2019 NESA AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
THE NESA AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
Importance of the Awards
Since their implementation in 2004, the NESA Awards for Excellence have highlighted the commitment the employment services sector has made to improve the well-being of individuals, families and our community through employment inclusion. The Awards offer an opportunity to showcase service, strategies and innovation excellence delivered by providers of employment services and the very real successes that result from their efforts.
The NESA Awards for Excellence:
- Foster high standards and provide a benchmark for excellence within the employment services sector
- Recognise employers who demonstrate excellence in the recruitment and retention of disadvantaged job seekers in partnership with employment services providers
- Encourage employers to adopt and support employment services programs
- Honour job seekers who have overcome disadvantage to obtain and sustain employment
- Provide role models for other job seekers
- Enlighten the wider community about the adversity and disadvantage that is experienced by unemployed people and the effort required to overcome barriers to achieve employment
- Reinforce the value of the sector; fostering job seeker, employer and public confidence
- Recognise employment services professionals who demonstrate excellence in the conduct of their role
- Promote professional development and education within the employment services sector
Award Finalist Benefits
- The right to use NESA’s Awards Seal on collateral for two years
- Promotion in national, state and local media
- A high quality framed certificate for all finalists
- Greater recognition within the sector and with key external stakeholders
- Invitation to the VIP-only Champion’s Reception held immediately prior to the Gala Awards Dinner
- One ticket to attend the Gala Awards Dinner for each finalist or finalist representative
- Travel and one night’s accommodation to attend the NESA Awards for Excellence for each finalist or finalist representative.
In addition to Finalist Benefits, Winners of each Award Category Receive:
- A prestigious Award Trophy
- An Awards Seal and guidelines for use to promote the win
- Promotion on NESA’s website and inclusion in the Annual Report
- Additional PR campaigns
** The Employment Consultant nominating the Achiever of the Year is also provided travel and one night’s accommodation to accompany their nominee to the NESA Awards for Excellence
** All required airfares are return economy from your closest major, regional or metropolitan airport
** Transport to and from the airport and venue are at the nominee’s expense
** Please note that finalists for the Champion Employer of the Year do not receive travel or accommodation to attend the NESA Awards for Excellence
AWARD NOMINATIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED
Thank you to everyone who has submitted nominations.
Finalists will be announced soon.
AWARD CATEGORIES AND FINALISTS
Achiever of the Year
SUPPORTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT, SKILLS, SMALL AND FAMILY BUSINESS
Category Description:
This Award recognises a former job seeker who has overcome extraordinary disadvantage to achieve employment.
Congratulations to our Award Finalists:
Arron Little, from Girrawheen, WA – nominated by atWork Australia
Jessie Abrahams, from Corio, VIC – nominated by MatchWorks
Abu Zahih Wahidi, from Merrylands, NSW – nominated by Advanced Personnel Management (APM)
Champion Employer of the Year
SUPPORTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT, SKILLS, SMALL AND FAMILY BUSINESS
Category Description:
This Award recognises employers who demonstrate excellence in employment inclusion of disadvantaged job seekers.
Congratulations to our Award Finalists:
Hume Doors and Timber (VIC), for their outstanding work particularly with people with disability – nominated by WISE Employment
Bindaree Food Group, for their openness to workforce diversity and providing opportunities for the most disadvantaged jobseekers – nominated by Enterprise & Training Company (ETC)
Stellar, for offering employment opportunities to the long-term unemployed, mature age jobseekers and people with disability – nominated by atWork Australia
Excellence in Indigenous Employment
SUPPORTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT, SKILLS, SMALL AND FAMILY BUSINESS
Category Description:
This Award recognises individuals or teams who demonstrate excellence in assisting Indigenous Australians in achieving employment.
Congratulations to our Award Finalists:
Workskil Indigenous (team), for their work across regional and metropolitan NSW, SA, WA and Victoria – nominated by Workskil Australia
Sarina Isles, for her outstanding results in Adelaide North – nominated by Advanced Personnel Management (APM)
Chris Delamont, for his inspirational dedication in the Geelong region – nominated by MatchWorks
Innovation in Disability Employment
SUPPORTED BY JOBACCESS
Category Description:
This Award recognises employment service providers, employment organisations or employers using innovative service strategies or initiatives that contribute to the employment inclusion of people with a disability.
