FAQ’s

The individual professional categories are all those included under the Allied Health ‘banner’ in the relevant national body - Allied Health Professions Australia – so please check out the relevant websites for further details.

Every year there are a handful of categories that are scratched from the program due to reduced engagement and inadequate nomination applications. 

Whilst disappointing, this is out of our control and integral to maintaining the integrity of the program. We will reach out via email to any of the nominees affected and offer to move their nomination application to another relevant category or refund the application fee.

The good news is there is always the option to copy/edit/paste your work for next year’s program, so all will not be lost. 

Please help us to spread the word of this program and the spirit in which it is designed, to all corners of the Allied Health community, so each of our professions can be celebrated and recognised!

This category is a little subjective, on purpose. 

We want these awards to bring all the professions that make up our Allied Health workforce together, so we wanted to ensure that every Allied Health professional is eligible for at least one award category!

You may be working non-clinically or in research or in project management or anything really – that is a little different to the classic clinical role.  

For the awards programs, we have classified your first 2 years after graduating from University, as ‘early career’. Eg you need to have only started working in your chosen field 2 years prior to the year you are applying for. This does not mean your first 2 years in private practice!

Yes! You can’t apply for Psychologist of the Year until you can legally use that title, but you can certainly apply for other general categories such as Early Career Excellence or Educator of the Year.

We are using the Rural and Remote Classification system called the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) which is based on census information collected. 

This award is designed to recognise the hard work, excellent communication and collaboration of a great team, so if you work in a great team or practice—then yes! 

If you actually service both groups, you could complete an entry for both categories, you will just need to complete two nomination entries. Don’t worry, there is a copy/paste function available.

This category means that if you work in an awesome team—either publicly, privately, or in a not-for-profit sector, you can apply for this category.  This award embodies that team that works efficiently and effectively whilst having fun and supporting each other!  That team where its members go ‘above and beyond’, work amazingly together to achieve great health outcomes, and don’t ever want to leave.

Eligibility and Nomination:

• Allied Health professionals can be nominated by clients, colleagues, or themselves, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

Submission Process:

• Nominations must be submitted through our online awards platform. The submission should include the nomination form, details of both the nominee and the nominator, as well as the nominee’s CV or resume. A headshot must also be attached for promotional purposes. Nominees must consent to participate in the process.

Selection Process:

• Applications are independently reviewed and scored by at least three members of the selection panel, based on specific criteria that vary by category.

• Four to five finalists in each category are determined by the highest scores awarded.

Resolution of Ties:

• In cases of a tie or disagreement among panel members, the finalists’ applications are reassessed by additional objective panel members to determine the winners.

Announcement and Promotion:

• Winners are announced at the awards ceremony and will be featured online, receiving widespread promotion across the community.

• Allied Health professionals who are currently registered to practice through their National Association or Body

• Has practiced either clinically or non-clinically 6 months in the last 12 months.

• Australian resident for the Australian program.

We partner with an amazing software that is designed specifically for Awards programs – Awards Force – to further support and streamline the whole process from nomination through to application review. Head to www.alliedhealthawards.awardsplatform.com  to login and nominate!

As we are not a large corporate entity, there is an admin fee of $100 + GST per nomination entry to help cover program costs.

If you are only INITIATING a nomination to get the ball rolling for a mate or a colleague, there is no fee. They will only need to accept the nomination and go in and complete the application themselves.

We have selected a number of industry specialists, thought leaders, public and private clinicians, national group representatives, and allied health leaders to assess your applications.  Have a look at the 2024 Australian Panel on our website.

In both the individual and team applications, panel members review each of the 5 selection criteria and score it out of between 20 to 50 points each, with different weighting across the different award categories. Each application is then given a score out of a total of 150 points. 

To ensure the process is robust, each application is assessed and scored by a minimum of 3 panel members. All applications will be assessed against the same criteria which are outlined on the online awards platform, on the website and in the terms & conditions.

Actually it is recommended that you absolutely self-nominate!  It is anonymous, only the organisers will know.  It makes it SO much easier to complete the nomination as you have all the information required and your CV and headshot etc.

Too often we receive inadequate nomination applications and we can only assess what we receive! You will submit a far better quality application if you complete it yourself.

You absolutely can! Apply for as many as you are eligible for! 

Yes, within reason!  We require a current CV/resume and headshot attached to all individual applications and team logo or photo for all team applications. 

In addition, you may include links or other supporting documents if it adds to the application.  Please don’t send 100’s of them though… Assessing all the nominations is a huge job for our panel members!! Details of accepted formats and sizes are all available on the awards platform at alliedhealthawards.awardplatform.com/.

All selector panel members must declare any relationship with the nominee, either professional, personal or otherwise.  Event organisers will then reallocate the application to a replacement panel member for assessment and scoring against the selection criteria. 

We have a large number of panel members to enable fairness and integrity within the program. Panel members may assess an individual category such as Podiatrist of the Year but they may also wish to enter their paediatric team in the team category - this is two very separate processes and we think that is reasonable to allow them to do that. No panel members are involved in reviewing all categories - we receive hundreds and hundreds of applications every year!

