Australasian Council of Women and Policing Award Nomination Guidelines
The ACWAP Awards for Excellence in Policing are an opportunity to publicly acknowledge and reward the achievements of women and men who are contributing to improving policing and law enforcement and ensuring policing services are enhanced for women in our communities.
Award nominations will open on 1 February each year and close on 30 April each year and are to be submitted online.
These awards acknowledge the work being undertaken in Australasia to ensure that women’s concerns and needs are considered by policing and law enforcement.
This guide is designed to help you nominate a person for an Australasian Council of Women and Policing (ACWAP) Award.
Who can make a nomination
Anyone can nominate someone who is making a real difference to policing for women in law enforcement and/or our communities.
The exception being a conflict of interest, for example you cannot nominate a person who has a familial link, nor is it appropriate to nominate yourself for an award, and such nominations will not be considered.
Completing the nomination form
Please make sure that you address the criteria for the relevant award and provide examples. Describe what is special about your nominee’s achievements and what they have done to deserve an award.
Tell the story of how they have made a difference in their community or field of work and give an indication of their longevity of service. Show how they have demonstrated innovation or entrepreneurship, improved the lives of others, or exemplified selfless voluntary service.
Informative and succinct supporting documentation is encouraged, for example a supporting statement from a nominated officer’s supervisor, women’s network, union, or other supporting organisation would be useful in assisting with selection.
Submitting the nomination
Nominations must be received by the date set by the Awards panel. No applications will be accepted after this date.
Please include a photograph of the nominee that can be used during the Awards ceremony.
After submitting your nomination, you will receive an email letting you know that your nomination has been received.
You may be contacted about your nomination if further information is required or if the nomination is not on the correct form.
Renominating unsuccessful nominations
A nominee or recipient of an Excellence in Policing Award is only eligible for re-nomination in subsequent years on the basis that there were significant new achievements or developments to be considered.
Unsuccessful nominations
If your nomination is unsuccessful, you will receive an email advising you of this.
Confidentiality
All award nominations are treated in the strictest confidence. Information contained in completed nomination forms will be ‘Honours-In-Confidence’ and will therefore only be available to those with a need-to-know to assess or administer the nomination.
Expectations of award recipients
Photos of award recipients and their stories may be used for publicity purposes and shared on the ACWAP website and in the ACWAP publication The Journal for Women and Policing.
The Excellence in Research on Improving Law Enforcement for Women Award recipients’ research may be published, either in its original form or one that can be adapted, in The Journal for Women and Policing.
Enquiries
If you have any further questions or require guidance in the preparation of the nomination, please contact awards@acwap.com.au
AWARD CATEGORIES
AUDREY FAGAN MEMORIAL AWARD
Please note direct nominations for this award are not accepted.
At the time of her death Assistant Commissioner Audrey Fagan APM was the ACT’s Chief Police Officer. She had always been a great supporter of the Australasian Council of Women and Policing. The Audrey Fagan Memorial Award recognises outstanding women who have shown exceptional qualities as a mentor, role model and leader in law enforcement.
Criteria:
- has displayed exceptional qualities as a mentor; and
- is viewed as a role model to the law enforcement community; and
- has contributed to the recognition and enhancement of women in the workplace; and
- has shown commitment and support to the profession.
The Audrey Fagan Memorial Award is selected from all awards nominations for each year and considered on merit.
BEV LAWSON MEMORIAL AWARD
The Bev Lawson Memorial Award recognises a most outstanding woman who has been a trailblazer in any law enforcement activity or support service.
Areas of particular focus include how the member has achieved a real change in workplace culture and mindset and empowered both women and men within law enforcement to advance gender equality and improve law enforcement for women.
The Award is in honour of the ground-breaking achievements of Bev Lawson, who as Deputy Commissioner of the NSW Police was Australia’s most senior woman in policing until her untimely death in 1998.
