Award Categories
Nominate an organisation, service, program, project or individual in one of eight YOGIE Award categories
These awards for an organisation, service, program or project who works with and/or for young people in the ACT and surrounding region. Organisations may nominate themselves, or another organisation. We also encourage young people to submit testimonials to support a nomination.
This award recognises an organisation, service, program or project that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to developing meaningful partnerships with young people. The winner will have demonstrated best practice principles for youth participation: meaningful, appropriate, effective and beneficial to young people. Through these practices the young people involved will have their views and contributions heard and actioned. Young people have benefited and their contribution, ideas and energies are valued. In your response, as well as specific considerations listed below you may wish to also consider: How has their work impacted on and benefited young people? What makes the nominee outstanding, innovative, unique or special? What are you/they most proud or happy with?
Judges will consider:
- How have they demonstrated an outstanding commitment to developing meaningful partnerships with young people?
- How have they demonstrated best practice principles for youth participation that is meaningful, appropriate, effective and beneficial to young people?
- How have young people involved had their views and contributions heard and actioned?
- How have young people benefited?
This award recognises an organisation, service, program or project that has demonstrated exceptional “thinking outside the square” to create beneficial change for young people.
The winner will have identified new ideas, programs and/or practices that have been useful in working with young people, the community sector, government, business and/or the broader community. A main driver for innovation may have been their courage and energy to create a better society for young people. This process will have involved converting knowledge and ideas into improved ways of working, which are valued by young people and the community.
In your response, as well as specific considerations listed below you may wish to also consider: How has their work impacted on and benefited young people? What makes the nominee outstanding, innovative, unique or special? What are you/they most proud or happy with?
Judges will consider:
- How have they thought and acted “outside the square’ to deliver services to young people?
- Have they identified new ideas, programs and/or practices that have been useful in working with young people, the community sector, government, business and/or the broader community?
- How have they converted knowledge and ideas into improved ways of working?
- Have they collaborated with other groups?
- How has this impacted and been valued by young people and the community?
This award recognises an organisation, service, program or project that has implemented practice or policies which have been informed by evidence and/or evaluation leading to the improvement of practice with young people.
The winner will have demonstrated their commitment to implementing the findings of research and/or evaluations into practice and/or policy. This may include changes to existing programs or the implementation of new program or policy. e.g. responding to an identified need, implementing and responding to the findings of an evaluation, drawing on the findings of research to inspire change within an organisation or practice.
Nominations must provide references to the relevant research and/or evaluation that has informed the development of the practice or policy.
In your response, as well as specific considerations listed below you may wish to also consider: How has their work impacted on and benefited young people? What makes the nominee outstanding, innovative, unique or special? What are you/they most proud or happy with?
Judges will consider:
- What was the underlying need for young people?
- What was the research that was drawn upon?
- How have the research findings been implemented?
- How will this translation from research to practice impact young people?
These awards for an individual who works with and/or for young people in the ACT and surrounding region. Individuals may nominate themselves. We also encourage young people to nominate themselves, or to submit testimonials to support nominations.
This award recognises an individual youth worker who has demonstrated their exceptional commitment to supporting young people through their ethical, participatory and strengths-based practice
The winner will have demonstrated their excellence through placing young people and their interests first. The youth worker engages in relational practice, and considers the young people in their context and history. This individual exemplifies practice that empowers, advocates for and facilitates young people’s independence, participation in society, connectedness and realisation of their rights.
In your response, as well as specific considerations listed below you may wish to also consider: How has their work impacted on and benefited young people? What makes the nominee outstanding, innovative, unique or special? What are you/they most proud or happy with?
Judges will consider:
- How have they demonstrated their commitment to young people?
- How do they place young people and their interests first?
- How do they demonstrate an ethical, participatory and strengths-based practice?
This award recognises an individual youth worker who, while demonstrating excellence in supporting young people, has also displayed an outstanding commitment to developing and improving their individual practice and the work of the youth sector.
The winner will have demonstrated their exceptional commitment to supporting young people through changing systems, and advancing the rights and well-being of young people by advocating for social justice. They might be a youth worker who has participated in and/or led practice development, mentored new workers, or worked to promote the practice of youth work. This worker has contributed to the lives of young people, youth workers and the sector.
In your response, as well as specific considerations listed below you may wish to also consider: How has their work impacted on and benefited young people? What makes the nominee outstanding, innovative, unique or special? What are you/they most proud or happy with?
Judges will consider:
- How have they demonstrated their excellence in working with young people?
- How do they develop and improve their individual practice?
- What have they contributed to the overall work of the youth sector?
You must address all three questions for the nominee to be eligible for this category
This award recognises an individual youth worker, youth work trainee or volunteer that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to improving the well-being of young people.
The winner will have demonstrated a commitment to working with young people and to their ongoing learning, professional development or self-improvement. They will have made an important contribution to young people and the youth sector with their energy and enthusiasm.
Nominees for this award will have begun working in the ACT youth sector within the past two years.
In your response, as well as specific considerations listed below you may wish to also consider: How has their work impacted on and benefited young people? What makes the nominee outstanding, innovative, unique or special? What are you/they most proud or happy with?
Judges will consider:
- How have they demonstrated their commitment to young people, and to their own individual learning, professional development, or self improvement?
- How has their energy and enthusiasm contributed to young people and/or the youth sector?
- How long have they been working in the ACT youth sector? (max 2 years)
This award recognises an individual who has consistently demonstrated a commitment to supporting and improving the well-being of young people in the ACT.
The winner will be an individual who has worked with and for young people over a number of years (over 12 years) to advance their status in society. They may have had a series of positions in the community and government sectors. They will be regarded as a senior practitioner in the field who is highly skilled, knowledgeable and experienced.
In your response, as well as specific considerations listed below you may wish to also consider: How has their work impacted on and benefited young people? What makes the nominee outstanding, innovative, unique or special? What are you/they most proud or happy with?
Judges will consider:
- How have they consistently worked to support and improve the well-being of young people in the ACT?
- How have they worked with and for young people to advance the status of young people in society?
- How are their skills, knowledge and experience regarded by other practitioners in the field?
- What is their current role and/or what previous roles have they held?
- How long have they been doing this (min 12 years)?
The winner will be someone who works to improve the well-being of young people in the ACT, who is not in a youth work role. They could be someone who works ‘behind the scenes’ in the sector, or outside of the traditional youth work context to support young people. They might be a coach, mentor, program manager, volunteer, or someone who works in an administrative capacity, such as an office manager or book-keeper.
In your response, as well as specific considerations listed below you may wish to also consider: How has their work impacted on and benefited young people? What makes the nominee outstanding, innovative, unique or special? What are you/they most proud or happy with?
Judges will consider:
- What role do they play in supporting young people and/or the youth sector?
- What impact have they had on young people and/or youth workers?
Nominations Close 30th October
