About
The Shaping Australia Awards will recognise excellence across teaching, research and community service, celebrating the contribution universities and individuals make to Australia and Australians.
Individuals and teams from Australian universities are invited to submit entries in the following categories.
The Problem Solver Award recognises an individual or a team’s work or research that has changed or has the potential to change the lives of Australians for the better. In this category, the judging panel will be looking for entries that demonstrate:
The life-changing impact of the work on Australians
Significant societal, technological, or economic benefits, and
Why the work was needed.
Entries should be based on activities that fall within the 2023 calendar year.
The winner will receive $2500 in prize money.
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The Future Builder Award recognises an individual or a team that has gone over and above to equip their students with the knowledge and skills they need to make a positive impact in the world. In this category, the judging panel will be looking for entries that demonstrate how the individual or team:
Delivered an innovative, out of the box teaching program
Motivated students to push the limits, preparing them to hit the ground running in their chosen career, and
Engaged with industry, colleagues or across disciplines to bridge knowledge gaps and complete students’ skillsets.
Entries should be based on activities that fall within the 2023 calendar year.
The winner will receive $2500 in prize money.
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The Community Champion Award recognises an individual, team or university with strong links to its community and the people who call it home, not just those who attend the institution. In this category, the judging panel will be looking for entries that demonstrate:
Tangible ways the university, program or initiative is improving the lives of locals
A genuine connection between the university and the community, particularly in times of need, and
An enduring and significant impact on community members.
Entries should be based on activities that fall within the 2023 calendar year.
The winner will receive $2500 in prize money.
View Finalists

In addition to entries being assessed by our judging panel, a people’s choice voting system will allow the community to vote for their favourite finalists from each category. The people’s choice category will be open for voting on 22 November 2023 until 26 January 2024, and every vote will count.
Finalists with the highest vote in each category will receive $2500 in prize money.
View Finalists

People’s choice voting ends in:
Entries open
20 September 2023
Entries close
5pm AEDT, 20 November 2023
People’s choice is now open
29 November 2023
Winners announced
27 February 2024
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