NESA Awards for Excellence 2024
Achiever of the Year AWARD
Category Description:
Category Eligibility:
Covers all applicable elements of the Overarching Award Eligibility Criteria.
In addition, open to former Participants who:
- Received employment assistance from a provider of an employment program or service managed by the Australian Government: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations; Department of Social Services; or the National Indigenous Australians Agency and
- Achieved substantive employment resulting in achievement of a full employment outcome since July 2023 ** and remains in sustained substantive employment on the date of the awards – 5th December 2024
“Substantive employment” is defined as employment in one or more concurrent jobs with sufficient hours and/or income to qualify for a full employment outcome.
“Full employment outcome” is in accordance with the requirements of the program/service in which the Participant was engaged at placement into employment.
** For clarity the Participants placement may have occurred prior to July 2023 but the outcome must have been achieved during the Awards qualifying period.
Please ensure selection criteria responses focus on the former Participant (rather than the organisation or Consultant assisting them). The former Participant must be aware of their nomination and consent to its submission in these awards. NESA recommends that completion of the submission occur in partnership with the nominated former Participant and they provide consent to share information.
Introduction to the Nominee
Up to 600 words - Unscored but essential to providing background to judges
- Provide an overview of the nominee.
This could include information such as, but not limited to, their age, length of unemployment, employment history, qualifications, living conditions, socio-economic environment, personal circumstances and disadvantage s when they commenced in employment services with your organisation. Please include which program/service the Participant was assisted by.
Criterion 1
Up to 400 words – Weighted 30%
- Describe how the nominee demonstrated commitment to overcoming barriers to achieve and retain employment providing a timeline of the actions undertaken.
(For example, but not limited to, how they engaged with their employment consultant, training and skills development, other vocational activities and/or activities undertaken to address non-vocational barriers, enhanced their health and wellbeing or how they responded to setbacks and challenges).
Criterion 2
Up to 500 words – Weighted 30%
- Provide example(s) that illustrate how the nominee demonstrated initiative, self-determination and resilience in their job search.
Criterion 3
Up to 400 words – Weighted 10%
- Describe how achieving employment has changed the nominee’s circumstances and what actions they are taking to continue to pursue their current personal and/or vocational aspirations.
Vocational aspiration is about the nominee’s work goals and may be, for example, focused on continuing to retain employment, improving or advancing in their current role, changing role or gaining promotion. In your response, please provide examples that support your claims and show how the nominee is making progress. (Examples include, but are not limited to, undertaking additional training, new responsibilities in the workplace, community or voluntary work and otherwise continuing to improve their vocational skills and/or personal development).
Criterion 4
1 A4 page – Weighted 15%
- Attach a short statement from the nominated Participant’s employer outlining in what ways they are a valued employee, or in the case of self-employment how they have progressed their business.
Criterion 5
1 A4 page – Weighted 15%
- Provide a short statement from the nominee about their journey to employment, including what they gained from overcoming barriers to employment and how achieving employment has improved their life.
Supporting Material (Optional) - Unscored
You may provide up to five A4 pages of evidence to support the claims made in the nomination. Please cross-reference supporting material in the criteria response. Supporting information may include, but is not limited to, photos, data, graphs, and copies of commendations or other letters of recognition.
