Award Categories

Nominations are now open. Nominations close Friday, 8 May 2026 (11:59pm)

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Australian HR Director of the Year
  • 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
Australian HR Manager of the Year
  • 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
Australian HR Rising Star of the Year
  • 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
Australian HR Champion (CEO) of the Year
  • 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

Australian HR Team of the Year (≤1000 Employees)
  • 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
Australian HR Team of the Year (>1000 Employees)
  • 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
Employer of Choice (1-99 Employees)
  • Recognises the best organisation to work for in Australia with less than 100 employees
  • Judged on leadership, engagement, communication and employee benefits
Employer of Choice (100-999 Employees)
  • Recognises the best organisation work for in Australia with 100-999 employees
  • Judged on leadership, engagement, communication and employee benefits
Employer of Choice (>1000 Employees)
  • Recognises the best organisation work for in Australia with 1000 or more employees
  • Judged on leadership, engagement, communication and employee benefits
Employer of Choice (Public Sector & NFP)
  • Recognises the best public sector or not-for-profit organisation to work for in Australia
  • Judged on leadership, engagement, communication and employee benefits
Best Graduate Development Program
  • Recognises excellence and innovation in graduate development programs and initiatives in any organisation in Australia
  • Judged on consultation, strategy, implementation and results
Best Health & Wellbeing Program
  • Recognises excellence and innovation in workplace health and wellbeing programs and initiatives
  • Judged on consultation, strategy, implementation and results
Best Leadership Development Program
  • Recognises excellence and innovation in leadership development programs and initiatives
  • Judged on consultation, strategy, implementation and results
Best Learning & Development Program
  • Recognises excellence and innovation in training and development programs and initiatives
  • Judged on consultation, strategy, implementation and results
Best Recruitment Campaign
  • Recognises excellence and innovation in recruitment and employer branding campaigns and initiatives
  • Judged on consultation, strategy, implementation and results
Deel Best Remote Work Strategy
  • Recognises excellence in virtual and remote work programs and practices
  • Judged on level of innovation, employee engagement, productivity and results
Best Reward & Recognition Program
  • Recognises excellence and innovation in employee reward and recognition programs and initiatives
  • Judged on consultation, strategy, implementation and results
Best Use of Technology
  • 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
Best Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Program
  • Recognises excellence and innovation in diversity, equity and inclusion programs and initiatives
  • Judged on consultation, strategy, implementation and results
Best Workplace Flexibility Program
  • Recognises excellence and innovation in workplace flexibility programs and initiatives
  • Judged on consultation, strategy, implementation and results