Congratulations to our Award Finalists:
Collins Food Ltd., MAX Employer Business Centre and MAX Health Services, for working together to assure work-ready environments for people with disability – nominated by MAX Employment
Help Employment and Training, Toowoomba, for its highly effective response to a disenfranchised cohort of people with disability – nominated by HELP Enterprises
WISE Employment (South Australia) and Esher House, for a behavioural science-driven approach to maximising participant engagement – nominated by WISE Employment
Innovation and Collaboration in Indigenous Employment
SUPPORTED BY ALFFIE - A LOVE FOR FLEXIBLE & INNOVATIVE EDUCATION
Category Description:
This Award recognises organisations, individuals or teams who demonstrate innovation and/or collaboration in assisting Indigenous Australians to achieve employment, including in remote Australia.
Congratulations to our Award Finalists:
My Pathway, for helping to bring remote employment projects under local community control – nominated by My Pathway
Special Projects, for broad reaching collaboration in addressing the barriers facing Indigenous job seekers – nominated by Maxima Joblink
David Maxey-Fisher, for his outstanding work with the Indigenous Community Access Program (ICAP) in the Bundaberg area – nominated by IMPACT Community Services (a CoAct member)
Employment Consultant of the Year
SUPPORTED BY NESA
Category Description:
This Award recognises employment services professionals who demonstrate excellence in helping disadvantaged Australians to achieve employment inclusion.
Congratulations to our Award Finalists:
Ulladulla’s Clare Keith, nominated by Konekt Employment
Cowra’s Annie Crasti, nominated by VERTO
Moree’s Stephanie Miller, nominated by PeoplePlus Australia
Mansfield’s Sue Jerrerd, nominated by Sureway Employment and Training
HOW TO SUBMIT
Award nominations are submitted online; via separate online portals for each Award Category, accessed via the SUBMIT NOW buttons above.
Before you start the online submission process, please ensure that:
- You have reviewed and meet the Overarching Award Eligibility Criteria, as well as the eligibility requirements for the award category which you are nominating
- You have read the Criteria for the award category which you are nominating
- You have read the Entry Rules and Guidelines
Instructions and tips for how to submit:
The online submission form must be completed in one pass; you cannot save a partial response and return to it later.
Please have the following information prepared, before starting your online submission.
- Photo of the entrant (where required)
- Contact details of the primary person responsible for the submission
- Criteria responses, including any documents for upload.
- In your criteria responses, please refer to your organisation using exactly the same name that is entered in the “Nominating Organisation” field in the nomination form. Do not use abbreviations, alternative trading names or shortened forms.
- For any criteria with a word limit provided, please have your responses prepared in a separate electronic text document that you can then copy and paste into each individual text box in the online submission form. Your response/s will not be accepted if you exceed the word limit. Your word count is displayed for each response.
- Supporting material – You may provide up to five A4 pages of evidence to support the claims made in the nomination. Please combine all supporting material into a single document (.pdf or MSOffice files). Cross-referencing supporting material in the criteria response is essential. Supporting information may include, but is not limited to, photos, data, graphs, and copies of commendations or other letters of recognition.
- Any documents to be uploaded must not exceed 10MB per file.
Upon completion of your submission, an e-mail will automatically be sent to the primary person (nominated in your submission) to confirm successful receipt of your nomination. The confirmation e-mail will include a copy of your submission, including file attachments for your own records.
(If you do not receive the confirmation e-mail immediately, please check your e-mail Junk folder or SPAM filtering systems prior to contacting NESA on 03 9624 2300.)
The Awards Winners will be
announced at the NESA
Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner
Tuesday 13 August 2019
Sofitel Melbourne on Collins
AWARDS JUDGING
The NESA Awards for Excellence judging process is rigorous, transparent, and taken very seriously by the Independent Judging Panel. Judges invited to participate in the Awards are people who have notable expertise in relevant areas such as recruitment, business, health, community services and social inclusion. Revision of the Award assessment process occurs annually to ensure we uphold the highest standards of integrity.
Every nomination is subject to a comprehensive and rigorous assessment process using a standardised scoring and weighting system with auditing, variance and due diligence checks to ensure consistency with the Award criteria. NESA announces a maximum of three finalists for each award category. The judging panel will exclude nominations that do not achieve an acceptable benchmark score from the determination of finalists. At their discretion, the judging panel may identify nominations worthy of additional commendation, recognition or Award. A panel of at least three judges, including an Award Convenor, undertakes assessment of each Award category. Each judge independently assesses each nomination in the category, scoring each criterion and providing written comments including feedback on how to strengthen the nomination.
After assessment of all nominations for the category are complete, the Award Convenors conduct an audit, crosschecking all scores given by the category judging panel to identify instances where scoring is discordant. Where this occurs, Award Convenors review the nomination before contacting the judge(s) to discuss the rationale for their score. As appropriate, the Award Convenor may convene a deliberation conference to discuss the nomination(s) or criteria for which scoring has been discordant and/or request a re-assessment by one or more judges.
