1800 961 980
info@caqa.com.au
What is the Australian VET Sector Awards?
The Australian VET Sector Awards is the national program that recognises and celebrates outstanding achievement, innovation, and contribution across Australia's Vocational Education and Training sector. The awards honour the individuals, teams, organisations, and programs setting the standard for quality vocational education nationwide.
Who is eligible to participate in the VET Sector Awards?
Any individual or organisation actively engaged in Australia's Vocational Education and Training sector is eligible. This includes Registered Training Organisations, TAFEs, private training providers, trainers, assessors, managers, students, apprentices, trainees, industry partners, and employers of Australian apprentices and trainees. Individual nominees must hold a current role in the sector and have completed minimum 12 months in that role, except for the Student of the Year and Start-up of the Year categories, which carry their own criteria.
What are the award categories for the VET Sector Awards?
The 2026 program features 48 award categories spanning individual excellence, organisational achievement, training programs, innovation, resources, and lifetime recognition. Categories include Training Provider of the Year, CEO of the Year, Trainer of the Year, Student of the Year, Innovation in VET Sector, Lifetime Achievement Award, and many others. The full list, with description and judging criteria for each category, is available on the Categories page.
How can I nominate someone for the VET Sector Awards?
Nominations are submitted online through the Nominate Now page. Select the category, complete the nomination form, upload supporting evidence, and submit before the 30 August deadline. Self-nominations and nominations by colleagues, employers, industry peers, or students are all accepted. There is no nomination fee.
What are the important dates for the VET Sector Awards?
Announcement Day is 15 October 2026, when nominations officially open. The last date for entries is 30 March 2027, with nominations closing at 11:59 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time. Shortlisted nominees are notified in early September 2026. The Award Ceremony is held on 15 May 2027.
What is the nomination process for the awards?
The nomination process has seven steps: identify the category, prepare the submission and supporting evidence, complete the online nomination form, review and submit, await the assessment panel review, receive notification if shortlisted, and attend the award ceremony on 15 September 2026. The full step-by-step guide is available on the home page.
Who will be judging the VET Sector Awards?
The VET Sector Awards are judged by a panel of accomplished sector professionals, including Sukh Sandhu, Anna Haranas, Rajkiran Sandhu, Michelle Newman, Malka Lawrence, Gail Baker, Sue Bidesi, and other experienced individuals from across Australia's VET sector. The full panel is introduced on the Judging Panel page.
What are the judging criteria for the awards?
Each category has its own weighted criteria, published alongside the category description on the Categories page. Common themes across all categories include demonstrated excellence, contribution to the sector, innovation, measurable impact, and leadership.
How can I become a sponsor for the VET Sector Awards?
Sponsorship packages are available at several levels, each offering brand visibility across the awards campaign, the ceremony, and the awards website. Visit the Sponsorship page to review packages and complete the sponsor interest form.
When and where will the award ceremony take place?
The 2026 Award Ceremony is held on 15 September 2026. Venue, dress code, and ticketing details are published on the Ceremony page closer to the date and emailed directly to shortlisted nominees.
Can I nominate myself for the awards?
Yes. Self-nominations are welcomed across all categories for which the individual or organisation meets the eligibility criteria.
Can I nominate more than one individual or organisation?
Yes. You can submit separate nominations for different individuals and organisations, and the same nominator can support multiple nominees.
How are the winners decided?
Winners are decided by the judging panel using the published criteria for each category. The People's Choice Award is determined by public vote, and the Industry's Choice Award is decided by a panel of industry association representatives.
When is the last date for submitting nominations?
The last date for submitting nominations is 30 August 2026, closing at 11:59 PM AEST. No nominations are accepted after this time.
How will I know if my nomination has been accepted?
You will receive an automated email confirming successful submission within minutes of submitting. A second email is sent during the first week of September confirming whether the nomination has been shortlisted.
How many awards can one individual or organisation win?
An individual or organisation can win in multiple categories in the same year, provided they are nominated in each category and assessed as the strongest candidate by the judging panel.
Are there any fees to participate in the awards?
There is no fee to nominate or participate. Nominations and shortlisting are free. Tickets to the award ceremony are sold separately, and pricing is published on the Ceremony page.
Can international organisations participate in the awards?
Participation is open to Australian individuals and organisations only. International partners of Australian VET providers may be acknowledged within nominations but cannot be the primary nominee.
When will the winners be announced?
Winners are announced on stage during the Award Ceremony on 15 September 2026. Winners are then profiled on the awards website and across VET Sector Awards social media.
What do the winners receive?
Winners receive a VET Sector Awards trophy, a framed certificate of recognition, a winner's badge for use in their communications and marketing, and coverage in The VET Sector Magazine and across awards social channels.
Can the public attend the award ceremony?
Yes. The ceremony is open to the public, with ticket sales opening in late July 2026 on the Ceremony page. Table and corporate bookings are also available through the awards team.
How can I get involved with the VET Sector Awards?
You can nominate yourself or someone else, sponsor the awards, volunteer during the campaign or ceremony, or attend the event as a guest. Contact info@caqa.com.au for any of these pathways.