If you are interested in joining the selection panel, please reach out and we’re happy to chat further.

No, we cannot provide hints or confirm whether you are a winner before the gala night. The anticipation and excitement of the event are an essential part of the experience, and we want to maintain the spirit of recognition and fairness. All winners will be officially announced during the gala night.

We encourage you to attend and show your support for all the communities participating in this national program. Your presence will make the event even more memorable for everyone involved.

The judging panel is made up of experienced professionals from across the allied health sector, including clinicians, industry leaders, educators, and advocates.

From time to time, the panel may also include previous Allied Health Awards winners, bringing valuable insight and first-hand understanding of excellence within the profession.

Judges are selected for their expertise, independence, and understanding of the allied health landscape to ensure nominations are assessed fairly and thoughtfully.

All nominations go through a structured judging process designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and professional integrity, aligned with principles commonly associated with regulatory bodies such as the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Entries are assessed against clear criteria which may include:

• Impact on patients, clients, or communities
• Contribution to the allied health profession
• Professional excellence or innovation
• Measurable outcomes or results
• Leadership, service, or advancement within the field

Judges review nominations based solely on the information provided in each submission.

The Allied Health Awards follow a structured process designed to maintain fairness and credibility, including:

• Independent judging panels
• Clear evaluation criteria for each category
• Consideration of conflicts of interest where applicable
• Separation between sponsorship and judging decisions

This ensures every finalist and winner is recognised for their genuine contribution to allied health.

No. Sponsors are not involved in the judging process.

Judging is conducted independently to ensure that all finalists and winners are selected purely on merit and the strength of their nomination.

No. Sponsorship has no influence on the outcome of the awards.

The Allied Health Awards maintain a strict separation between sponsorship and judging. Sponsors support the celebration of the profession, but all finalists and winners are determined independently through the judging process.

Thank you, we endeavour to continuously improve upon the program and it’s processes, therefore, welcome any feedback.  Please send any written feedback to hello@alliedhealthawards.com and we can also chat if appropriate too!

It is important to remember the spirit in which the Allied Health Awards program was written, the identified objectives, and the scope of both the organiser and selection panel.

We strongly encourage that any concerns regarding professionalism and/or ethics of any nominees are raised with the appropriate national governing body, so the necessary processes and channels may be followed.  Individuals are innocent until proven guilty and the comprehensive and lengthy investigative process required is not within the scope of this program. The selection panel may only take into consideration the information presented to them, which includes any findings, charges, or restrictions finalised by the appropriate governing body.

Nominees must provide objective referee details and make declarations regarding their registration and ability to practice in this country on submission.

The Australian Allied Health Awards Gala has been hosted in different cities across the country since it first launched.

Our inaugural gala was held in Brisbane in 2018, followed by Melbourne in 2019. During the pandemic, the event moved online in 2020 and 2021, before returning to in-person celebrations in Sydney in 2022 and Darwin in 2023.

In 2025, we intentionally paused the gala to focus on expanding our community initiatives and national networking events across the allied health sector.

We’re excited to bring the gala back in 2026, and for the first time ever, we’ll be heading to Adelaide with the celebration taking place at the iconic Adelaide Oval on 10 October 2026.

Adelaide, we’re coming for you!

The dress code is formal, however we want you to feel comfortable and confident!

For men, you can opt for a classic suit and tie for a polished look, or if you prefer a more formal attire, a tuxedo is also a great choice. Women are encouraged to wear any dress they feel beautiful and comfortable in, but be aware - there is definitely lots of glitz and sequins!!

Following the close of nominations on 31 May 2026, submissions are reviewed by the judging panel and scored against the published judging criteria.

The highest-scoring nominations in each category are shortlisted as finalists.

Finalists are typically announced mid-year (around June–July), ahead of the Allied Health Awards Gala, where category winners are revealed during the awards presentation.

Yes. Once finalists are announced, they will receive a Finalist Information Pack with further details about what to expect leading up to the Allied Health Awards Gala.

This includes important information such as event details, ticketing, promotion guidelines, and ways finalists can share and celebrate their recognition.

The information pack is provided only to shortlisted finalists, as nominations remain confidential during the judging process.

If you're a finalist and unable to attend the Allied Health Awards ceremony, and should you win an award, we can still make arrangements for you to receive it. Please let us know if there is someone attending who can collect the award on your behalf. If that's not possible, we can arrange to safely post your award via Australia Post at your expense.

Winners of the Allied Health Awards enjoy a variety of prestigious benefits. Along with the glory and bragging rights, winners receive:

• Exclusive Access: Access and huge discounts to specialized leadership training programs tailored specifically for Allied Health professionals.

• Trophies and Certificates: A stunning trophy and a digital certificate commemorating their achievement.

• Promotion and Visibility: Increased visibility across our extensive network of allied health professionals, which enhances their credibility and reach. Winners become well-known figures within the community.

• Media Features: Interviews with winners will be featured across various social media platforms and in health publications.