2023 Award Categories
The AGRIAs categories have grown and developed over the years as our industry has evolved (see the Winners page to see how the categories have changed over time). Every year we conduct a review of the AGRIAs to improve and develop the categories as well as the process for selecting the finalists and eventual winners.
Our general approach is to use the opinions and perspectives of employers, graduates, interns, candidates or delegates to determine the Finalists and Winners in each category. In many cases, we collect votes or ratings for awards via one of the AAGE's annual surveys. This enables us to seek input from a large group of diverse people for each award.
The 2023 winners will be announced during the AAGE Annual Conference which takes place from Wednesday 25th through to Friday 27th October 2023. Here is some background on each of the Award Categories for the 2023 AGRIAs.
1. Will Spensley Memorial Award for Innovation
The aim of this Award is to recognise the employers that have been the most innovative in the graduate market. The innovative measure must be new to the organisation and/or market - therefore something that already exists in the graduate market cannot be 'innovative' for the purposes of this award. e.g. "we switched to virtual assessment centres during the COVID pandemic" is not an innovation.
The innovative idea can be anything to do with the attraction, recruitment & selection, induction & development of graduates or interns.
This award relates to innovations by employers - therefore innovations by suppliers, universities, professional associations etc. are not eligible for this award. The use of a product or service provided by a supplier, university or professional association is NOT innovative for the purposes of this award. e.g. "we used Supplier X's online aptitude testing for the first time" is not an innovation.
Employers must include a written synopsis (700 word limit), in order to be considered for this Award.
The Finalists for this Award will be selected by a judging panel based on the following criteria:
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Objective setting – what was the challenge or problem your innovation was going to address or the goal you were trying to achieve?
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Creativity and originality of the innovation
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What was the impact? Who benefited and how was this measured?
Who was Will Spensley?
Will was a talented, driven and intelligent man with a passionate interest in graduate recruitment and innovation. Will pioneered and continuously contributed to many initiatives in the recruitment industry. He was co-founder of Acendre (originally NGA.NET), which in 1998 delivered the first web-based searchable resume database in Australia.
Together with Elizabeth O’Leary in May 2001, Will created Pinpoint HRM (originally Catch22, later named Talent Zone). Despite the name changes, the business has remained true to Will’s original vision – to be a specialist corporate advisory firm raising the awareness of (and assisting employers to adopt) the latest developments in recruitment.
Will partnered closely with the AAGE for a number of years, as the AAGE vision aligned with Will’s belief in developing and improving the graduate industry through innovation. He worked closely with Katrina Harrington to develop the inaugural Australasian Graduate Recruitment Benchmarking Survey, which was released in February 2003. Now known as the Employer Survey, this study makes up part of a full suite of innovative reports provided by the AAGE. Tragically in September 2003, at age 34, Will passed away from conditions associated with a rare illness. Will is constantly missed by all who knew him.
In 2004, the AAGE decided to celebrate Will’s life, passion and commitment to the recruitment industry by dedicating an award as part of the AGRIAs. The Will Spensley Memorial Award for Innovation celebrates originality, creativity and impact…just like Will.
2. Outstanding Integrated Marketing Campaign
This Award is designed to recognise employers that have displayed excellence across their whole marketing campaign. This can include, but is not limited to, brochures, adverts, websites, social media and videos.
Employers must provide a written synopsis (700 word limit), in order to be considered for this Award that outlines their integrated marketing campaign and include examples from their marketing campaign.
The Finalists for this Award will be selected by a judging panel based on the following criteria:
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The alignment of the marketing collateral with the stated campaign objectives
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Originality of content
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Evidence of outcomes to the organisation
3. Outstanding Careers Service
This Award is designed to recognise Career Services and excellence and innovation in the delivery of their resources, tools and employer engagement during the past twelve months.
The career service must provide a written synopsis (700 word limit) in order to be considered for this Award that outlines a key or new service, an innovation, or employer partnership that they have delivered in the past twelve months.
The Finalists for this Award will be selected by a judging panel based on the following criteria:
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Objective setting – what was the challenge or problem your service / innovation / partnership was going to address or the goal you were trying to reach?
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Creativity and accessibility of the service / innovation / partnership – for example use of technology, inclusivity, adaptability to other employers or industries?
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What was the impact? Who benefited and how was this measured?
4. Outstanding Supplier Partner
This Award is designed to recognise Supplier Partners and excellence and innovation in the delivery of their services and employer engagement during the past twelve months.
The supplier must provide a written synopsis (700 word limit) in order to be considered for this Award that outlines a key or new service, an innovation, or employer partnership that they have delivered in the past twelve months.
The Finalists for this Award will be selected by a judging panel based on the following criteria:
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Objective setting – what was the challenge or problem your service / innovation / partnership was going to address or the goal you were trying to reach?
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Creativity and accessibility of the service / innovation / partnership – for example use of technology, inclusivity, adaptability to other employers or industries?