Can I volunteer for the VET Sector Awards?
Yes. Volunteer roles are available across the nomination period and the ceremony itself. Email info@caqa.com.au to register your interest.
What are the sponsorship levels for the awards?
Sponsorship is structured across Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Category Partner levels. Each level offers a defined package of brand placement, event hospitality, and digital exposure. Full details are published on the Sponsorship page.
What are the benefits of sponsoring the awards?
Sponsors receive logo placement on the awards website, inclusion in media releases and email campaigns, on-stage acknowledgment at the ceremony, complimentary tickets or tables depending on the package, and post-event brand exposure through winner profiles and magazine coverage.
Who were the previous winners of the VET Sector Awards?
Past winners are profiled on the Past Winners page, organised by year and category. Each profile includes a citation, a photograph from the ceremony, and a link to the winner's website where available.
How can I get updates about the awards?
Subscribe to the VET Sector Awards newsletter via the homepage footer and follow the awards on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X. The newsletter carries monthly updates during the awards cycle.
What is the deadline for sponsorship opportunities?
The sponsorship deadline is 30 March 2026. Packages secured after this date are accommodated where possible, subject to remaining availability in each tier.
How does the judging process work?
The process has three stages. First, an eligibility and completeness screen of every nomination. Second, a scoring round in which each eligible nomination is assessed against the published category criteria by assigned panel judges. Third, a moderation meeting where the full panel reviews scored nominations and agrees the shortlist and winner for each category.
What happens if there is a tie in a category?
If two nominations score identically after moderation, the panel chair casts an additional weighted vote against the category criteria to determine the winner.
What happens after the award ceremony?
Winners are profiled on the awards website, featured in The VET Sector Magazine, and promoted across social channels. Winner trophies and certificates are delivered or presented on the night. Media releases are issued within 48 hours of the ceremony.
What are the categories in which a student can be nominated?
Students can be nominated in the Student of the Year category. Student teams may also be recognised within the Learning Team of the Year and Best Student Engagement Program categories where the student role in the achievement is central.
Are there separate awards for TAFE and private training providers?
Yes. The program includes TAFE of the Year, Training Provider of the Year, and Small Training Provider of the Year, allowing recognition across the full diversity of Australian providers.
Can I nominate someone in multiple categories?
Yes, provided the nominee meets the eligibility criteria for each category. A separate nomination form is required for each category.
How is the VET Sector Awards different from other education awards?
The VET Sector Awards is solely dedicated to Australia's Vocational Education and Training sector, with 48 specialised categories covering individual roles, organisational performance, programs, resources, and innovation that no other Australian awards program covers at this depth.
Can a winner from a previous year be nominated again?
Yes. Previous winners can be nominated in any category other than the specific category they won in the preceding year. After a one-year gap, they can be nominated in that category again.
Can I appeal if I don't win an award?
Judging decisions are final. Nominators or nominees who wish to raise a concern about process (as distinct from outcome) can submit a formal query through the Complaints and Appeals Policy link in the footer.
What is the importance of VET Sector Awards in the industry?
The awards lift standards by publicly recognising the practice the sector most wants to encourage. They give nominees and winners a national platform, support recruitment and retention for winning organisations, and create a visible benchmark of excellence for the whole sector to aim for.
How can I contact the VET Sector Awards team?
Email info@caqa.com.au or call 1800 961 980 between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday.
What is the mission of the VET Sector Awards?
The mission of the VET Sector Awards is to celebrate excellence, encourage innovation, and raise the visibility of Australia's Vocational Education and Training sector at the national level.
How are the sponsors recognised during the event?
Sponsors are recognised through logo placement on the awards website and printed collateral, mention in opening and category remarks, inclusion in post-event media releases, social media acknowledgment, and, for higher tiers, presentation of the relevant category award on stage.
What are the key factors the judges look for in the nominees?
Judges look for evidence of excellence, measurable impact, innovation, leadership, and contribution to the wider VET sector. Each category has specific criteria with weighting; these are published alongside each category on the Categories page.
Can the nominations be edited after submission?
Yes. Nominations can be edited up until the nomination deadline of 30 August 2026 by logging into your account on the awards website and opening the relevant submission.
Can the nomination be withdrawn after submission?
Yes. Nominations can be withdrawn by emailing info@caqa.com.au before the 30 August 2026 deadline.
What information is required for completing the nomination?
The nomination form captures the nominee's name, role, organisation, and contact details, the nominator's details, the category, a written justification of up to 1,500 words addressing the category criteria, and supporting evidence such as testimonials, data, publications, photographs, or project documentation.
Can the judges be contacted during the process?
No. Judges cannot be contacted by nominators or nominees while assessment is underway. This protects the impartiality of the process. All queries during the assessment period are to be directed to info@caqa.com.au.
What does the future hold for the VET Sector Awards?
The VET Sector Awards will continue to expand in reach and depth, adding categories as the sector evolves, growing the judging panel, and building a year-round program of sector storytelling that keeps excellence visible beyond the ceremony itself.