Community Development Awards 2025

The LG Professionals WA Community Development Awards aim to formally recognise the significant contributions made by Community Development professionals across a range of organisations working in the field of community development in Western Australia.

Four awards will be presented to outstanding professionals from both regional/rural and metropolitan areas within the following categories:
  • Innovation and/or Innovative Partnership (1 x Regional/Rural winner and 1 x Metropolitan winner)
  • Young Leader (1 x winner)
  • Community Development Meritorious (1 x winner)
~ Nominations close Friday 22 August 2025 ~
Criteria for the Awards
1.  Innovation and/or Innovative Partnership Award

For demonstrated innovation or an innovative partnership by a professional individual or team in the Community Development sector to deliver programs, services and/or community-based outcomes above and beyond expectations. Innovations could include partnerships, resource leveraging, or new approaches to age-old situations to deliver an improved outcome.

Eligibility
  • Nominations are open to all WA Local Governments.

Judging criteria

  • Was the partnership unique and did it have defining factors?
  • Did the partnership deliver an initiative/project that achieved its intended goals and outcomes?
  • How well can the partnership be transferred to another WA Local Government?
  • Is there a clear description of the partners to the initiative/project and their roles and contributions to the initiative/project?
  • Has the partnership had a positive impact on the local community?
2.  Young Leader Award

To recognise a proven young leader in the Community Development field who has demonstrated strong and consistent leadership to achieve positive outcomes within their local community, region and/or across the Community Development sector as a whole.

Eligibility
  • A member of LG Professionals WA; aged 35 years or younger and working in a community development role within WA local government; and currently in a non-executive role.
Judging criteria
  • Are the major achievements of the nominees significant to their community or worthy of special recognition?
  • Are there examples of where they have contributed above and beyond the parameters and expectations of their position?
  • Have they driven better practice opportunities through a process, project or initiative in the local government or community?
3.  Community Development Meritorious Award

This award recognises people who have given long-term service to the community development sector within local government, functioning at a high level of excellence.

Eligibility
  • Member of LG Professionals WA.
  • A history of involvement in the work of LG Professionals WA and the community development sector.
Judging criteria
  • For how many years has the person served in a community development role in local government? In what roles, at which local governments?
  • In what ways have they contributed above and beyond the parameters and expectations of their position?
  • In what ways have they contributed to improvements in the community development sector?
  • How have they supported other community development or local government colleagues?

Submission requirements

  • For each nomination refer to the criteria and address these in the online nomination form.
  • A maximum of 6 colour images may be included.
  • Submissions must include an Executive Summary.
  • Short video links may be included.

Judging Process

All nominations will be considered by the LG Professionals WA Community Development Network Committee.
The decision of the Committee is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Finalists

Two finalists from each category will be invited to attend the Awards Ceremony at the Gala Dinner as a guest of LG Professionals WA.
In the event of a team being a finalist two representatives will be invited as guests on the Team's behalf.
All nominees are welcome to be part of the Awards Ceremony.

Award Presentations

These Awards will be presented at a gala dinner during the 2025 LG Professionals WA Community Development Network Conference on Wednesday 10 September 2025 at Crown Hotel, Perth.

Winner obligations

Winners may be required to undertake publicity working with LG Professionals WA and may be asked to present at an associated event.

How to Nominate

This year we are using an online awards platform for all award submissions.

Please go to https://www.awardsonline.com.au/2025/lgprowa/communitydevelopment/login scroll down and complete the details in the 'sign up' section to register an account. Once you are signed in follow the on-screen instructions to upload your award submission.