Tips for a winning entry
There are many benefits for rehoming organisations of winning or even a finalist in the Jetpets Companion Animal Rescue Awards. Your organisation will be seen as a leader in your community and receive more donations for months or even years to come. Even if you don’t win, the entry process is worthwhile to reflect on your achievements and clarify goals.
You could be a finalist one year and a winner the next. The key is to create a submission that gets noticed. The judges are looking for excellence in your organisation’s planning and operations as well as what you are doing differently to help improve companion animal welfare outcomes. The entries for all categories are assessed by a panel of judges. The Rescue Awards has NO voting component at all.
Tips
#1 Directly answer the question
Keep it simple by answering the question directly with no waffle or spin.
#2 Give yourself plenty of time
Get the Rescue Awards 2019 open for entries dates (1 May to 7 July) into your calendar. Give yourself the optimal time to think about the questions. Check out our sample questions. You can edit your entry anytime during open for entries period.
#3 Don’t leave all your vital information in an attachment/link
Use the space provided in the online form to tell your story and answer the question, don’t just leave it all in the link or attachment. Use the attachments facility to enhance your submission to show examples of your hard work.
#4 It takes longer than you think
Don’t leave it to the last week to start on your submission! Start the entry process early, find the time and head space to complete the submission. You can edit your submission any time during open for entries 1 May to 30 June 2019.
#5 Get support with writing the submission
If you do not have the capacity and skills to do a submission, find a volunteer with writing skills who can turn your information into succinct responses that directly answer the questions.
#6 Proofing
Find a volunteer or staff member with fresh eyes to proof read your submission.
#7 Don’t reinvent the wheel
Think about how can you save time by drawing upon work already done. What information has already been published on your website or gathered in your record keeping that can be repurposed for your submission? Do a list of places where you can get information.
#8 The judges are looking for excellence and innovation
Depending on the category, the judges will want to know what your organisation is doing to help improve companion animal welfare outcomes including these areas:
- community programs such as desexing to reduce animal intake from unwanted litters
- strategies such as behaviour advice, outreach programs to help owners keep their pets rather than surrender them to an animal shelter
- support for staff and volunteers to prevent burn out
- ongoing financial sustainability of your organisation for the future
- well-being of animals in your care such as enrichment and positive dog training methods
- strategies to increase adoptions and the decrease of re-surrenders
- collaboration with others in your community
#9 Volunteer of the Year
The judges are looking for volunteers who are team members or managers who are supported well by their organisation in terms of training, management and rostered hours to prevent burn out. This award is not for the founder of the organisation. Check out Frances O’Connell, our Volunteer of the Year winner in 2018.
#10 Size does not matter
You don’t have to be a large rescue group or animal shelter with a significant budget to win an award or be a finalist. Small rescue organisations can be very innovative. It is all about what your organisation is doing that will get you noticed by the Judges.
Photo: Jo Lyons Photography