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What was the impact? Who benefited and how was this measured?
5. Outstanding Industry Association
This Award is designed to recognise Industry Associations and excellence and innovation in the delivery of their services and employer engagement during the past twelve months.
The industry association must provide a written synopsis (700 word limit), in order to be considered for this Award that outlines a key or new service, an innovation, or employer partnership that they have delivered in the past twelve months.
The Finalists for this Award will be selected by a judging panel based on the following criteria:
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Objective setting – what was the challenge or problem your service / innovation / partnership was going to address or the goal you were trying to reach?
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Creativity and accessibility of the service / innovation / partnership – for example use of technology, inclusivity, adaptability to other employers or industries?
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What was the impact? Who benefited and how was this measured?
6 & 7. Outstanding Graduate Program (Graduate intakes under 50 & Graduate intakes over 50)
The aim of these awards is to recognise the employers that provide their graduates with the best overall experience during their first 12 months of employment.
There is no requirement to enter this Award Category.
The Finalists are determined from responses to the AAGE's annual Graduate Survey. This survey summarises the views and experiences of up to 3,000 graduates who have been in employment for around 12 months. Graduates are given a series of questions where they can rate the quality of their experiences during their first year of employment.
The Finalists for Outstanding Graduate Program are the organisations who received the highest average ratings from their graduates.
8 & 9. Outstanding Intern Program (Intern intakes under 50 & Intern intakes over 50)
The aim of this award is to recognise the employers that provide their interns with the best overall experience during their internship program. An internship program refers to a period of work experience offered by an employer to an undergraduate student during their degree. We use "Internship" as a generic description for a range of work experience programs such as clerkships, vacation work, summer placements, industry based learning etc.
There is no requirement to enter this Award Category.
The Finalists are determined from responses to the AAGE's annual Intern Survey. This survey summarises the views and experiences of up to 1,600 interns who have taken part in an internship program with an employer. Interns are given a series of questions where they can rate the quality of their experiences during their internship program.
The Finalists for Outstanding Internship Program are the organisations who received the highest average ratings from their interns.
10, 11 & 12. Most Popular Graduate Recruiter (Large, Medium & Small Programs)
The aim of this award is to recognise the work of individual graduate recruitment staff who carry out the recruitment process on behalf of their employer.
There is no requirement to enter this Award Category.
The Finalists are determined from responses to the AAGE's annual Candidate Survey. This survey summarises the views of up to 3,000 candidates who have participated in selection processes and have been offered graduate employment with at least one employer. As part of the survey, candidates are asked the following question:
"Please name the one representative, and the company they belong to, who made the most positive impression on you during your job search"
Candidates are then given a free text box so that they could name anybody they wished - they do not necessarily have to name somebody from the organisation they are joining.
The responses to this question typically nominate over 600 different recruiters from around 200 different organisations.
The Finalists for Most Popular Graduate Recruiter are the people who received the most votes in response to this question.
13. Most Popular Exhibitor
This award is designed to recognise the exhibitors who exhibit at the AAGE Annual Conference.
There is no requirement to enter this Award Category.
The Finalists for this Award are the exhibitors at the AAGE Annual Conference who received the most votes from delegates.
TERMS & CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
Before confirming your entry, please ensure you read and agree to our Terms & Conditions below. Please ensure you read and consider each point carefully, as some terms may change from year to year.
(1) Entry to these Awards is restricted to current financial Members of the Australian Association of Graduate Employers.
(2) Only ONE entry per organisation in each award category will be accepted.
(3) Organisations cannot submit the same entry for subsequent years.
(4) All entries must be submitted in their entirety by the closing date. No entries will be accepted after the closing date.
(5) All of these submissions will be reviewed by a judging panel and assessed based on criteria rather than a popular vote. All members are invited to nominate to participate in an AGRIAs judging panel.
(6) Your submission may also be shown at the AAGE Annual Conference which takes place from Wednesday 25 October to Friday 27 October 2023 in Sydney.
(7) If your organisation is selected as a finalist for this Award, then a representative from your organisation MUST attend the AAGE Gala Dinner in Sydney to potentially accept the trophy. The Gala Dinner takes place from 6.30pm to 1am, Thursday 26th October, 2023. (Registration can be made via the AAGE Conference web page at www.aageconference.com.au)
(8) If your organisation is selected as a finalist for this Award, then a representative from your organisation MAY be invited to deliver a presentation on the material provided in your submission at an AAGE event between October 25th, 2023 and September 30th, 2024. This will allow AAGE members to hear from the organisations who have been selected as finalists in this award category.
(9) Full details of the Award categories, definitions, eligibility, criteria, entry and decision process are shown on the AGRIAs website www.agrias.com.au.
(10) The Awards decisions are final. No correspondence will be entered into. No feedback will be provided for unsuccessful entries.