Award Categories

Friday 5 September 2025 | THE FULLERTON HOTEL SYDNEY

The 2025 Australian HR Awards Award Categories and Criteria

Individual Awards

  • Recognises the HR leader who has demonstrated excellence at the executive level over the past 12 months
  • Eligible finalists will be senior level leaders who report to the CEO and manage an HR team
  • Judged on leadership, communication, strategy, drive and results

  • Recognises the individual who has demonstrated excellence at the management level over the past 12 months
  • Eligible finalists will be mid-level leaders who look after up to 1,000 employees
  • Judged on leadership, communication, strategy, drive and results

  • Recognises the individual who has demonstrated excellence in their first 5 years of work in an HR role
  • Judged on leadership, communication, strategy, drive and results

  • Recognises the CEO who has demonstrated excellence by driving successful HR strategies from the top and putting people at the centre of the organisation
  • Judged on leadership, communication, strategy, drive and results

Company & Team Awards

  • Recognises the HR team in an organisation with up to 1000 employees in Australia that has demonstrated excellence over the past 12 months
  • Judged on overall team performance including leadership, communication, strategy, drive and results

  • Recognises the HR team in an organisation with over 1000 employees in Australia that has demonstrated excellence over the past 12 months
  • Judged on overall team performance including leadership, communication, strategy, drive and results

  • Recognises the best organisation to work for in Australia with less than 100 employees
  • Judged on leadership, engagement, communication and employee benefits

  • Recognises the best organisation work for in Australia with 100-999 employees
  • Judged on leadership, engagement, communication and employee benefits

  • Recognises the best organisation work for in Australia with 1000 or more employees
  • Judged on leadership, engagement, communication and employee benefits

  • Recognises the best public sector or not-for-profit organisation to work for in Australia
  • Judged on leadership, engagement, communication and employee benefits

  • Recognises excellence and innovation in graduate development programs and initiatives in any organisation in Australia
  • Judged on consultation, strategy, implementation and results

  • Recognises excellence and innovation in workplace health and wellbeing programs and initiatives
  • Judged on consultation, strategy, implementation and results

  • Recognises excellence and innovation in leadership development programs and initiatives
  • Judged on consultation, strategy, implementation and results

  • Recognises excellence and innovation in training and development programs and initiatives
  • Judged on consultation, strategy, implementation and results

  • Recognises excellence and innovation in recruitment and employer branding campaigns and initiatives
  • Judged on consultation, strategy, implementation and results

  • Recognises excellence in virtual and remote work programs and practices
  • Judged on level of innovation, employee engagement, productivity and results

  • Recognises excellence and innovation in employee reward and recognition programs and initiatives
  • Judged on consultation, strategy, implementation and results

  • Recognises excellence and innovation in the use of human capital technology by an in-house HR team (please note HR technology providers are not eligible to enter their own products)
  • Judged on consultation, strategy, implementation and results

  • Recognises excellence and innovation in diversity, equity and inclusion programs and initiatives
  • Judged on consultation, strategy, implementation and results

  • Recognises excellence and innovation in workplace flexibility programs and initiatives
  • Judged on consultation, strategy, implementation and results