Industry Collaboration

The Industry Collaboration award recognises collaborations driving exemplary skills development between at least one employer/industry body and at least one organisation delivering nationally recognised vocational education and training.

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Eligibility criteria

Nominees must:

  • have at least one party who is an industry organisation (e.g., employer, enterprise, group of enterprises, industry association, industry advisory body, trade union or professional association)
  • have at least one party who is delivering nationally recognised training or directly contributing to the outcomes of nationally recognised training which leads to formal qualifications or Statements of Attainment under the Australian Qualifications Framework
  • nominate in the state or territory where the lead organisation’s head office is located.

Please note that organisations must demonstrate a genuine and shared agreement (either formal or informal) to cooperate and work together for mutual benefit. Collaborations typically will not include transactional or service delivery arrangements or partnerships where financial and cost arrangements are a defining characteristic.

Please note that nominations will not be accepted from organisations operating under a contractual ‘partnership’ agreement.

2023 state winners of this category are automatically nominated for the Australian Training Awards.

Preparing your application

Section A: Overview

This information will not be considered or used for shortlisting or judging purposes but may be used as a summary of your organisation throughout the Awards process.

Provide an overview of the collaboration, including:

  • name of the collaboration
  • the lead organisation and each of the parties to the collaboration
  • the purpose and objectives of the collaboration
  • the origin of the collaboration (how the parties came together)
  • details of the environment in which the collaboration operates
  • how the collaboration functions in practice, including lines of communication between the parties.

(limit: 500 words)

Section B: Applicants will be judged against the following criteria

  • Criterion 1: Outstanding practice of the collaboration
  • Criterion 2: Achievements of the collaboration for training
  • Criterion 3: Training impacts of the collaboration
  • Criterion 4: Sustainability and future of the collaboration

Addressing the criteria

This award category requires the applicant to address the award criteria outlined below for shortlisting and judging purposes. Please be aware that your responses to the criteria will be strengthened by the inclusion of measurable results and appropriate indicators including customer satisfaction data and other types of external validation).

The dot points listed under each criterion clarify what may be relevant to include in your application.

Describe the extent to which the collaboration goes above and beyond standard practice in training and skills development.

Consider:

  • what is the basis of the collaboration partners’ agreement that have been so successful
  • specific training needs addressed by the collaboration
  • what exemplary or innovative aspects are a feature of the training collaboration

(limit: 800 words)

Consider:

  • examples of excellence in training delivered
  • training outcomes achieved (including qualifications and skill sets awarded)
  • improvements in the quality of learning and assessment that have been implemented
  • what, if any, new or improved career pathways and opportunities have been created

(limit: 800 words)

Consider:

  • how the collaboration has benefited the participants, the community, the collaborating organisations, and the broader training system
  • what improvements in the processes/procedures of all collaborating organisations have been implemented
  • what contribution there is to social equity, especially increasing the participation of people from groups underrepresented in the industry or workplace

(limit: 800 words)

Consider:

  • what, if any, aspects of the collaboration utilise government funding. If so, how could the collaboration be continued if government funding ceased
  • how can the outcomes of the collaboration be replicated or modelled for other industries
  • what quality improvements/performance evaluation of the collaboration are in place and planned

(limit: 800 words)

Up to ten (10) single A4 page attachments are permitted, with each attachment to be provided at a 100 per cent ratio, one document per page. Attachments must be referenced in your application. No multimedia items or discs will be accepted, and any material exceeding the maximum number of attachments (10) will not be considered.

2023 state winners of this category are nominated to enter a shortlisting process for the Australian Training Awards.

Applications have now closed for the 2023 South Australian Training Awards


  • 17 April 2023 - Applications open
  • 11 June 2023 - Applications close 6pm
  • July 2023 - Judging
  • 21 September 2023 - South Australian Training Awards celebration event
  • 17 November 2023 - Australian Training Awards presentation event (Hobart)