Awards Categories & Criteria
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Award 1: HSR of the Year Award
Summary
Recognises a Health and Safety Representative who has made a significant contribution to improving workplace health and safety. Nominees will demonstrate proactive risk identification, effective consultation, and measurable improvements in safety outcomes or culture.
Eligibility
- Open to current Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) operating in Australia
- Must be formally elected or appointed as an HSR under relevant WHS/OHS legislation
- Nominee can be:
- Self-nominated, or
- Nominated by an employer, colleague, or third party (with nominee consent)
- The nominee must have been actively performing the HSR role during the eligibility period
- Demonstrated contribution to workplace health and safety within the past 12–24 months
- A ctivities must relate to their role as an HSR (not solely broader organisational initiatives unless they played a clear leading role)
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Award 2: WHS Rising Star Award
Summary
Recognises an emerging WHS professional who has demonstrated exceptional initiative, innovation, and leadership potential. This award celebrates individuals already making a meaningful contribution to safety performance and positively influencing their workplace or industry.
Eligibility
- Open to individuals working in a WHS-related role in Australia
- Nominee can be:
- Self-nominated, or
- Nominated by an employer, colleague, or third party (with nominee consent)
- Typically early-career professionals (recommended guide: within first 5–8 years in WHS or a WHS-focused role)
- Demonstrated contribution to workplace health and safety within the past 12–24 months
- Nominees should be able to show initiative, innovation, and future leadership potential
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Award 3: WHS Leader of the Year Award
Summary
Recognises an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in workplace health and safety by driving strategic, cultural, and operational improvements. Nominees will show measurable impact, influence across stakeholders, and a sustained commitment to embedding WHS as a core organisational priority.
- Less than 1,000 employees
- Greater than 1,000 employees
Eligibility
- Open to individuals in leadership roles with responsibility for workplace health and safety in Australia
- Nominee can be:
- Self-nominated, or
- Nominated by an employer, colleague, or third party (with nominee consent)
- Must demonstrate leadership and impact within the past 12–24 months
- Nominees should have clear responsibility for influencing WHS strategy, culture, or performance
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ORGANISATIONAL/TEAM AWARDS
Award 4: Best Recovery & Return to Work Award
Summary
Recognises organisations demonstrating excellence in supporting injured or ill workers to return to safe and sustainable work. Submissions should highlight proactive practices, collaboration, and measurable recovery or return-to-work outcomes.
Eligibility
- Open to organisations operating in Australia
- Applicable to employers, organisations, or business units responsible for return-to-work (RTW) practices
- Initiatives must have been implemented or active within the past 12–24 months
- Submissions may reference partnerships (e.g. insurers, providers), but must clearly demonstrate the organisation’s role and ownership
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Award 5: Best Health & Wellbeing Strategy Award
Summary
Celebrates organisations that have implemented a structured workplace health and wellbeing strategy with demonstrable impact. This award recognises evidence-based approaches that improve workforce wellbeing, engagement, or organisational performance.
Eligibility
- Open to organisations operating in Australia
- Applicable to organisations or business units responsible for workplace health and wellbeing initiatives
- Strategy or program must have been implemented or active within the past 12–24 months
- Submissions may reference external providers, but must clearly demonstrate the organisation’s ownership and leadership
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Award 6: Best WHS Training & Development Award
Summary
Recognises excellence in WHS training and development programs that build capability and strengthen safety culture. Submissions should demonstrate alignment to organisational risk and evidence of improved competence or behavioural outcomes.
Eligibility
- Open to organisations operating in Australia
- Applicable to organisations or business units responsible for WHS training and development
- Programs must have been implemented or active within the past 12–24 months
- Submissions may reference external training providers, but must clearly demonstrate the organisation’s role in design, implementation, and outcomes
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Award 7: Best WHS Technology & Innovation Award
Summary
This category recognises organisations that have implemented WHS technology or innovative solutions resulting in clear and sustainable safety improvements. It celebrates practical innovation that addresses risk and delivers measurable outcomes across the full scope of work-related health, safety, and wellbeing, including physical safety, occupational health, and psychosocial wellbeing.
Eligibility
- Open to organisations operating in Australia
- Applicable to organisations that have implemented WHS technology or innovative solutions
- Solutions may be:
- Developed in-house, or
- Adopted/adapted from external providers
- Initiatives must have been implemented or active within the past 12–24 months
- Submissions must clearly demonstrate the organisation’s role in implementation, adoption, and outcomes
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Award 8: WHS Team of the Year Award
Summary
Recognises a WHS team that has demonstrated excellence in delivering effective safety initiatives. Submissions should show strong collaboration, innovation, and measurable improvements in safety performance or organisational culture.
Eligibility
- Open to organisations operating in Australia
- Applicable to WHS teams or cross-functional teams responsible for delivering safety initiatives
- Teams may include WHS professionals, operational staff, leaders, and other stakeholders
- Initiatives must have been implemented or active within the past 12–24 months
- Submissions must clearly demonstrate the collective contribution of the team, not individual performance
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The Australian Workplace Health and Safety Awards is open to government, non-government and private organisations operating in Australia that have an ABN, and to individuals who are currently employed and working within the field of WHS in Australia.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY: AIHS PAYS RESPECT TO THE TRADITIONAL OWNERS AND CUSTODIANS OF THE LAND ON WHICH WE WORK AND LIVE, AND THEIR CONNECTIONS TO LAND, SEA AND COMMUNITY. WE PAY OUR RESPECT TO THEIR ELDERS PAST AND PRESENT AND EXTEND THAT RESPECT TO ALL ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLES TODAY.