Awards Season Wrap-Up & Resource Guide
Awards season has wrapped for another year, and while the trophies sparkle beautifully under the event lights, the reality behind the scenes is a lot less champagne and a lot more word counts and uploads.
But still – it’s always worth it. Here’s why.
Why We Keep Throwing Our Hat in the Ring
Entering awards isn’t just about chasing shiny things. It’s about stopping long enough to take stock of what’s been achieved, what’s changed, and what we’re actually trying to build.
Writing submissions forces you to articulate who you are, what impact you’re having, and where you’re heading next.
It’s essentially a free (well, sometimes not so free) annual strategy session. You end up with language you can reuse in funding applications, marketing blurbs, staff inductions and, perhaps most importantly, a reminder that your hard work is adding up to something bigger.
The Graft: What It Really Takes
Crafting a compelling entry takes time. You dig through files to find data to prove your impact, and rewrite that one paragraph until it sounds both humble and heroic.
Over time, you’ll notice that many awards ask the same core questions about your purpose, impact, and vision, so the content you create for one application can often be reused or re-jigged for another. The process helps you refine your language and clarify who you are and what you do, until your story becomes second nature.
Some awards feel deeply meaningful, with thoughtful judges who understand your sector. Others… well, they can feel a little more transactional – glossy events where everyone’s already paid for a seat at the table and to win you will have had to pay for a seat too, and feel like you might really need to have said yes to that request for paid advertising in the special feature celebrating the occasion. That’s part of the learning and working out where to spend your energy next year.
To save you the trouble and time of the steep learning curve we have put together this guide to help you save time, find focus and improve your chances of a win.
The Gold Nuggets: When It’s Worth It
When you hit submit, there’s that little moment of satisfaction… And, being a finalist (or a winner!) gives you momentum – new media exposure, new introductions, and new conversations that can open doors months down the track. It’s also an incredible morale boost for your team and supporters.
Business & Impact Awards Resource Guide
Here’s a look at the award programs we’ve taken part in this year, how they worked, what they involved, and where to find them if you’d like to dig a little deeper.
Some of these will be most relevant for businesses in our region or within the coworking and social enterprise sectors, but the framework is much the same across Australia. If you’re based elsewhere, or work in a different industry, this list should still give you a solid starting point to search for your own local or industry-specific awards.
Each entry below includes who runs it, what it focuses on, and when submissions usually open, so you can plan ahead and decide which ones align best with your goals.
How to Use This List
- Plan early: Check websites and mark key dates in your calendar.
- Stay authentic: Judges spot over-polished or Ai generated entries a mile away.
- Keep an archive: Save final copies – they’re gold for grants and future awards.
- Be selective: Choose awards that align with your mission and budget.
Industry Awards
Flexible Workspace Australia Awards
Run by: Flexible Workspace Australia
Focus: Excellence and innovation in coworking and flexible workspaces. Categories include Diversity & Inclusion, Design & Excellence, Sustainability Impact, and Community Manager of the Year.
Entry: Simple online form (4 questions, limited word count), personal reference, and key images.
Timing: Opens May, closes July.
Effort: ★★☆☆☆ (Moderate)
Good for: Benchmarking, peer connection, industry visibility.
2024 Results: Finalist in one section from 2 entries
2025 Results: 1 win and 1 Finalist from 2 entries!!
Local & Regional Chamber Awards
Shoalhaven Business Awards
Run by: Shoalhaven Business Chamber
Focus: Leadership, innovation, and community impact.
Format: 16 categories, online form, short-answer questions, limited word count, judged by a panel.
Timing: Opens April, generally held in early spring.
Effort: ★★☆☆☆
Good for: Local brand recognition, team reward and networking.
2024 Results: 1 win from 1 entry
2025 Results: chose not enter this year
Kiama Business Awards
Run by: Kiama Business Network & Business Illawarra
Focus: Growth, innovation, and community connection.
Format: 7 categories, online form, short-answer questions, limited word count, judged by a panel.
Timing: Spring.
Effort: ★★☆☆☆
2024 Results: event was not run
2025 Results: 2 entries, 1 finalist and 1 win!
Illawarra Business Awards
Run by: Business Illawarra / Business NSW
Focus: Regional excellence and leadership across Illawarra, Shoalhaven, and Southern Highlands. Feeds into the NSW State Business Awards.
Format: 20 categories, online form, short-answer questions, limited word count, judged by a panel.
Timing: Entries open April – June, finalists announced July, gala in September, funnel for NSW State Business Awards.
Effort: ★★★☆☆
Good for: Regional visibility and progression to state-level recognition.
2024 Results: 2 finalists from 2 entries
2025 Results: 1 finalist from 1 entry
National Awards
Telstra Best of Business Awards
Run by: Telstra
Focus: Innovation, sustainability, and community impact at a national level. Highly regarded award.
How it works:
-
- Stage 1: Multiple choice questions and short answer questions (1–2 hrs) economic sustainability, leadership, and community contribution,
- Stage 2: Seven 3–4 min video questions + two written responses (1500words) (1–2 hrs).
- Stage 3: Business pitch and full disclosure of financials.
- You have to be accepted to make each category.
Timing: Opens March, closes July, announcements in August.
Effort: ★★★★★ (Highest)
Reward: National credibility, exposure, and professional development.
Tip: Treat it like a business audit – the process itself is immensely valuable.
2024 Results: did not enter
2025 Results: Made it to round 3, and top 99% of entries, unfortunately not a finalist.
COSBOA Australian Small Business Champion Awards
Run by: COSBOA
Focus: National recognition for outstanding small businesses across multiple sectors.
Format: Self-nomination, online form, word count and image upload.
Timing: Entries close July, Gala in August
Effort: ★★★☆☆(fairly high)
Good for: National exposure and celebration of small business leadership.
2024 Results: did not enter
2025 Results: not a finalist or winner
Values-Based & Social Enterprise Awards
Social Traders Gamechanger Awards
Run by: Social Traders
Focus: Certified social enterprises demonstrating ESG and SDG impact.
Entry: Online form, word count, image upload.
Timing: Opens March, closes June.
Effort: ★★★☆☆
Good for: Purpose-driven credibility and impact storytelling.
Categories: Environment, Social, and Governance (must demonstrate two or more areas, including one social).
2024 Results: Did not enter
2025 Results: not a finalist or winner
Public-Vote & Media Awards
The Local Business Awards- These are run through many regions across Australia, check the website for your region.
Run by: Precedent Productions
Focus: Customer-voted local business recognition.
Format: Public voting and attendance at the awards night required to win.
Timing: Rolling deadlines depending on region.
Effort: ★★☆☆☆
Good for: Social media engagement, customer appreciation, and local publicity.
2024 Results: Finalist
2025 Results: Did not enter
Channel 7 Business Builders / Regional Heroes
Run by: Kochie’s Business Builders
Focus: Regional and small business success stories with major cash prizes (up to $50K).
Timing: Mid-year.
Effort: ★★☆☆☆
Good for: Media coverage, cross promotion on socials, great networking with other regional businesses and wide reach storytelling.
2024 Results: did not enter
2025 Results: Finalist
Final Thoughts
Awards season is equal parts celebration and self-review. Whether you take home a trophy or not, the process sharpens your story, defines your impact, and sets clear goals for what’s next.
So as you plan the year ahead, think of awards not just as recognition, but as a built-in reflection tool, a structured pause to ask, “What did we achieve? What’s next?”
Because even if the trophies stay the same height, the growth behind them keeps getting bigger.
