What is ‘public service’?
Public service can be defined as:
1. Employment within a governmental system, especially within the civil service.
2. A service performed for the benefit of the public, especially by a not for profit organization.
3. The business of supplying an essential commodity, such as water or electricity, or a service, such as communications or transportation, to the public.
Public services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly (through the public sector) or by financing private provision of services. The term is associated with a social consensus (usually expressed through democratic elections) that certain services should be available to all, regardless of income. Even where public services are neither publicly provided nor publicly financed, for social and political reasons they are usually subject to regulation going beyond that applying to most economic sectors.
Who will judge the awards?
The judging panels are comprised of IPAA WA members, councillors and representatives from across all three tiers of government, academic and not-for-profit sectors.
When do the applications close?
Please refer to the Key Dates section at the bottom of the How To Nominate page.
Do you accept late applications?
No. Unfortunately we cannot accept late applications.
Can I save my progress when filling in the Online Entry Form, to complete later?
No. Unfortunately the form must be completed in one sitting.
What do I need to have ready before starting the Online Entry Form?
This differs between award categories. To view the checklist for an award category, simply open the Online Entry Form, select the award category, and press ‘Next’ – the checklist will appear on the next page of the form.
Is the word count and supporting evidence word/page limit strict?
Yes. Any words that are over the word count/page limit will not be viewed by the judging panels.
Can I submit hard copy supporting documents?
No. The supporting document must be uploaded to the Online Entry Form. Only one Word or PDF supporting document can be submitted online and is set to a 5mb limit. Please include links to videos, media recognition or online resources which may assist in your nomination. IPAA WA may review this rule on a case by case basis if an electronic supporting document is not available for upload.
Can I upload images?
Yes. You can upload one image up to 2MB in size of an individual or team relevant to the nomination.
When will I find out the outcome of my application?
All winners will be announced at the Awards Presentation Ceremony and in IPAA WA’s newsletter iNews, and on the IPAA WA website.
We have entered the Achievement Awards previously, are we eligible to enter this year?
Yes.
Do you have to be an IPAA WA member to nominate?
Yes. You must be either an Individual Member (Associate or Personal), or from an IPAA WA Corporate Member organisation.
The nominated individual or organisation does not need to be a member of IPAA WA, but must work or operate in Western Australia in a tier of public service including Local, State, or Federal Government, the Not-for-Profit sector or the Academic sector.
Can you apply for more than one award?
Yes. You can apply for as many awards as you choose but you must submit a separate nomination.
Can I nominate more than one organisation for the same project under the collaboration awards?
Yes. Additional collaborated organisations can be listed or defined in your response to the Assessment Criteria. If your nomination is deemed a winner, up to two organisations may accept the award, including up to two trophies.
What is the maximum number of members a team nomination can have?
There is no maximum number of members for a team entry. We understand that some projects can involve several staff to execute it effectively and efficiently.
Can I/my team enter more than one Award category?
Yes. You can apply for more than one category for your project or initiative. However you must submit a separate nomination for each category you enter into.
Can the same project or initiative win the award for more than one category?
Yes. It is possible that the same project or initiative can win the award for more than one category. To be eligible, you must submit a separate nomination for each category you enter into. This separate nomination can be a replica of your first nomination but must include a new Assessment Criteria response and submitted through the online Entry Form.
Are our submissions confidential?
All submissions are strictly confidential.
Referees
How many referees are required?
1 referee is required. A maximum of 3 referees may be added.
Do the referees need to provide referee statements? If so, word length?
No. This is optional and should be no more than 100 words in the Supporting Document.
Individual Awards Only
Do I require support from my CEO/DG when completing a nomination?
The nomination must have approval by the head of your organisation*. The person completing the Applicant Declaration section of the Assessment Criteria is deemed to have authorisation to submit the nomination on behalf of your agency / organisation with the appropriate approval. If nominating in an Individual Award category, this person must not be the nominated person (for that award).
* If you believe this is not relevant to your specific nomination, or if you have any questions about this, please contact the IPAA WA Office on 08 9360 1400 to discuss.
If an individual wants to self nominate do they need to be an Individual member of the Institute or is it okay for them to be an employee of an organisation with corporate membership?
Either an Individual member or an employee of a Corporate member can nominate for the awards.
Is a CV part of the main submission?
No. The CV is a supporting document.