Eligibility: Current or former female employees of an Australasian policing, law enforcement or justice agency
Criteria:
- has been a trailblazer in a particular area, field, or endeavour; and/or
- had a significant impact in changing workplace culture and mindset to empower women and men to advance gender equality; and/or
- implemented or enforced employment policies and practices that have had a demonstrated impact on redressing gender discrimination in areas such as recruitment, promotion, and mentoring; and/or
- made a significant contribution to that area, field, or endeavour; and
- paved the way for women who follow; and
- encouraged and supported other women in law enforcement to develop their skills and abilities.
Bev-Lawson-Memorial-Award-Nomination-Form-2024
INTEGRITY AND COURAGE AWARD
The Integrity and Courage Award seeks to acknowledge the moral courage, integrity and commitment required to challenge the status quo, speak out and break biases that negatively impact on women.
It includes resolving conflict or situations that require challenging established beliefs or practices and/or protecting others who are negatively affected by unlawful, dangerous, discriminatory, or unethical practices or events. It recognises fortitude and the ability to reflect on the consequences of actions, to analyse the risks and long-term damage, and where the outcome may bring about significant change and impact to the parties involved.
Eligibility: Current or former female employees of an Australasian policing, law enforcement or justice agency
Criteria:
- has challenged the status quo, spoken out and/or broken biases that negatively impacted on women; and/or
- resolved or intervened a situation or series of incidents to protect others; and/or
- protected and cared for other involved using innovative and non-traditional responses; and/or
- sought a resolution which had the potential to bring about significant change and positive impact.
Integrity-and-Courage-Award-Nomination-Form-2024
Nominators should consider whether their nomination would also be eligible for a Bravery Award through another appropriate system. For more information on Australia and New Zealand honours systems go to www.itsanhonour.gov.au or www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours.
MOST OUTSTANDING FEMALE LEADER AWARD
Eligibility: Current or former female employees of an Australasian policing, law enforcement or justice agency
Criteria:
- has shown dynamic and innovative leadership; and
- mentored, supported, and provided guidance to others in law enforcement, particularly women; and
- contributed significantly to her profession or community; and
- improved law enforcement for women.
Most-Outstanding-Female-Leader-Award-Nomination-Form-2024
MOST OUTSTANDING FEMALE INVESTIGATOR AWARD
Eligibility: Current or former female employees of an Australasian policing, law enforcement or justice agency
Criteria:
- has tangibly improved how criminal investigations respond to crimes against the community and/or how they interact with female offenders; and/or
- outstanding on-the-job performance in a criminal investigation role; and
- mentored, supported and/or provided guidance to others within law enforcement, particularly women; and
- enhanced the profile and professionalism of women in law enforcement.
Most-Outstanding-Female-Investigator-Award-Nomination-Form-2024
MOST OUTSTANDING FEMALE ADMINISTRATOR AWARD
Eligibility: Current or former female employees of an Australasian policing, law enforcement or justice agency
Criteria:
- has provided effective and gender sensitive administrative, policy development, management, human resource management, or information and communications technology support to law enforcement; and
- mentored, supported, and provided guidance to others in law enforcement, particularly women; and/or
- a demonstrated impact on improving the delivery of law enforcement services to women in the community.
Most-Outstanding-Female-Administrator-Award-Nomination-Form-2024
MOST OUTSTANDING FEMALE PRACTITIONER AWARD
Eligibility: Current or former female employees of an Australasian policing, law enforcement or justice agency
Criteria:
- has shown a tangible commitment to improving the delivery of law enforcement services to women in the community; and
- mentored, supported and/or provided guidance to others within law enforcement, particularly women; and
- enhanced the profile of women in law enforcement; and
- made a difference for other women.
Most-Outstanding-Female-Practitioner-Award-Nomination-Form-2024
MOST OUTSTANDING FEMALE INTELLIGENCE PRACTIONER AWARD
Eligibility: Current or former female employees of an Australasian policing, law enforcement or justice agency
Criteria:
- has tangibly improved how intelligence practitioners contribute to harm prevention and deliver improved intelligence pathways; and/or
- an outstanding on-the-job performance; and
- mentored, supported and/or provided guidance to others within law enforcement, particularly women; and
- enhanced the profile and professionalism of women intelligence practitioners in law enforcement.
