The Australian Event Awards is a project managed by The Epic Team. The awards are judged by an independent industry judging panel that is representative of all areas of the industry by sector and by geography. This panel is entirely separate from the ownership structure of the Awards.

We have taken several steps to ensure the integrity of the Australian Event Awards judging process. The awards are judged by an independent industry judging panel that is representative of all areas of the industry by sector and by geography. Judges are required to declare conflicts of interest and to refrain from judging categories in which they may have an interest. Each entry is judged by a minimum of two people with the score being a mederated average of each individual score. Persons who are in any way related to the managers of the Australian Event Awards, The Epic Team, are ineligible to judge the awards. A full explanation of the judging process can be viewed here.

There are other awards programs that reward excellence in some segments of the industry. These awards programs focus on either a particular industry sector or a specific geographic region. They are, by necessity, narrower in focus than the the Australian Event Awards and offer an opportunity to reward excellence in a range of highly specialised categories. The Australian Event Awards actively encourages relevant industry personnel and organisations to enter the EEAA Awards, the ISES Esprit Awards, the MEA Awards the PRIA awards or Sponsorship Australasia's Awards.

Rather than being specialised and focussed on a particular industry sector, the Australian Event Awards is an awards program is intentionally broad, enabling all Australian events and events professionals to compete and develop excellence across the sectors of the events industry, on a level playing field, nationally. It is a different product to the other awards programs and aims to co-exist in harmony.

Events are about people. There is a team of people that create the event and, more importantly, there is the acknowledgement that an event does not exist unless people attend. The Australian Event Awards trophy shows a person holding a diamond. The many facets of the diamond represent the many facets of the Australian Events Industry coming together to form a precious whole. So far the trophy does not have a name, but we’d love to hear your suggestions!

Entries into the Australian Event Awards are open to events staged in Australia and achievements by Australians during the period from 1 July to 30 June each year.

Yes, of course. Each category has different criteria and requires a separate entry but you are welcome to enter as many categories as you like.

Standard entries into the 2011 awards cost $220. The entry price is reduced for those starting and paying for their entry early and for members of our partner associations. Register for updates so you receive the full criteria and entry fees when they are released each year.

There are no prerequisites for entry outside of the criteria for each category. The Australian Event Awards acknowledges Australian events, event organisers and suppliers on a level playing field, across the entire national events industry. This means that the entry must be for Australian work:

• Events must have taken place within Australia
• Product or service or achievements may have taken place outside Australia but must be done by a company registered in Australia and predominantly by Australians

The Australian Event Awards does not seek to reward the biggest event or the biggest budget. The Awards recognise industry best practice and innovation on whatever level it may occur. It doesn’t matter if you are a voluntary committee with a tiny budget in a regional area, if you can demonstrate innovation and excellence then you will have a very good chance of taking home an Australian Event Award. Some smaller events and suppliers have managed to win in previous years against 'bigger' competition - have a look at the previous winners and finalists at our archived sites for 2009 and 2010. The 2011 finalists and winners are also now available.

Work prior to 1 July each year can only count towards an entry in the Lifetime Achievement Award.

You can download the categories and criteria each year on the first of May. This gives you approximately one month before the entry period begins to start focussing on your entry and gathering information to help you to address the criteria. Entries open on June 1 each year and close two months later toward the end of July. As practise, you should also make an effort to enter your industry association or relevant sector awards program. Some examples include the EEAA Awards, the ISES Esprit Awards, the MEA Awards the PRIA awards or Sponsorship Australasia's Awards.

Entries for the Australian Event Awards are designed to be as accessible as possible to all members of the industry. The entry process is web based and completed on a simple form which addresses the criteria and restricts answers to the word limits supplied. Completing your entry form should not be a long or difficult process.

There is no "submit" button - save your entry in the portal as you work on it, and make sure you pay the entry fee before the closing date. Whatever you have saved in the portal at the time entries close will be submitted for judging proving the entry has been paid for. If you prefer to download the entry form to work offline, make sure you upload and save your answers in the portal before the close of entries.

You will need to have provided a service to a specific event (or events) in Australia between 1 July and 30 June in the current year.

The awards are judged by an independent industry judging panel that is representative of all areas of the industry by sector and by geography. Members of this panel choose to contribute on a voluntary basis and remain entirely separate from the ownership structure of the awards. The panel is led by the Co-Chairs John Allen and Sandy Hollway.

During August each year, entry-form information in each category is reviewed by at least two appropriately qualified members of the judging panel and given an initial score according to the published criteria. The top three entries in each category will be declared ’finalists’. The entry information, including any supplementary information provided by each finalist, will be presented to the entire judging panel and a winner will be selected based on the published criteria. Each finalist will be announced in late August and the winner will be announced at the Award Presentation in September. A detailed explanation of the judging process can be viewed here.

In short, yes. Judges are required to formally declare conflicts of interest to the co-chairs of the judging panel and to refrain from judging categories in which they may have an interest. Persons who are in any way related to the manager of the Australian Event Awards, The Epic Team, are ineligible to judge the awards.

When you complete your award entry you will be asked to include a contact person who can answer any questions that the industry judging panel may have regarding your entry.

The Event of the Year is judged from the winners of each of the Event of the Year categories (as listed here).The industry judging panel will be looking for an event that demonstrates an outstanding example of best practice in the events industry; displays an innovative approach that provides a positive example for other events; achieves and surpasses its aims and greatly exceeds the criteria of its Award category.

The Australian Event Awards Judging Panel has been chosen for their extensive knowledge of the events industry throughout Australia. In the unlikely event that an entrant is less than truthful it is very likely that our Judging Panel will notice. Should an Award be presented based on an entry later shown to be untrue then the Award will be revoked and the entrant banned from future involvement in the Awards.

Finalists will be announced in August. Check here for our key dates. All finalists will then have the right to use the official Finalist logo in their marketing materials.

The winners will receive an Australian Event Awards Trophy, a unique design that can be seen here. They will also have the right to use the official Award Winner logo in marketing materials.

Those details are here.

Those details are here.

Just purchase one online here. There are discounts for members of our partner associations and there is also a discount for buying a table of ten.

The Australian Event Awards is not government funded. The Awards team are seeking partners to invest in several sponsorship opportunities. More information is available here.

If you have supplied a product or service to an event in Australia, you may be eligible for an Achievement Award. If your product or service is new then you may be eligible for the Best Product or Service Award. Alternatively you may prefer to sponsor an award, more information on sponsorship is available here.

Sponsors may enter a category that they do not sponsor. The Judging Panel is entirely independent, receive no payment and will not be influenced by sponsorship.

The Australian Event Awards have been developed through significant industry consultation. This consultation is ongoing. If you are a part of the events industry in Australia and we haven’t managed to consult with you please contact us.

No. The judges’ decision is final.

We welcome your feedback. Please use the contact form here, and we will respond as quickly as possible.