Kookaburra Awards Info Page - ourcommunity.com.au

They can be a little loud, a bit raucous, sometimes slightly unpleasant on the ear.
But as a country we would be devastated without them.

They're distinctive. They're iconic. They're impossible to ignore.

They're our Kookaburras.

2010 KOOKABURRA AWARD WINNERS:

Congratulations to the winners of the 2010 Westpac Kookaburra Awards:

Project: See, Listen, Speak - Change Media
Individual: Andrew Heslop (Founder of Neighbour Day)
Community Group: Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (Melbourne)

The award winners were announced at Communities in Control 2010 on May 31

Click here to read the media release.

For more information about the 2010 awards, call Lisa on (03) 9320 6820 or email lisar@ourcommunity.com.au.

IMAGES:

Change Media

Andrew Heslop

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre

ABOUT THE KOOKABURRA AWARDS:

Somebody has to bring change. Someone, or some thing, has to make us change.

At times, we might think of these people as ratbags, or cranks, or stirrers, or worse. We call them or their organisations radical, or subversive, or infuriatingly single-minded. We look at what they're doing and dismiss it as pointless, or an unnecessary distraction from the real issues, or just a stunt.

But they made a difference in the world.

The 2010 Kookaburra Awards will offer prizes to individuals and organisations and projects that really make a difference - that stretch people's vision of what's possible in Australian society today.

We don't have strict rules around the scale of their endeavours, or the geography, or even whether they won the battle this time round. We want to know that they fought the good fight, that they told truth to power, and that what they have done will carry on.

HOW TO NOMINATE:

In 2010 we will be awarding three prizes - for extraordinary individuals, for groundbreaking projects, and for game-changing community/not-for-profit organisations.

Community Groups: It's not about being the biggest, or the best resourced, or the highest-profile group, it's about being a group that does what it does brilliantly - and one that stands out as a beacon of innovative community leadership and works to change things for the better.
Projects: It's not about having a project that brought in a large grant, or came in below budget. We're looking for projects that have changed people's lives; that make people say "Gosh, I didn't know you could do that. Awesome!"
Individuals: It's not about being a saint, or a guru, or a great philanthropist: it's about being someone who can bring ordinary people along with a movement to change their lives, and ours.

You can nominate yourself or your own group or project, or be nominated by others for a Kookaburra Award. If you're nominating another group, project or individual, we do ask you to get their permission first, and give us their contact details so we can contact them if we need to.

For your nominee to be eligible for a 2010 Community Kookaburra Award you need to return your entry to Our Community by Wednesday, 12 May 2010.

The prizewinners will be announced on day one of the Communities in Control Conference on 31 May, 2010.

Only online nominations will be accepted - click one of the buttons at the top of the page to make a nomination.

PRIZES:

Each winner of the 2010 Kookaburra Awards - the individual, the project and the group - will receive a total prize package valued at more than $10,000.

The prize package includes a selection of Our Community books and newsletters, Communities in Control DVDs and training - a total prize package valued at more than $7000 - plus, for interstate individuals, projects and groups only, accommodation and flights for two people to attend Communities in Control 2010 (31 May - June 1).

Each winner will also receive a $3000 cash prize.

JUDGING:

A panel of eminent community leaders will sort through the entries and pick the three that light up the page. Winners will be notified by telephone.

ELIGIBILITY - TERMS & CONDITIONS:

Terms of eligiblity for each of the three categories are outlined below:

For Community Groups: The nominated group must be an Australian community organisation - that is, a not-for-profit association (incorporated or unincorporated), society, club, or group that is working to change the world (or their part of it) for the better;

For Community Projects: Eligible Community Projects are those that are done by a community group, a business, a local government authority - anyone or any body - that has changed the community for the better;

For Individuals: People nominated for a Kookaburra Award must have been working for or through or in collaboration with an Australian community organisation (we're not looking for an isolated thinker, but a guide and a leader) to change the community for the better.

Win-Bin:

In order to ensure that a range of people and groups are given the opportunity to have their voices heard through the Kookaburra Awards, groups that have been highly commended or finalists in Our Community's Australian Idol awards are placed in the "win bin" and aren't eligible for this award for three years. Organisations in the win-bin may, however nominate people or projects for the Kookaburra Awards. To view previously honoured groups go to www.ourcommunity.com.au/halloffame.

CLOSING DATES:

All entries must be received by Our Community by 5pm on Wednesday, 12 May 2010.

Click here to return to the top of the page and make a nomination.