensland
• Engineering Sydney Industry Placement Scholarship – Creating the deep-tech talent pipeline, University of Sydney
• UTS Shopfront: connecting community and students, University of Technology Sydney
• Western Sydney University’s strategic partnership with OpenLearning is pioneering the way that higher education providers create and deliver engaging and flexible lifelong learning for students, at scale, Western Sydney University

Award for Excellence in Student and/or Alumni Engagement

Recognising outstanding programs that improve student and/or alumni engagement and enhance the quality and impact of tertiary education.

• Wonder of Science, The University of Queensland
• Advancing the Biomedicine Student & Alumni Experience – Suite of Programs, University of Melbourne
• Griffith Sports College, Griffith University
• The Bridge of Hope Innocence Initiative, RMIT University

Award for Excellence in Industry Engagement

Recognising outstanding collaborations of mutual benefit between tertiary education and industry that enhances the quality and impact of tertiary education.

• Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants (ALEC), University of Melbourne
• Industry Engagement in Australian Horticultural Education, Western Sydney University
• UQ Ventures Industry Challenge, The University of Queensland
• Sea Jellies Illuminated and the strategic partnership between Griffith University and Sea World, Griffith University
• Advancing Wildlife Conservation and Welfare Together: A Partnership Between La Trobe University and Zoos Victoria, La Trobe University

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 partnerships for longer term impact.

• Kevin Argus, RMIT University
• Professor Richard John, Griffith University
• Joanne Orlando, Western Sydney University
• Associate Professor Nicole Carnt, The University of New South Wales

Please join us as we celebrate the Awards winners at Woodward Centre, Melbourne Monday 11 November 6.30-9.30pm (AEDT) –  register here .