FAQ’sAs we receive questions regarding the Australian Event Awards, we will regularly post the answers on this page. Click on the question below to link to the answer. Who are the people behind the Event Awards? What are you doing to ensure that the judging panel are fair and unbiased? How does this fit with other Awards Programs for the Events Industry? What does the trophy represent? Does it have a name? Who can enter the Event Awards? Can I enter more than one category? How much does it cost to enter the Event Awards? Are there any prerequisites for entry? What about all the work I did in the industry prior to 1 July 2009, will that be counted? What should I do to prepare to enter the Event Awards? How long will it take to prepare an entry for the Event Awards? I am interested in entering in an Event Services category. Is there anything special I should know? Can you describe the judging process? Aren’t you concerned about conflicts of interest in the judging panel? What will happen if the judges have a question about my entry? People have been known to lie in awards entries. What are you doing to prevent this? Will finalists be announced? When? What will the winners of an Event Award receive? Where will the Industry Night of Nights be this year? How do I get a ticket to the Industry Night of Nights? How is the Event Awards funded? Can sponsors of the Event Awards enter? Has the Australian Events Industry been consulted in developing the Event Awards? Do I have any recourse if I believe I have be judged unfairly? I have a comment or concern about the Event Awards. Who can I talk to? What is the Australian Event Awards?The Australian Event Awards is the peak awards program for the events industry in Australia. It rewards performance, encourages excellence and aims to unite the industry. Who are the people behind the Event Awards?The Australian Event Awards is a project 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. What are you doing to ensure that the judging panel are fair and unbiased?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 owner of the Australian Event Awards, The Epic Team, are ineligible to judge the awards. How does this fit with other Awards Programs for the Events Industry?There are other awards programs that acknowledge excellence in some segments of the industry. These award programs focus on either a particular industry sector or a specific geographic region. The Australian Event Awards does not seek to replace or compete with these existing programs. In contrast, The Australian Event Awards is an awards program that enables all Australian events and event organisers to compete and develop excellence across the entire events industry, on a level playing field, nationally. What does the trophy represent? Does it have a name?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! Who can enter the Event Awards?Entries into the Australian Event Awards are open to Events staged and Event Services provided in Australia during the period from 1 July to 30 June each year. The one exception is the Export Award recognising an Australian individual or business practicing their craft overseas between 1 July and 30 June. Can I enter more than one category?Yes, of course. Each category will have different criteria and will require a separate entry but you are welcome to enter as many categories as you like How much does it cost to enter the Event Awards?Entries into the 2010 awards cost $220. Some categories have been reduced to $165. Register for updates so you receive the full criteria and entry fees when they are released each year. Are there any prerequisites for entry?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 What are the new categories?Following significant industry feedback, the 2010 Australian Event Awards will recognise four new categories: Best New Event, Best Private Event, Best Achievement in Entertainment and Most Innovative Use of Technology. See the criteria for these categories here My event is only small. If I enter, wont I be competing against much bigger events with bigger budgets? How can I stand a chance?The Australian Event Awards does not seek to reward the biggest event or the biggest budget. The Awards recognise industry best practice and innovation wherever 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 managed to win in the 2009 Awards against 'bigger' competition, see the 2009 winners and finalists here What about all the work I did in the industry prior to 1 July 2009, will that be counted?Work prior to 1 July can only count towards an entry in the Lifetime Achievement Award What should I do to prepare to enter the Event Awards?You can now download the final categories and criteria for this year. This is the time to start focussing on your entry and gathering information to help you to address the criteria before entries close on 27 July 2010. You should also make an effort to enter your industry association or appropriate government agency awards program. Some examples include the MEA Awards, EEAA Awards, Tourism Awards and various state and local government awards How long will it take to prepare an entry for the Event 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 (with paper-based option) and based on a simple form which addresses the criteria. Completing your entry form should not be a long or difficult process. I am interested in entering in an Event Services category. Is there anything special I should know?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. Who judges the Event Awards?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. Can you describe the judging process?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 October. Aren’t you concerned about conflicts of interest in the judging panel?Judges are required to declare conflicts of interest and to refrain from judging categories in which they may have an interest. Persons who are in any way related to the owner of the Australian Event Awards, The Epic Team, are ineligible to judge the awards. What will happen if the judges have a question about my entry?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. How can you judge events across the industry from different areas against each other for the Event of the Year? It seems silly to judge a sporting event against an exhibition.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. People have been known to lie in awards entries. What are you doing to prevent this?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. Will finalists be announced? When?Finalists will be announced on 24 August 2010. All finalists will then have the right to use the official Finalist logo in their marketing materials. What will the winners of an Event Award receive?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. Where will the Industry Night of Nights be this year?The Australian Event Awards Industry Night of Nights will be held at Sydney Olympic Park on 7th October 2010. How much does it cost to attend the Industry Night of Nights?Tickets prices will be released soon. Register for updates to recieve priority access when tickets are released. How do I get a ticket to the Industry Night of Nights?Tickets will be available from this website in August. Register for updates to ensure that you don’t miss out. How is the Event Awards funded?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. I am an industry supplier who would like to market my products to the Australian events Industry. Can the Event Awards help?If you have supplied a product or service to an event in Australia, you may be eligible for an Event Services 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 is available here. Can sponsors of the Event Awards enter?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. Has the Australian Events Industry been consulted in developing the Event Awards?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. Do I have any recourse if I believe I have be judged unfairly?No. The judges’ decision is final. I have a comment or concern about the Event Awards. Who can I talk to?We welcome your feedback. Please use the contact form here. and we will respond as quickly as possible. 
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