Awards Terms
These Awards Terms apply to nominations, entries, judging, finalist selection, sponsorship, promotion and event participation for VET Sector Awards. Entrants are responsible for submitting accurate information and evidence by the stated deadlines. The organiser may verify information, request clarification, reject incomplete or misleading entries and make final decisions through the published judging process.
About these terms
These terms, together with our Privacy Policy, Entry Rules and Judging Disclaimer, govern your use of the VET Sector Awards website and your participation in the awards program. By submitting a nomination, accepting finalist status, sponsoring the program or attending an awards event, you agree to these terms. VET Sector Awards is part of CAQA Groups and a Career Calling International initiative.
Who the awards are for
The VET Sector Awards recognise excellence, contribution and innovation across Australia’s vocational education and training sector. The program is open to the whole VET community: trainers and assessors, compliance and quality professionals, managers and chief executives, registered training organisations, TAFEs, employers, students, researchers, journalists and the teams and programs that support them. Entry is Australia-wide and individuals may nominate themselves, a colleague or an organisation.
What this website provides
This website is the official home of the awards. It publishes the award categories, key dates, judging information, sponsorship opportunities and the online nomination form. It does not sell products or services, host a shop or take bookings; it exists to receive nominations, answer enquiries and share news about the awards program.
Eligibility
Unless a category description states otherwise, entry is open to individuals and organisations working in or connected with the Australian VET sector. An entrant must be able to substantiate the claims made in their nomination. The organiser may set additional eligibility conditions for specific categories, and may determine, acting reasonably, whether an entry belongs in the category chosen or is better suited to another category.
Nominations and evidence
Nominations must be lodged through the form on the nominate page by the published closing date. Entrants are responsible for the accuracy, completeness and honesty of every statement made and for holding any permissions needed to share the information provided, including consent from a nominee where you nominate someone else. The organiser may verify information supplied, request clarification or supporting evidence, and reject entries that are incomplete, misleading or submitted in breach of these terms.
Key dates
Nominations for the current program open in December 2026 and close on 28 February 2027, with the awards ceremony planned for 15 May 2027. Dates may be adjusted where circumstances require; any change will be published on this website. Late entries are accepted only at the organiser’s discretion.
Entry fees and payments
Entry to the VET Sector Awards is free. No entry fees are charged and no payments are taken through this website. Because entry is free, no refund or cancellation charges apply to nominations — an entrant may withdraw an entry at any time before judging concludes without cost. Sponsorship arrangements are commercial agreements handled separately under our Sponsorship Terms.
Judging
Entries are assessed by a judging panel against the published category criteria. Judging decisions, including shortlisting, finalist selection and winner selection, are made through the published judging process and are discretionary and final unless a procedural error is identified, as explained in the Judging Disclaimer. Judges may seek clarification from entrants and may decline to make an award in a category where entries do not meet the expected standard.
Conflicts of interest
Judges must declare any conflict of interest with an entrant and will not score entries where a material conflict exists. Sponsorship of the awards, advertising with any CAQA Groups brand or any commercial relationship with the organiser does not influence judging outcomes and confers no advantage on an entry.
Finalists, winners and publicity
By entering, finalists and winners consent to the organiser announcing and promoting their names, organisations, category and a short summary of their achievement on this website, in CAQA Groups publications and newsletters, and on social media, as described in our Photography and Media Consent page. Confidential material clearly marked as such in an entry will not be published.
Withdrawal
An entrant may withdraw a nomination at any time before winners are announced by contacting the awards team. The organiser may withdraw an entry, finalist place or award where information supplied is found to be false or misleading, where eligibility conditions were not met, or where continued participation would bring the awards into disrepute.
Organiser rights
The organiser may vary categories, criteria, dates, venues and program details where reasonably necessary, and will publish any material change on this website. The organiser may cancel or postpone the ceremony where circumstances beyond its reasonable control require. Nothing in these terms limits any rights you have under the Australian Consumer Law.
Limits of the information on this site
Content on this website is general information about the awards program. Receiving an award, finalist place or nomination is a recognition of merit as assessed by the judging panel; it is not a regulatory endorsement, an audit outcome, a compliance rating or professional advice, and it should not be represented as such.
Contact
If you have any questions about this page, contact the awards team by email at info@caqa.com.au, by phone on 1800 266 160, or through our contact page. We aim to respond within one business day (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm AEST).