Volunteer Recognition Awards.Pub

Volunteer Recognition Program

External Awards for Volunteers

This booklet has been produced by the South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission Awards

The South Australian Government is committed to recognising the valuable contribution of volunteers and the business sector’s support of volunteers in South Australia.

We encourage and reward the efforts of members of our Emergency Services in achieving our vision of a safe and prepared community.

The awards system builds the morale of recipients and provides incentives for all members to assist us in achieving our Mission.

Nature’s disasters are a part of the Australian way of life.

South Australian They often strike with a terrible strength and Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner ferocity, destroying life and property and caus- David Place ing billions of dollars damage each year to homes, businesses and the nation’s infrastruc- ture.

In these testing times, the community turns to our emergency services volunteers, who again and again, put their lives at risk to protect lives and property.

Australians have a long and proud tradition of pulling together in times of adversity. Nowhere is this more apparent than in emergency services where Australians from all walks of life make enormous personal sacrifices to work at the frontline in times of emergency.

Volunteering is a part of our culture and a way of life that makes South Australia great.

The Volunteer Recognition Awards are a way in which the nation expresses its appreciation for your work.

Thank you.

Volunteer Recognition Awards Page 2 Rewarding our volunteers and their employers

List of Awards Volunteers put their lives at risk in the service of their communities - undertaking rescues, fighting fires, cleaning up chemical spills—protecting • Premier’s Business life, [property and the environment. Award in Volunteering Their bravery, commitment and courage are reflected in the range of • Australian Bravery Decorations awards described in this booklet. These volunteers are supported by committed businesses through a range • Australia Day Local Government Awards of avenues. Their valuable contribution to the community is recognised and rewarded by the awards listed in this booklet. • Australian of the Year Awards This booklet: • describes the medals and awards for volunteers and businesses • Banksia Awards • lists the specific eligibility criteria for each award • Citizen of the Year • provides guidelines on the nomination process for each award, and • Community Event of the Year • gives information on the withdrawal of an award.

• National Australia Bank Volunteer Awards

• National Honours Award Scheme Process for nominations for awards • National Landcare Awards Each award in this booklet has a specific nomination process.

• Pride of Australia Further information on nomination and selection processes can be obtained Awards by either visiting the listed websites or by contacting the relevant state office of the coordinating agency. • SA Great Awards

• Australasian Association of Volunteer Administrators’ Award for Excellence in Volunteer Management

• Andamooka and Community Project Awards

Volunteer Recognition Awards Page 3 Awards

The Joy Noble Medal

This is an annual award that is presented on South Australia’s Volunteer Day to a government employee or group that has made an outstanding contribution to volunteering within a government program.

The award is open to all volunteers who have provided outstanding service to a program which is run, administered or funded by the South Australian Government.

Criteria:

• no age restriction • no minimum years of service required • must demonstrate the values of volunteering i.e; honesty, equity, respect, integrity, quality and caring, and • demonstrated outstanding commitment to the South Australian community.

Nominations: Nominations can be made by a representative committee of the nominating SA government agency. This may consist of staff, volunteers and service recipients.

Nominations are called through the Notice of Vacancies, the Office for Volunteers website, SA Government Intranet site and local press.

The Premier's Business Award in Volunteering

This award recognises the invaluable contribution of the business sector to the community who support the volunteer community by releasing their employees to volunteer during business hours, undertake corporate volunteering initiatives, coordinate donation programs and by providing financial assistance.

Criteria: • open to all corporate entities that support volunteering • efforts must provide direct benefit to volunteers or volunteer-involving organisations.

Nominations:

Nominations can be made by volunteers, non profit organisations, government agencies, interested individuals and beneficiaries of the volunteer efforts. Nomination forms can be obtained from the Office for Volunteers.

Nomination forms must be completed and returned to the Office for Volunteers by the due date, usually in early May each year.

Further information Office for Volunteers, Level 9/50 Pirie Street, Adelaide, telephone: 84634402 email [email protected] Website: www.ofv.sa.gov.au

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Australian Bravery decorations

Acts of bravery in the Australian community happen more often than many people realise. These awards recognise acts of bravery by members of the community who selflessly put themselves in jeopardy to protect the lives or property of others.

Criteria: • a brave act by an Australian citizen in Australia or overseas • a citizen of another country carrying out a brave act in Australia may also be nominated, and • the Award may be made posthumously.

Nominations: Anyone may nominate another person for a bravery decoration. Nominations are researched by the Honours Secretariat at Government House before being considered by The Australian Bravery Decorations Council.

The Council then makes recommendations on the recipients and the level of awards to the Governor- General.

Although there is no set timeframe for announcing bravery awards, they are usually announced twice a year in April and August. Recipients are invited to a ceremony or investiture at Government House in their state to receive the award.

