01
Nominations Open
Dec 2026The floor opens for nominations on 1 December 2026. Nominate yourself, a colleague or an organisation.
Key dates
The road to the 2027 ceremony.
02
Nominations Close
28 Feb 2027All entries must be submitted by 28 February 2027. No fee, no limit on categories.
03
Judging & Finalists
Mar - Apr 2027The independent panel reviews every nomination against the criteria. Finalists are announced in April.
04
Awards Ceremony
15 May 2027Winners are revealed at a gala evening of recognition, inspiration and celebration.
Nominate.
A nomination card opens.
Recognise.
A spotlight finds a nominee.
Judge.
Scorecard and criteria lock in.
Finalise.
A finalist ribbon appears.
Celebrate.
Stage lights sweep the room.
Honour.
A trophy turns under the light.
Inspire.
The sector lights up across Australia.
About the awards
The benchmark of excellence in VET.
The VET Sector Awards acknowledge and celebrate the extraordinary efforts of the individuals, teams and organisations reshaping vocational education across Australia. Judged by an esteemed panel of industry leaders, they spotlight standout performance across every facet of the sector — from CEOs and trainers to students, providers and innovative start-ups.
48Award categories
FreeTo nominate and enter
8Expert judges
NationalOpen across Australia
The recognition engine — how a contribution becomes a trophy
- Sector contributionGreat work enters the stage
- Category matchOne of 48 categories appears
- Nomination evidenceThe free entry is submitted
- Judge criteria gridThe independent panel activates
- Finalist spotlightA finalist steps into the light
- WinnerThe trophy lights up
Recognition for every role
A category for everyone in VET.
Trainer of the YearFor trainers and assessors delivering outstanding learner outcomes.Learner results & feedback · Innovative delivery practiceStart nomination →
Training Provider of the YearFor RTOs setting the national benchmark in quality training.Completion & satisfaction data · Industry partnershipsStart nomination →
CEO of the YearFor chief executives leading providers with vision and integrity.Organisational growth & culture · Sector leadershipStart nomination →
Student of the YearFor VET students whose achievements inspire the sector.Study & work achievements · References & resultsStart nomination →
TAFE of the YearFor TAFEs delivering exceptional public training at scale.Learner outcomes at scale · Community impactStart nomination →
Innovation in VET SectorFor breakthrough ideas, tools or models improving VET.The innovation & its results · Sector adoptionStart nomination →
RTO Consultant of the YearFor consultants lifting quality and compliance across RTOs.Client outcomes & case studies · TestimonialsStart nomination →
Best Learner ResourcesFor learning resources that measurably lift learner success.Sample resources · Validation & learner outcomesStart nomination →
Lifetime Achievement AwardFor a career of sustained, sector-shaping contribution.Career-spanning impact · Sector endorsementsStart nomination →
Training Manager of the Year
Technical Expert of the Year
Instructional Designer of the Year
Compliance Manager of the Year
Administration Manager of the Year
Marketing Manager of the Year
Quality Assurance Specialist of the Year
Work Health and Safety Specialist of the Year
Career Counsellor of the Year
Student Welfare & Support Manager of the Year
Practical Placement Manager of the Year
M-Learning Specialist of the Year
E-Learning Specialist of the Year
Outstanding VET Sector Journalism
Small Training Provider of the Year
Large Employer of the Year
Medium Employer of the Year
Small Employer of the Year
Start-up of the Year
Learning Team of the Year
Best Community Engagement Program
Community Training Initiative of the Year
Best Vocational Graduate Program
Best Indigenous Training Program
Best Student Engagement Program
Best Professional Development Program
Best Vocational Pathway Program
Best VET Research Program
Excellence in Assessment Tools/Methods
Best VET Sector Publication
Best Use of Technology in Learning
Excellence in Green Skills Training
Excellence in Industry Partnerships
Excellence in Vocational Education Policy
Outstanding Business Partnership
Outstanding Achievement in the VET Sector
Outstanding Contribution to the VET Sector
People's Choice Award
Industry's Choice Award
The judging panel
Judged by the people who know the sector.
Sukh Sandhu
Compliance & quality leader
Judging focusQuality, compliance and the strength of the evidence behind every entry.
Anna Haranas
VET sector specialist
Judging focusContribution to the sector and real impact on learners and communities.
Michelle Newman
Education leader
Judging focusLeadership, culture and sustained educational excellence.
Gail Baker
Training & assessment expert
Judging focusTraining practice, assessment rigour and innovative delivery.
Independent panelEvery nomination is scored against a stringent set of criteria
Excellence
Contribution to the sector
Innovation
Impact
Leadership
Awards & Recognition
100+ recognitions. Four continents.
Awards, features and appointments earned by the Career Calling International family — from Melbourne to Dubai, Shanghai, Oxford, New York and the United Nations.
Melbourne
Dubai
Shanghai
Oxford
New York
United Nations
Burj Global Power 100 · 2026
Most Influential Leader of the Year · 2026
Asia’s Greatest Brands · 2025
5× LearnX Gold · 2023
Explore the awards wall
Build your nomination pathway
Know someone who deserves recognition?
Shine a light on the remarkable contributions made across the VET sector. Nominations are free, open to all of Australia, and you can enter as many categories as you like.
Step 1Who are you nominating?
Step 2What are they known for?
Step 3What evidence can you bring? Choose any that apply.
Your nomination pathway
Answer the three steps — each choice adds a card to your pathway and builds a suggested award category.
Start a nomination
Nominations are free — the full form is on the nomination page.
Sponsorship
Partner with the sector’s night of recognition.
Position your organisation beside excellence in Australian vocational education and training.
The headline partnership of the 2027 ceremony.
Stage visibilityLogo placementCategory associationTable & seatingMedia exposureDigital promotion
Premium presence across the night and the campaign.
Stage visibilityLogo placementCategory associationTable & seatingDigital promotion
A polished profile beside the sector’s best.
Logo placementCategory associationTable & seatingDigital promotion
Present an award category on stage in your name.
Category associationStage visibilityLogo placement
Carry the story of the awards to the sector.
Media exposureLogo placementDigital promotion
Stand with the community the awards celebrate.
Digital promotionLogo placement
Ceremony preview · 15 May 2027
The night the sector comes together.
Now announcing
Trainer of the Year
Finalist 01Awaiting the envelope
Finalist 02Awaiting the envelopeWinner
Finalist 03Awaiting the envelope
Winners are revealed live on stage — every finalist steps into the light.
Questions, answered
Awards FAQ.
Yes. Nominations are completely free.
Any individual or organisation actively involved in the VET sector in Australia is eligible. International organisations are not currently eligible.
Yes, self-nominations are accepted.
There is no limit. You can nominate an individual or organisation in multiple categories, provided they meet the criteria for each.
Nominations open on 1 December 2026 and close on 28 February 2027.
The panel screens all nominations, then conducts an in-depth review against the criteria. Finalists are announced in April 2027, and all decisions are final.
The ceremony will be held on 15 May 2027. Further venue details will be announced closer to the date.
Yes. Visit the Sponsorship page or contact the team. Sponsors are recognised in promotional materials, on the website and during the event.