Frequently Asked Questions

What animals are considered a companion animal for the Pet Insurance Australia Companion Animal Rescue Awards 2022 (known as ‘Rescue Awards’)?

A companion animal is a pet that lives with its human family. Companion animals include but are not limited to a cat, dog, rabbit, chicken, guinea pig, snake, ferret, and horse. A companion animal is not a working animal but can be an assistance dog that is also your pet and considered a member of the family.

What is considered a Rehoming organisation for the Rescue Awards?

A rehoming organisation that is eligible to receive an award is a Rescue Group or Animal Shelter that has charitable/not for profit status or can demonstrate a not for profit purpose, or a Council-run animal shelter/pound.

What is Pets4Life and what is their role in the Rescue Awards?

Pets4Life is the pro bono entity of Foresight Marketing & Communications Pty Ltd (a small consultancy).  Pets4Life is a for-purpose, independent education resource for cat and dog guardians and those who are thinking of getting a cat or dog. Pets4Life also provides professional force-free dog training services that use positive reinforcement methods. Created by Cathy Beer, Pets4Life’s goal is to help reduce animal surrender and improve pet wellbeing in Australia. Pets4Life is independent of the pet industry and animal welfare sector.  Find out more about Pets4Life »

Cathy is a certified dog trainer (Delta Institute of Australia) and a former volunteer instructor at the Sydney All Breeds Dog Club in Sydney.  Cathy is a passionate pet adoption advocate and currently has one long-term foster rescue dog at home called Twinkle. Companion animal rescue has come a long way and it’s time to celebrate achievements. So, Cathy created the Companion Animal Rescue Awards to showcase excellence, best practice, and innovation in rescue, sheltering, and programs working with the community to help reduce intake into pounds. 

The inaugural Rescue Awards program was held in 2018. This is our fifth year of the program.  We are delighted to welcome back Pet Insurance Australia as our Platinum Rescue Hero and Naming Partner, hence, the program is called the ‘Pet Insurance Australia Companion Animal Rescue Awards 2022‘.

When is the Pet Insurance Australia Companion Animal Rescue Awards 2022 program open for entries and how do I receive notification?

The entry period is from 9 am (AEST) on 3 May to midnight (AEST) on 31 July 2022. To ensure you are notified of updates and announcements, please sign up for the Rescue Awards eNews and follow our Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter.

I am a past winner, can I enter the same category again?

Previous winners are excluded from entering the same Category for three calendar years. That means 2018 winners can now enter the same Category in 2022.  Previous winners in 2019, 2020, and 2021 can enter another Category provided that the entry satisfies the requirements of the Category in which the entry is submitted.

What are the Rescue Awards categories?

  1. Outstanding Rescue Group (for groups operating 36 months and over)
  2. Outstanding New Rescue Group (for groups operating 12 – 36 months)
  3. Outstanding Animal Shelter (for not for profit purpose animal shelters operating at least 12 months)
  4. Australian Pet Welfare Foundation Award for Councils (for all local government councils)
  5. Innovation in Companion Animal Welfare and Management (for rescue groups, animal shelters, and all Councils)
  6. Working with the Community to keep People and their Pets Together (for any organisation/individual)
  7. Volunteer of the Year (for a volunteer team member in a rescue group or animal shelter)
  8. Refuel Creative Digital Marketing (for rescue groups and animal shelters only)
  9. Ivory Coat People’s Rescue Story (for pet adopters)
  10. Ivory Coat Foster Carer Story (for foster carers)

Who can submit an entry?

Entry is by self-nomination (except for Volunteer of the Year). The Entrant is the individual submitting a nomination on behalf of your organisation. The Entrant must be a representative of your organisation (eg a manager or senior employee/volunteer at your organisation) who has sufficient knowledge of its operations. The Entrant must be an Australian resident aged 18 years or older.

Who can submit an entry for Award Category 7, Volunteer of the Year?

The person nominating a Volunteer for this award is the Entrant. The Entrant should be the CEO or manager or senior employee/volunteer who has sufficient knowledge of the rehoming organisation’s operations including your volunteer program. The Entrant must be an Australian resident 18 years and over.  The nominated Volunteer must be 18 years and over. Both the Entrant and the Volunteer must have been working at the rehoming organisation for 12 months as of 3 May 2022.  Self-nomination by the Volunteer will be ineligible.

Who can submit an entry for award category 9, Ivory Coat People’s Rescue Story?

This award is for Aussie pet guardians who have adopted a pet from a Rescue Group, Animal Shelter/Council-run Animal Shelter, Veterinary Clinic, pet store adoption program or another organisation that rehomes pets. You must be an Australian resident 18 years and over to submit a valid entry for the Ivory Coat People’s Rescue Story award. The pet may be the companion of another family member, e.g. a child’s pet. Entry is by self-nomination.

Who can submit an entry for award category 10, Ivory Coat Foster Carer Story?

This award is for Aussie pet guardians who foster pets on behalf of a Rescue Group, Animal Shelter/Council run Animal Shelter, or Veterinary Clinic that has a network of Volunteer foster carers. You must be an Australian resident 18 years and over to submit a valid entry for the Ivory Coat Foster Carer Story award category.  Entry is by self-nomination.