Australia Day Local Government Awards These Awards are funded by the Australia Day Council of South Australia and are presented to citizens, young citizens and groups who have made a noteworthy contribution to their community.

For further information contact the Australia Day Council of SA Inc., telephone: (08) 8410 2626.

Criteria and nominations are determined by each local council.

For further information, contact your local council.

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Australian of the Year Awards Nominations for this award can be made in one or more of the following categories: • Australian of the Year, • Senior Australian of the Year • Young Australian of the Year and • Local Hero. For further information contact the National Australia Day Council, telephone: (02) 6273 8666

Criteria

• nominees must be Australian citizens

• awards will not be granted posthumously

• state and federal politicians and vice-regal officers are not eligible

• groups of people or couples will not normally be eligible (in exceptional cases the selection panels reserve the right to consider such nominations)

• at the national level a person cannot receive a second award in the same awards category, but can be considered for recognition in a separate category in following years eg. Young Australian of the Year and then Australian of the Year. At the state/territory level a person can be awarded the same award in subsequent years unless they have received the award at the national level, and

• unsuccessful nominees may be re-nominated in subsequent years

Eligibility for individual awards • all nominees will be considered for the Australian of the Year Award • nominees aged 60 years and over on 26 January of the current year will also be considered for the Senior Australian of the Year Awards • nominees aged 16 to 25 on 26 January of the current year will also be considered for the Young Australian of the Year Award • all nominees will be considered for Australia's Local Hero Award • individuals can be nominated in only one state/territory e.g. a person who has recently moved interstate will be eligible for consideration in only one location. Selection panels may choose to contact the nominee for them to determine which location is most appropriate, and • self nominations will not be accepted.

More information

For more information on these awards visit the website at: www.australianofthe year.gov.au/pages/page4.asp

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Selection criteria Regard will be given to the nominee's achievements in the year immediately prior to the receipt of the award, as well as their past achievements and ongoing contribution to the Australian community and nation. Nominees will be assessed on: • demonstrated excellence in their field • significant contribution to the Australian community and nation, and • an inspirational role model for the Australian community. The Local Hero award acknowledges a significant contribution at local community level.

In assessing and comparing nominations against the above criteria, selection panels will also give consideration to the following: • personal, academic and professional achievements • contribution in the relevant field (how has the nominee 'put back' into their field to benefit others) • demonstrated leadership, innovation and creativity • personal interests and community involvement • contribution to the Australian community and nation • contribution to development of regional community and/or economy • future goals and likely impact • degree of difficulty of the achievement and sacrifices made • country of residence • previous awards and recognition • voluntary work beyond paid employment • the nature and length of activity or service • achievements as an individual or as part of a group or organisation, and • availability and commitment to promote national pride and active citizenship though the year of the recipient's appointment. In ensuring that the Australian of the Year Awards recipients are representative of our diverse nation, consideration will be given to: • gender • age • remote, regional, city locations • ethnicity, and • field of endeavour.

Nominations • Pick up a nomination form from your local Commonwealth Bank branch, Holiday Inn or National Seniors Association, or nominate online • complete the nomination form by supplying all the relevant information including both your nominees contact details and your own. Ensure that you state why you think your nominee should be named Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year or Australia's Local Hero, and • Send your nomination form and any supporting material for your nomination to the address given below.

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Supporting material will strengthen your nomination and give the selection committees a clearer idea about why you believe your nominee should receive an award.

These may include personal references, portfolios, newspaper articles and resumes

Nominations should be forwarded to: Awards Team Old Parliament House Canberra King George Terrace Parkes ACT 2600

Withdrawal of an Australia of Year Award The selection of recipients and finalists reflects the nominations received and information available to the selection panel at the time. The NADC reserves the right to withdraw an award if further information or the recipient's conduct draws the Australian of the Year Awards in disrepute.

Banksia Awards

These are Australia’s most prestigious environmental awards and have been run by the Banksia Foundation since 1978.

Criteria and Nominations : Information sessions are held in March. For further information, visit: http://www.banksiafdn.com/index.php? page=131

Citizen of the Year Award

This award recognises the commitment of individual citizens to the community and the outstanding service in a given field. For further information contact the Australia Day Council of SA Inc., telephone: (08) 8410 2626.

Criteria and nominations

These are determined by each local council. For further information, contact your local council.

Community Event of the Year

This award recognises outstanding community events held in South Australia that contribute significantly to the community. For further information contact the Australia Day Council of SA Inc., telephone: (08) 8410 2626.

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National Australia Bank Volunteer Awards These awards commenced in 1997 and are run in partnership with Volunteering Australia.

The awards recognise and reward volunteer groups across Australia who demonstrate ‘best practice’ in the management of volunteers.

