Enter industry categories 1 - 8

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We have 10 categories in the Pet Insurance Australia Companion Animal Rescue Awards 2022.  Categories 1 – 8 are for the industry, that is, rescue groups, animal shelters, councils, and other organisations that are improving companion animal outcomes and welfare.  Category 9, the Ivory Coat People’s Rescue Story is for pet adopters, and category 10, the Ivory Coat Foster Carer Story is for foster carers. Each category is listed below. Please note: read the category description carefully as we have introduced exciting changes to some of the categories.

You can edit your submission for categories 1 – 8 anytime until midnight on 31 July AEST even after you click on ‘submit’.  Check out Get prepared with our sample questions and our tips for a winning entry for industry categories.  Please note the entrant submitting an entry for industry categories 1 – 8 must be a representative of your organisation who has sufficient knowledge of its operations, such as a manager or senior employee/volunteer. Entries will be assessed by our panel of judges. Please note there is NO VOTING. For more information about the Rescue Awards, check out our FAQs. Check out the fabulous prizes for each category!

Please note:  Previous winners are excluded from entering the same Category for three calendar years. That means 2018 winners can enter the same Category in 2022. Previous winners can enter another Category provided that the entry satisfies the requirements of the Category in which the entry is submitted.  

1. Outstanding Rescue Group

This Award is for Rescue Groups also known as Community Foster Care Networks which have been operating for over 36 months.  The Judges are looking for Rescue Groups that have made a positive impact on the outcomes of the animals in their care. Rescue Groups provide temporary care for pets from shelters, council pounds, or surrenders in people’s homes.  A Rescue Group may have an overflow facility such as a kennel or cattery to hold animals temporarily.  Rescue Groups may use a third party for example pet retailers and cafes to offer animals for adoption.  Rescue Groups seek permanent homes for pets in their care.  Foster carers have a very important role in providing rehabilitation and care for animals ensuring they have the best chance at being rehomed.  Entry is by Rescue Group self-nomination.  The person submitting the nomination should be a manager or senior employee/volunteer from the Rescue Group who has sufficient knowledge of its operations.  Terms and Conditions. Get inspired and check out the 2021 winner of the Outstanding Rescue Group award, Forever Friends Animal Rescue.  All valid entries receive one FREE membership to Vet Products Direct VIP Club valued at $64.95 and enjoy up to 40% off.

The judging criteria cover these areas listed below. The judges are looking for evidence, stats/numbers:

  1. Governance and Compliance
  2. Animal adoption and Customer Service
  3. Animal intake prevention and Rehabilitation
  4. Planning and Sustainability
  5. Staff and Volunteers
  6. Collaboration

 

 

2. Outstanding New Rescue Group

​This Award is for Rescue Groups that have been operating 12 – 36 months and have made a positive impact on the outcomes of the animals in their care.  Also known as Community Foster Care Networks, Rescue Groups provide temporary care for pets from shelters, council pounds, or surrenders in people’s homes.  A Rescue Group may have an overflow facility such as a kennel or cattery to hold animals temporarily.  Rescue Groups may use a third party for example pet retailers and cafes to offer animals for adoption.  Rescue Groups seek permanent homes for pets in their care.  Foster carers have a very important role in providing rehabilitation and care for animals ensuring they have the best chance at being rehomed.  Entry is by Rescue Group self-nomination.  The person submitting the nomination should be a manager or senior employee/volunteer from the Rescue Group who has sufficient knowledge of its operations.  Terms and Conditions. Get inspired and check out our 2021 winner, Central Queensland Animal Society. All valid entries receive one FREE membership to Vet Products Direct VIP Club valued at $64.95 and enjoy up to 40% off.

