Each year a distinguished group of judges convene to review stories from hundreds of nominations; it is certainly not an easy task.
The judging process is a two stage process.
First Round - Screening
The call for nomination is the first implementation, as the screening is designed to ensure nominees meet criteria guidelines. The nominations are open to businesses that wish to nominate themselves but businesses may also be nominated by others.
During this process, the nominations are screened to ensure that all criteria guidelines are met. This also includes eligibility for nominations which states that entrants must meet a basic criterion from the date of nomination to the date of the awards:
- Entrants must have been born overseas, in a country other than Australia
- Entrants must be Australian citizens or hold permanent residency
- Entrants must hold and provide a registered Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Entrants must own the whole or part of the business nominated
- Entrants must be financially transparent with due diligence reporting structures
- Entrants must be of good name and character and must not have engaged, directly or indirectly, in any conduct which in the opinion of the Ethnic Business Awards might discredit the Awards
- Entrants must comply with all Federal and State Government legislation and regulations and all relevant industry codes of practice
- If short-listed, entrants must agree to have their business and personal story made subject of a three minute documentary style presentation to be screened during the night of the gala presentation and subsequent broadcast to national and international television audiences.
Additionally, financially transparency and all additional criteria as per the terms and conditions of the Ethnic Business Awards guidelines must be adhered. All companies are required to submit detailed financial reporting as support data with appropriate references. At all stages, the privacy of entrant’s financial status will be guaranteed. For further information please refer to our Privacy Policy.
During this phase, nominees will be placed into 2 categories:
- Small Business Category:
- Businesses with a turnover less than or equal to $5 million per annum.
- Medium to Large Business Category:
- Businesses with an annual sales turnover greater than $5 million per annum.
Second Round - Judging
All eligible applications will proceed to the judging panel for review and selection. Judges will choose eight to ten outstanding finalists to be represented in the 2 key categories. Additionally, all entrants will also be eligible for additional award categories.
The panel of judges will consider each Award nominee against the following criteria, and will be looking for information that supports and demonstrates examples and evidence of each of the following:
- Hardship endured
- Financial obstacles overcome
- Social obstacles overcome
- Company financial viability
- Fiscal application to company
- Positioning in the marketplace
- Potential future growth in the marketplace
- Ingenuity and creativeness in the market place
- Contribution to Australia and its social fabric
- Contribution to the community
The finalists are then notified with a filming date. A professional producer, director and film crew will visit the finalist’s business and film an interview with the finalist, including an overview of the company. The footage is edited into a three minute documentary style film footage, to be screened during the night of the gala presentation, and subsequently broadcast to national and international television audiences.
The winner in each category will be awarded a crystal trophy, $10,000 cash towards their business or charity of choice and an assortment of gifts from our sponsors.
Nominations are open
Applications close 16th August 2010