Criteria and Nominations

Information on the specific criteria and the nomination process are updated annually on the National Australia Bank website.

Award information is also available on Volunteering Australia website: http://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/html/ s01_home/home.asp

National Honours Award Scheme

There are 53 awards in the Australian honours system and the best known of these is the Order of Australia.

Criteria

Meritorious awards for outstanding service are made to recipients in specific occupations such as the police, the public service, fire services, ambulance services, the emergency services and service in the Antarctic.

The National Medal recognises 15 years of service by individuals in government organisations such as ambulance, correctional, emergency, fire and police forces, or voluntary organisations such as lifesaving or search and rescue groups. Long Service awards also recognise long-term diligent members of the Australian armed forces. They can also receive any of 53 different types of Australian awards and honours either by nomination or application.

Nominations:

Members of the public, or a community group, may nominate individuals for the Order of Australia and Australian Bravery Decorations.

Meritorious Service Awards are based on nominations from a specific organisation. The Department of Defence also nominates individuals for a range of service decorations.

For more information about the individual awards in these categories and who is eligible go to http:// www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/nominating/nominating.cfm

Applications:

Awards are generally made to defence force and police personnel for operational service or to other individuals for special civilian services recognised by the Australian Government.

Australian Defence Force members who were offered US, South Vietnamese or Cambodian military awards during the Vietnam War can obtain permission to accept and wear those awards by completing an application form and sending it to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet for processing. If all requirements are met, the Governor General’s approval to accept and wear the award is sought by the government on the applicant’s behalf.

For more information about the individual awards in these categories and who is eligible go to http:// www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/nominating/applying.cfm Volunteer Recognition Awards Page 9

National Landcare Awards

These awards acknowledge volunteers and community organisations for their work in the environment. Emergency services volunteers may be eligible to apply for one or more of the many awards available.

Criteria and Nominations

For further in formation on the many awards available, visit https://wic004tv.server-secure.com/ vs154616_secure/resources/LANDCAREAWARDS_6PP.pdf

Pride of Australia Awards

These awards include the “True Blue Lifetime Award”; “Community Spirit Award”; “Mateship Award”; “Fair Go Award”; “Role Model Award” and “Young Aussie Award”.

The Awards are sponsored and promoted by News Limited’s Adelaide Advertiser and Sunday Times.

For further information contact the Adelaide Advertiser, telephone: (08) 8206 2000.

Criteria and Nominations

For further information on the many awards available, visit: http://www.prideofaustralia.com.au/

SA Great Awards

As a state, it is important that we acknowledge and celebrate achievers who have made a significant contribution to South Australia, and advanced our reputation as a state of enviable talent.

SA Great’s Awards programs recognise achievement by individuals in a range of categories including the arts, business, environment, education, science & technology, health, sport, tourism, community and youth.

Each year SA Great recognises and profiles these South Australians who have made a significant contribution to this State through its many awards. These include: • SA Great Awards • the Young South Australian and • South Australian of the year. For further information contact SA Great, telephone (08) 8211 8111.

Criteria:

SA Great Award programs celebrate the positive contribution and successes of individuals, businesses and organisations at a regional and state level.

Programs include: • South Australian of the Year • Young South Australian of the Year • SA Great Regional Awards, and • Award Partnerships.

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Nominations: Nominations for the South Australian of the Year Awards open in August each year and are announced at anevent held in late November.

Nominations for the Regional Awards open in June and the Award presentations take place in November and December each year.

The Australasian Association of Volunteer Administrators’ Award for Excellence in Volunteer Management

This is awarded to a volunteer manager (paid or unpaid) who demonstrates best practice in volunteer management and contributes to the continued promotion of volunteer management as a profession.

Criteria:

For further details on eligibility criteria for this award or for any further information please visit the website at www.aava.asn.au

The Andamooka and Community Project Awards

This award recognises volunteers who have undertaken a community project that has resulted in significant community benefit.

The award recognises the innovation and resourcefulness of a community and highlights the benefits that are gained when a local community works together, in a voluntary capacity, to bring about improvements that all can share.

Successful nominations will be automatically eligible for South Australia’s “The Andamooka” Community Project Award, to be presented on Volunteers Day June 2008.

Criteria

Nominees must demonstrate that the project: • has resulted in significant community benefit, and • includes significant volunteer involvement and/or was coordinated by a volunteer involving organisation Preference will be given to projects that involve the local community either: • through partnerships with other organisations (ie; other community groups, businesses or government) or • by involving other organisations or sectors in different parts of the project.

Nominations

The Office for Volunteers coordinates nominations and calls for nominations primarily via their website: http:// www.ofv.sa.gov.au/awards.htm

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