The judging criteria cover these areas listed below. The judges are looking for evidence, stats/numbers:

  1. Governance and Compliance
  2. Animal adoption and Customer Service
  3. Animal intake prevention and Rehabilitation
  4. Planning and Sustainability
  5. Staff and Volunteers
  6. Collaboration

 

 

3. Outstanding Animal Shelter

This Awards is for charitable Animal Shelters that have made a significant impact on the outcomes of the healthy and treatable animals in their care as well as proactively implemented strategies to reduce intake. Animal Shelters take in and care for surrendered, lost, injured, stray or unowned companion animals for the purpose of rehabilitation and rehoming.  A shelter is likely to be located on a single site with room to house multiple animals and must have all relevant Council permits. Entry is by Animal Shelter self-nomination.  The person submitting the nomination should be a manager or senior employee/volunteer from the Animal Shelter who has sufficient knowledge of its operations.  Terms and Conditions. Check out the 2021 winner of this award, Rachie’s Ratirement Home.  All valid entries receive one FREE membership to Vet Products Direct VIP Club valued at $64.95 and enjoy up to 40% off.

The judging criteria cover these areas listed below. The judges are looking for evidence, stats/numbers:

  1. Governance and Compliance
  2. Animal adoption and Customer Service
  3. Animal intake prevention and Rehabilitation
  4. Operations planning and Sustainability
  5. Staff and Volunteers
  6. Collaboration

 

 

4. Australian Pet Welfare Foundation Award for Councils

This Award is sponsored by the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation, a not for profit organisation that works to improve the health and welfare of companion animals for the benefit of pets and people. This Award has changed in 2022. It is now for all local governments (councils) that have implemented a change that has made a positive impact on the outcomes for companion animals in their community. This change may be – a new strategy, for example, free cat de-sexing to reduce intake into a pound (or contracted shelter) or an education program to improve animal welfare, or an initiative to increase the number of animals that are reclaimed or adopted. The overall goal of this change would be to reduce the euthanasia of healthy and treatable companion animals in the community. Please note – that the judges are looking for evidence of impact including the details of animal numbers for intake, returned to owner, rehomed, transferred, other, and euthanised.  Entry is by Council self-nomination. The person submitting the nomination should be a manager or senior employee from the Council who has sufficient knowledge of its companion animal programs. Terms and Conditions. All valid entries receive one FREE membership to Vet Products Direct VIP Club valued at $64.95 and enjoy up to 40% off.

The judges are looking for intake numbers and outcomes for companion animals prior to – and – after the change your organisation implemented. The judging criteria cover these areas:

  1. Issue that needed to be addressed
  2. Program aims and methods
  3. Impact made
  4. How this change fits into your overall council operations

5. Innovation in Companion Animal Welfare and Management

This Award has changed in 2022.  This category is for only Rescue Groups, Animal Shelters, Council Animal Shelters, and animal management departments. This category has changed to an internal focus.  The judges are looking for rescues, shelters, and councils that are doing things differently within their organisation to save animal lives.  Your organisation may have introduced a new initiative or program that reduces intake, reduces the length of stay, increases adoptions and/or reclaims, and improves animal care.  For example, your organisation may have a new behaviour program for shy cats or perhaps you have introduced a health management protocol that reduces the risk of disease or you are engaging and incorporating volunteers in a different way or you have improved your intake, reclaim, or adoption process and you are seeing positive and demonstrable outcomes from these changes.  The judges will look for why and how the initiative was implemented, and evidence of impact. Entry is by self-nomination.  The person submitting the nomination should be a manager or senior employee/volunteer who has sufficient knowledge of its operations. Terms and Conditions. All valid entries receive one FREE membership to Vet Products Direct VIP Club valued at $64.95 and enjoy up to 40% off.

The judging criteria cover these areas listed below. The judges are looking for evidence of impact including any stats/numbers.

