What makes a great nomination

Nominations for the Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Awards are now open. These annual awards allow you to celebrate the work of staff carried out over the previous three years.

Individual category award winners will receive $500 and winning teams will be granted $2,500 (per team). Plus, the most outstanding nominee will be awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Medal for Excellence, and the medal winner will receive $5,000 (if an individual) or $10,000 (if a team).

The awards are open to all academic and professional staff members, including full-time or fractional, fixed term, contract, sessional and casual staff, who have been employees of ACU for at least one year of service prior to the date of nomination.

What makes a great nomination?

Eight staff nominees sit on the Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Awards selection panel, each for a two-year term, to consider nominations and make recommendations on award recipients.

National Manager, Service Improvement Team Bill McKendry is one of this year’s selection panel members and, based on his experience reviewing nominations in past years, he says staff need to clearly outline the reasons why an individual or team is deserving of an award.

“I think we all recognise excellence when we see it. But it’s important to be able to demonstrate it through some type of evidence,” says Bill. “Make sure your nomination addresses the criteria and don’t assume the panel is necessarily aware of the work being submitted for acknowledgement.”

Fellow panellist Research Executive Advisor Julie Thorpe shares that, in her experience, panel members are looking for examples of work that “goes above and beyond the job required”.

Meanwhile National Manager (Employment Relations and Safety) Rena Christmann will be looking for nominations that detail the way in which staff do their work, not simply the outcomes.

“I’m really interested in seeing all the examples of staff creating impact through empathy,” she says. “We’ve all experienced people whose empathetic approach makes a difference to our working day, sometimes even our working lives.

“Let’s call out the inspiring behaviours; let’s publicly acknowledge our colleagues who make a difference to our working day.”

If you’re unsure whether you should nominate the excellent work done by yourself or other staff, Bill suggests you consider the potential flow-on effects of your nomination.

“It is such a rewarding experience to have your work recognised. … I think we sometimes underestimate the value of our work in the wider enterprise. Through these awards, staff have the opportunity to have their work acknowledged and perhaps to inspire others by their example.”

Nominations close on Monday 30 August. Visit the website to learn more and obtain nomination forms.