Following finalisation of the assessment process, the top three nominations, subject to a due diligence process, are announced as Award category finalists. Announcement of Award winners of each category occurs at the Gala Awards Dinner held in conjunction with the NESA National Conference.
NESA staff support the judging process but do not participate in the assessment of or review nominations. Management of nominations occurs with strict confidentiality processes in place.
Judges' Top Five Tips
Tip 1.
Take time to read and understand the criteria thoroughly – analyse the criteria to ensure you understand exactly what is required in your response. If you are unsure clarify the criteria with NESA.
Tip 2.
Make sure your response fully addresses the criteria. For instance, if a question asks you to provide a timeline then ensure you detail the response chronologically.
Tip 3.
Avoid writing expansive, sweeping claims or generic declarations. Such statements actually undermine the strength of a nomination, as typically, they contain very little substance and cannot be either proven or disputed.
Tip 4.
Be specific about your or the nominee's achievements. Provide evidence to support your claims against the criteria and wherever possible use more than one statistic to prove the point. There are many forms of evidence that you can use to support your claims; data, performance reports, letters of commendation, case studies or examples – choose the form that best relates to the criterion and if the criterion asks for specific evidence e.g. data or a case study, provide what is asked for. If you use the option to upload supporting material, ensure you cross-reference the evidence in the criteria responses and clearly title the uploaded attachment.
Tip 5.
If you are writing about yourself, then be yourself. Judges want to get to know you from the pages of your nomination. They want to gain insight into the type of person you are e.g. your values and passion for what you do. If you are writing about someone else be sure to capture the real person in the nomination. We recommend that completion of nominations occur in partnership with nominees to ensure as much information about them as possible is captured in your submission.
INTRODUCING THE JUDGING PANEL
Dr. Peter Laver, AM
After 40 years working with BHP in senior positions, Peter retired in 1998 to pursue other interests where he remains passionate – education, science, innovation and employment. A former Chancellor of the Victorian University of Technology, Peter has held more than 30 Chair, President, Vice-President and Director positions.
This has included for organisations such as the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, National Board of Employment Education and Training, Victorian Learning and Employment Skills Commission, Community Advisory Council for the Community Support Fund, and the Prime Minister’s Science Prizes. In addition, he provides voluntary expertise to many not-for-profit organisations.
Adrian Panozzo
Adrian is the Director of Better Life Group, a social impact and strategy company dedicated to developing organisational change, shared value and social enterprise business solutions to social issues. He has also been highly influential in guiding organisations through positive transformation by integrating people, community, social and business goals into their vision.
Adrian was the CEO of Reclink Australia. Under his guidance, Reclink grew in membership of community organisations from 100 to more than 500. Some of his other achievements include a Churchill Fellowship, Stanford University’s Executive Program for Not for Profit Leaders, and two times finisher of the Marathon de Sable - a 260km seven-day race across the Sahara Desert.
Sean Armistead
Sean Armistead is an Indigenous executive with experience in strategy and innovation across corporate, government and Indigenous community sectors.
He has worked with many of Australia’s top brands; Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, CareerTrackers, Hewlett Packard (Asia Pacific), KPMG and Crown Resorts.
The current GM of Indigenous and Community engagement for Sodexo, he manages Elevate RAP commitments and providing strategic advice and policy direction.
He is currently:
- Chair of Ganbina – Agents of Change, a school to work transition program for Indigenous youth
- Board Member of Kinaway Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce
- Board Member of Killara Foundation, and
- Council Member of University of Melbourne Alumni Council.
Michelle Crawford
Michelle Crawford has extensive experience in senior executive roles in the private and the not-for-profit sector. She is currently CEO of Concern Australia, an organisation with a rich legacy of working with vulnerable young people and children in the areas of education; housing and homelessness; and youth justice (www.conceraustralia.org.au)
Michelle’s wealth of operational knowledge and governance experience, has enabled her to grow and develop Concern Australia into a strong, sustainable and innovative organisation. Her expertise and knowledge is grounded in management policy and practice roles spanning several specialised areas including employment, recruitment, education, training, microfinance and financial inclusion.
She is well networked and known for her commitment to working in partnership with others. Her experience includes facilitating and overseeing complex partnerships with corporates, governments, donors and community organisations domestically and internationally.
Michelle is passionate about practical and innovative responses that are developed and delivered by community, for community. She has a strong commitment to addressing injustice and inequality and a a passion for enriching the lives of others.