  1. About your organisation/initiative
  2. The Issue that needed to be addressed
  3. Aims/goals of your program or campaign
  4. Methods used to implement your program or campaign
  5. Outcomes achieved including evidence

6. Working with the Community to keep People and their Pets Together

This Award has changed to a community focus.  This category is open to anyone including Rescue Groups, Animal Shelters, Council Animal Shelters, Veterinary Clinics, and other organisations/individuals who have introduced a program or campaign in the community to help keep people and their pets together, and improve the welfare outcomes. For example, you may be an organisation that has an outreach program to assist with veterinary care or provide housing for people with pets or assist with training and behavioural problems.  Your organisation might provide crisis foster care for people experiencing domestic violence hospitalisation or you may have implemented an education program in the community on responsible pet ownership to improve animal welfare. The judges will look for why and how the initiative was implemented, and evidence of impact. Entry is by Rehoming organisation self-nomination.  The person submitting the nomination should be a manager or senior employee/volunteer from the Rehoming organisation who has sufficient knowledge of its operations. Here are helpful hints for this category.  Terms and Conditions.  All valid entries receive one FREE membership to Vet Products Direct VIP Club valued at $64.95 and enjoy up to 40% off.

The judging criteria cover these areas:

  1. About your organisation
  2. The issue in the community that needed to be addressed
  3. Your program/campaign/initiative aims/goals
  4. How your organisation implemented the program including collaboration with others
  5. Your Program outcomes and evidence to support your answers

7. Volunteer of the Year

This Award is for an outstanding team member who volunteers for a rehoming organisation (Rescue Group, Animal Shelter or Council Animal Shelter). The volunteer must reside in Australia and be 18 years or over. A self-nomination by the volunteer is ineligible. The nominator and the nominee (volunteer) must have been working at the rehoming organisation for 12 months as of 3 May 2022.  One volunteer per entry. You can enter more than one volunteer from your organisation for this award but they must be individual entries. The Judges are looking for a volunteer who is well supported by their organisation. Find out more about the judging criteria for Volunteer of the Year.  Terms and Conditions. Get inspired and check out the 2021 winner of this award, Lachlan Barnard from Forever Friends Animal Rescue.  All valid entries receive one FREE membership to Vet Products Direct VIP Club valued at $64.95 and enjoy up to 40% off.

The judging criteria cover these areas:

  1. Volunteer’s role and motivation for joining the Rehoming organisation
  2. Any challenges overcome by the volunteer to be successful in the role
  3. Collaboration with internal and external stakeholders
  4. Personal contribution to the Rehoming organisation

8. Refuel Creative Digital Marketing Award

This Award sponsored by Gold Rescue Partner, Refuel Creative is for Rescue Groups and Animal Shelters.  These organisations improve the welfare outcomes of companion animals in their community. They use digital marketing (website, eDMs, social media) in creative, effective, and innovative ways.  They have incorporated digital marketing in their operations to improve efficiency and sustainability, for example, using their website and social media to increase fundraising and drive pet adoptions.  You must be able to demonstrate not just the reach of your digital marketing, but also effectiveness. It’s not about the size of your followers!  Your organisation may have thousands of followers, but the judges are looking for evidence of a positive impact of digital marketing on your operations including pet adoptions.  Entry is by self-nomination. The person submitting the entry should be a manager or senior employee/volunteer who has sufficient knowledge of its operations. Get inspired when you check out our 2021 winner, Greyhound Rescue NSW. Terms and Conditions. All valid entries receive one FREE membership to Vet Products Direct VIP Club valued at $64.95 and enjoy up to 40% off.

The Judges are looking for evidence including stats/numbers that show a positive impact of digital marketing on your operations including pet adoptions. judging criteria cover these areas:

  1. About your organisation
  2. Use of digital marketing to manage your operations
  3. Use of digital marketing to drive pet adoptions
  4. How you have used digital marketing to improve animal welfare outcomes in the community
  5. Overview of one digital marketing program/campaign that has made the biggest, positive impact

Does your organisation meet the criteria for categories 1 – 8?

  • Entrant is 18 years or over
  • Entrant should be a manager or senior employee/volunteer from your organisation who has sufficient knowledge of its operations.
  • Reside in Australia
  • Have been operating for at least 12 months (as of 3 May 2022)
  • Must be able to demonstrate a not for profit purpose (except for Councils)
  • Rescue or rehabilitate or rehome or support companion animals in another way.  Companion animals include but are not limited to: cats, dogs, horses, guinea pigs, chickens, rabbits, rodents, ferrets, reptiles, and birds.

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