Most-Outstanding-Female-Intelligence-Practitioner-Award-Nomination-Form-2024
EXCELLENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE PACIFIC REGION AWARD
This award will publicly acknowledge and reward the achievements of women and men who are contributing to making law enforcement better for women in the Pacific region. It will recognise the excellence that is being developed and currently exists in law enforcement.
Eligibility: Nominees must be from a country identified as part of Polynesia, Melanesia, or Micronesia, excluding Australia and New Zealand.
Criteria:
- has developed or implemented an innovative and flexible solution that has significantly improved policing for women in the Pacific region; and
- mentored, supported and/or provided guidance to others within law enforcement, particularly women; and
- significantly contributed to the improvement of law enforcement outcomes for women in the Pacific region.
Excellence-in-Law-Enforcement-in-the-Pacific-Region-Award-Nomination-Form-2024
EXCELLENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE FOR WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY AWARD
This award acknowledges the excellent initiatives that exist within the community and law enforcement to improve women’s lives and safety, and women’s capacity to contribute to the community.
This award aims to highlight the work being done by groups from organisations such as domestic violence crisis services, women’s services, community policing units, law enforcement agencies’ service delivery units, and activists who are working to bring together women and those charged with protecting human rights.
Eligibility: A group, unit or agency in Australasia who has improved policing for women.
Criteria:
- had a significant positive impact on how women are able to access the justice system through law enforcement; and/or
- improved the outcomes for women who access law enforcement and the justice system; and/or
- built relationships that further women’s justice and policing interest; and/or
- enhanced networks between law enforcement and the community.
Excellence-in-Law-Enforcement-Initiative-for-Women-in-the-Community-Award-Nomination-Form-2024
EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH ON IMPROVING LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR WOMEN AWARD
This award is seeking to recognise the importance of quality research that supports the advancement of law enforcement and how it can better respond to women. The award recipient will have finalised a research paper that explores how law enforcement can be improved for women. The research may already have been published or produced for another purpose. It must however be made available in a form that can be published by ACWAP on its website and in its journal (this can be in different format from the original research paper).
Please ensure that a copy of the research (or a link) is attached to the nomination form when it is submitted.
Eligibility: Anyone in Australasia who has an interest in improving law enforcement for women.
Criteria:
- has conducted primary or secondary contemporary research that addresses an aspect of how law enforcement can be improved for women in Australasia; and
- have the research available to be published, either in its original form or one that can be adapted for ACWAP Journal for Women and Policing and/or website com.au
CHAMPION OF CHANGE AWARD
The Champion of Change award recognises the significant role that men play in improving law enforcement for women in Australasia. These achievements are above and beyond their normal position or duties.
This award acknowledges men’s individual and/or collective influence and commitment to improving law enforcement for women. It also acknowledges the importance of men’s role in increasing women’s representation in leadership within law enforcement and how law enforcement is delivered to women in the community.
Areas of particular focus are how the nominee has achieved a real change in workplace culture and mindset and empowered both women and men within law enforcement to advance gender equality and improve policing for women in law enforcement and community.
Eligibility: Current or former male employees of an Australasian policing, law enforcement or justice agency
Criteria:
- has had a significant impact in changing workplace culture and mindset to empower women and men to advance gender equality; and/or
- actively advanced law enforcement response to women within the community; and/or
- implemented or enforced employment policies and practices that have had a demonstrated impact on redressing gender discrimination in areas such as recruitment, promotion and mentoring in; and/or
- actively enhanced women’s leadership.
Champion-of-Change-Award-Nomination-Form-2024
EMERGING LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Emerging Leadership Award recognises the importance that leadership is not related to age; role; classification or rank; but occurs when people make deliberate choices to more effectively guide and nurture others.
This award recognises that leaders influence others, commit to their own and others’ personal development, have strong “people building” skills and see possibilities through the introduction of innovative practices.
Eligibility: Current or former female employees of an Australasian policing, law enforcement or justice agency
Criteria:
- has shown dynamic and innovative leadership regardless of role or position; and/or
- contributes significantly to the values of their organisation and held themselves and others to account; and/or
- contributed significantly to her profession or community; and
- learned from experiences and shared that learning broadly within their organisation or the wider policing, law enforcement and justice community.