Michelle is currently participating in the Williamson Community Leadership Program run by Leadership Victoria, has a Masters in Social Science, Graduate Diploma in Adult Education, and a Bachelor of Business. She is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and currently serves as a Director on the Boards of First Nations Foundation and Union Housing. Michelle is also an alumni of the Cranlana Program and a dedicated Rotarian.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED . . .
Your candidate may be eligible for more than one award?
Entry Rules and Guidelines
Overarching Eligibility
- All Awards relate to activities undertaken during the qualifying period 2018 – 2019 financial year
- All Awards are open to current NESA members and the job seekers and employers assisted by them
- Nominees must also meet the specific eligibility requirements for the Award category in which they are nominated
- All submissions and supporting information is treated as confidential
- Assessment of nominations is managed according to the NESA Awards for Excellence Judging Process
- Multiple nominations are permitted and encouraged with a separate submission required for each nomination
- Where a team is eligible to be nominated in an Award category, “team” is defined as:
- At least 2 people working together to achieve specified outcomes
- An entire branch or office
- A geographically based group i.e. regional or employment area
- A work group with an ongoing role in the organisation, or a time-limited group formed to achieve a specified purpose or outcomes e.g. project team
By submitting a nomination to the NESA Awards for Excellence, you:
- Give permission to NESA and its Awards Convenors to describe your achievements at the Gala Awards Dinner and to promote your achievements to the media
- Understand that your identity and that of the submitting organisation will be disclosed during the Awards process
- Are granting NESA permission to reproduce supplied photographs (except where otherwise requested), the organisation’s logo and non-pecuniary information from your submission
- Understand that your contact details may be shared with official members of the media pursuing legitimate stories regarding award nomination
- Agree to abide by the judging panel decisions and accept that there will be no appeals
- Agree to attend the Awards presentation barring exceptional circumstance
Note: NESA or its Awards Convenors will contact finalists for the Achiever of the Year category or their representatives to review the nomination and agree on the information that is permitted to be shared with the media or used in NESA communications.
NESA retains the right to:
- Contact finalists prior to the Awards presentation if deemed necessary,
- Withdraw the granting of a particular honour if the award entrant or nominated representative is not present to accept that award,
- Withdraw from judging any submissions received through a nominating organisation that goes into administration, voluntary receivership, liquidation or declared bankrupt after the awards closing date.
Nominations must include:
- An answer to each criterion
- Uploaded files where they have been requested
- A quality head and shoulders photograph or image of the nominee for the Achiever of the Year and Employment Consultant of the Year categories.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED . . .
Submitting multiple candidates for one award?
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Awards open to all employment programs?
Absolutely! The NESA Awards honour the work of the entire employment services sector. The Awards cover all employment programs however not every Award category is open to everyone. Please check each award category description and specific eligibility criteria.
Can I enter multiple candidates for one award?
Yes. NESA member organisations are encouraged to enter more than one nomination within a category.
Can I enter one candidate in more than one award?
Yes. NESA member organisations are encouraged to enter nominees across all categories for which they are eligible however, a unique submission is required for each award.
Can I re-enter a candidate from previous years?
Yes, provided the candidate met the eligibility criteria.
Can we submit a few days late?
No. In the interest of fairness to all participants, no late entries will be accepted.
Who can I ask questions about the Awards?
NESA staff do not participate in the assessment of nominations and are available to answer general questions about the Awards, Award Categories, Criteria and lodgement of your nomination. In the interest of fairness and transparency questions lodged with NESA will be shared via the FAQ to ensure all potential nominees have access to the information.
The former job seeker that I would like to nominate for the Achiever of the Year award will only have completed their 13 week outcome by the closing date of the nominations. Are they still eligible for nomination?
Yes they are still eligible for nomination, however their nomination may not be scored highly in comparison to other nominated job seekers who have completed their full 26 week employment outcome.
For the Innovation and Collaboration in Indigenous Employment award category – what is the definition for ‘all operating areas’ in Criterion 5?
The definition for ‘all operating areas’ is defined as ‘areas where the organisation delivers employment services’. It is asked you provide performance data in relation to employment and other outcomes for indigenous job seekers for all areas where the organisation delivers employment services (rather than business process or administration functions)
For the Innovation and Collaboration in Indigenous Employment award – How is the word ‘job seeker’ defined for this category?
The term ‘job seeker’ in this category encompasses any program participant including students where they are eligible for the program nominated.
Can videos be submitted as part of my nomination?
No, video files or online links to videos will not be accepted as part of nomination criteria or as supporting material.
IMPORTANT DATES
Applications open:
Applications close:
Judging:
Finalists announced:
Winners announced (at the Gala Awards Dinner):
May 16
June 28, 3.00pm AEST
July 3 – July 16
July 17-19
August 13
