Each year a distinguished group of judges convene to review stories from hundreds of nominations.
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.
Small Business and Medium to Large Business Categories:
- 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
Indigenous in Business Category:
- Entrants must be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
- Entrants are required to provide evidence of their Aboriginality or Torres Strait Islander descent. Usually this evidence will consist of a statutory declaration completed by the applicant and a document executed by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander organisation confirming that the applicant is recognised by his or her community as an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander. However, applicants may be required to provide additional evidence if the usual evidence is not considered sufficient. Each entrant must complete a statutory declaration. As the statutory declaration requires the applicant to state that he or she is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, some, or all of the applicant’s ancestor must be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. The declaration also requires the applicant to state that he or she identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person and that he or she is recognised by his or her community as a person who is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
- 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 (where it is part, the majority shareholder must be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent)
- 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, financial transparency and all additional criteria as per the terms and conditions of the EBA guidelines must be adhered to. All companies are required to submit detailed financial reports as support data with appropriate references. At all stages, the privacy of entrant’s financials will be guaranteed. For further information please refer to our Privacy Policy.
During this phase, nominees will be placed into three (3) 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.
• Indigenous in Business Award:
- - Aiding in the process of Indigenous reconciliation and advancement
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 three (3) 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 (3) 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.
Appications close 27th July 2012