The Rehoming organisation I adopted my pet from doesn’t exist anymore.  Can I submit an entry for Award category 9, Ivory Coat People’s Rescue Story?

Yes! Where the online entry form asks for the name of the Rescue Group or Animal Shelter/Council run-Animal Shelter or Veterinary Clinic, you can name another organisation.  You can say in your pet adoption story that the Rescue Group or Animal Shelter does not exist anymore.

Who is eligible to win the Volunteer of the Year Award?

A volunteer team member at a Rescue Group or Animal Shelter or a Council-run Animal Shelter who has volunteered for that organisation for at least 12 months as of 3 May 2022.

Are Veterinary Clinics eligible to win an award?

Yes!  Veterinary Clinics can enter category 6, ‘Working with the Community to keep People and their Pets Together’, which is open to any organisation/individuals who are working with the community to help reduce animal surrender, and help keep people and their pets together. 

What are the fabulous prizes to be won?

Thanks to our wonderful Supporters, we have fantastic prizes for each category. Check out the loot >>

PLUS… freebies for entrants!!
Every valid entrant who completes a submission for categories 1 – 8 receives one FREE membership to Vet Products Direct’s VIP Club valued at $64.95 and enjoys up to a 40% discount.

Categories 9 and 10 – every entrant to the Ivory Coat People’s Rescue Story or Ivory Coat Foster Carer Story receives one $20 gift voucher from Vet Products Direct PLUS three month FREE pet insurance offer from Pet Insurance Australia redeemable with a 12 month Pet Insurance Australia contract.  Woohoo!

Are application forms kept confidential?

Yes. The information on the application form will only be used by Pets4Life (in connection with the administration of the award), and the independent panel of judges.  Privacy Policy

Is there a cost associated with the Rescue Awards?

There is no cost to submit an entry.

How do I submit an entry for industry Categories 1 – 8 and what is the process?

Entry is online via the Rescue Awards website from 3 May to 31 July 2022.  You can edit and work on your submission any time during the open for entries period. Email entry is ineligible.  ENTER >>

Once the entry period has closed, one of our team members will review it to determine your eligibility. The panel of judges will assess the eligible submissions in August followed by the anonymous judging. Upon a final discussion with the Judges, up to four Finalists will be determined for each Category.

How do I submit an entry for the Ivory Coat People’s Rescue Story?

You can submit your entry via the Rescue Awards online form here.

How do I submit an entry for the Ivory Coat Foster Carer Story?

You can submit your entry via the Rescue Awards online form here.

Who are the judges for award categories 1 – 8?

Our panel of Judges brings a depth of experience in sheltering, rescue, animal behaviour, training, and digital marketing as well as a diversity of perspectives from companion animal welfare and the pet industry.  Find out more about the Judges »

Who are the judges for the Ivory Coat People’s Rescue Story and Ivory Coat Foster Carer Story?

There are two Judges for these Award Categories:

How are the Winners selected?

All submissions for categories 1 – 8 are assessed and scored out of 100 by a panel of judges. A judge will be removed if there is a conflict of interest with a particular entrant. Following the judges’ assessments, there will be anonymous judging.  A final discussion meeting is held in early September when the judges will decide on the finalists and winners. The finalists for all 10 award categories will be announced on 14 September 2022.  The winners will be revealed at the Rescue Awards Ceremony in October/November 2022.

The entries for category 9, Ivory Coat People’s Rescue Story, and category 10, Ivory Coat Foster Carer Story will be assessed by a panel of two judges who will determine the finalists and one winner for each category.  The finalists will be announced on 14 September 2022 and the winners announced at the Rescue Awards Ceremony in October/November 2022.

When are the Finalists and Winners announced?

The Finalists will be announced on 14 September 2022 via the Rescue Awards social media, eNews, and media release distributed locally and nationally.

The Winners will be revealed at a Rescue Awards Ceremony in October 2022 followed by communication from the Rescue Awards team.  Thanks to our Gold Rescue Partner, Refuel Creative,  this special event will be live-streamed via the Rescue Awards Facebook page.  A media release will be distributed to national media, pet media, and media located in the winner’s local community as well as announcements on the Rescue Awards social media and eNews.

For Categories 1- 8, the Winners receive a trophy and a certificate.  The Finalists receive a certificate.

Will my personal information be shared with a third party?

When you submit an entry for industry Categories 1 – 8, you will need to provide your details in the online entry form.  These details will NOT be shared with anyone without permission except in the circumstances where the winners’ contact details will be provided to the relevant Awards Supporters for the purpose of prize delivery.  This is covered in the Terms and Conditions for categories 1-8.

When you submit an entry to the Ivory Coat People’s Rescue Story or the Ivory Coat Foster Carer Story award categories, you will need to check the box to say you agree to the Ivory Coat People’s Rescue Story Terms & Conditions or the Ivory Coat Foster Carer Story Terms and Conditions. Your contact details are contained by Pets4Life, who manages and owns the Rescue Awards program and provided to the sponsor of these categories, Ivory Coat as outlined in the Terms and Conditions.

More on our Privacy Policy.

 

Your question not answered in the FAQs?

Ensure you Get the Facts about the Rescue Awards.  Did we miss anything? Please Contact us with your questions. We’re a small team, please allow 48 hours to come back to you.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This