Finalists in the Engagement Australia 2025 Excellence Awards Announced

Some 38 of Australia and New Zealand’s most exceptional university community-building and economic-advancement initiatives have been shortlisted in the Engagement Australia 2025 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 2025 nominations.

Please visit our Awards page for more details about the finalists. The winners will be announced at our awards dinner on 12^th November in Sydney

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 UNSW Tax & Business Advisory Clinic – University of New South Wales
• The Perfect Match: Connecting Rural Health Consumers with Community Paramedics – La Trobe University
• Empowering Autistic Talent through Inclusive Education and Employment Pathways – Curtin University
• Transforming to an Age Friendly World – University of South Australia
• Employing AI for Equity to Legal Access in Australia – University of Melbourne 

Award for Excellence in Indigenous Engagement

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

• The Cracks in the Ice Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Project – University of Sydney
• NISA – Monash University
• Virtual Reality Healing Tool – Curtin University
• Building the Indigenous Cultural Heritage Workforce – La Trobe University
• Indigenous Game Changers Program – Australian Catholic 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. 

• ACU Solomon Islands Immersion Program – Australian Catholic University
• Building Counselling Capacity in Papua New Guinea – Griffith University
• Nutrition and Education in International Community Engagement – University of Melbourne
• Adelaide-Nottingham Alliance – An Exemplar of International Engagement – University of Adelaide

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

• TransformUs: Partnering with the education, health and sport sectors to revolutionise the Australian classroom – Deakin University
• Sustainable Railway Construction using a Recycled Rubber Tyre Assembly – University of Technology Sydney
• ‘Towards ‘zero hunger’: improving food relief services in Australia – Flinders University
• Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered – University of Newcastle
• Scientia Professor Gangadhara Prusty & SDI Limited – Developing Next Generation Composites to Replace Mercury Amalgams – The University of New South Wales

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.

• Nexus Program – La Trobe University
• Global Immersion Guarantee Program – Monash University
• UC ITS Capstone Program: Harnessing industry engagement for creating future-ready graduates – University of Canberra
• Preparing Students for the Digital Jobs of the Future – The University of Queensland
• UN SDG Challenge for 1st years – University of New South Wales
• Liveworm: Work Integrated Learning Design Incubator – Griffith Univesity

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. 

• ‘Let’s Talk Teaching’ Podcast – Monash University
• Lead with Impact – Griffith University
• Melbourne Data Analytics Platform Internship Program – The University of Melbourne
• UTS SOUL: Award – The University of Technology Sydney
• Elevate Entrepreneurship Program – La Trobe 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 Fungicide Resistance Extension Network (AFREN – Curtin University
• The Clinician Entrepreneurship Change Agent Program (CECAP) – Griffith University
• Cogniti Project – University of Sydney
• Emergency Medical Response – Monash University
• Underground Signals: Reimagining Soil Monitoring through Industry–Teaching Partnerships – 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.

• Dr Joshua Pate, From Hurt to Hope: Transforming Children’s Pain Stories Across Australia – The University of Technology Sydney
• Dr Changlong Wang, The International Taskforce on Hydrogen for Iron and Steelmaking – Monash University
• Diana Heatherich, Empowering Riders Through Engagement – La Trobe University

Please join us as we celebrate the Awards winners at The Refectory, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Wednesday 12 November 6.00-10.00 pm (AEDT) –  register here .