WIL Awards 2026

WIL Australia proudly recognises and awards individuals, teams and industry/community partners for their outstanding and sustained contributions to quality WIL practice. The bi-annual awards are presented at the WIL Australia conference. The Awards are open to the following:

• Local Hero Award – Organisation
• Innovation and Excellence Award – Individual or Collaborative Team
• Collaboration Award – Organisations
• People’s Choice Award – Individual or Collaborative Team (Top 5 Case Study)
• Honorary Life Membership – Individual

WIL Australia recognises that work integrated learning needs institutions and partner organisations to collaborate to provide an authentic learning experience for students engaged in WIL. We also know that individuals within many of our institutions and partner organisations go beyond our expectations and integrate WIL into their operations and activities and work hard to improve the WIL experience for students. 

Key Dates

Applications Open: 30th November 2025

Applications Close: 30th June 2026

Applicants Notified: September 2026

Award Criteria:

Supporting Statement: Your supporting statement should provide an overview of why the organisation should be nominated for the Local Hero Award. You may use testimonials from staff and students, as well as images in support of your application. The statement should be no more than 1,000 words in total and should address the following criteria:  

1. How the organisation’s commitment to your program or course has met the WIL needs of a particular cohort of students and is above the expectation of the size of the organisation  
2. How WIL is integrated into the operation of the organisation’s activities  
3. Strategies the nominated organisation has introduced to enhance the student skill set and student employability prospects  
4. How the nominated organisation has innovated WIL experiences for a cohort of students relevant to the industry  
5. Any standout factors that demonstrate the ongoing commitment to WIL by the nominated organisation, to benefit the students e.g. dedicated mentoring of students by staff in the organisation, examples of cadetships for students etc.   

Award Criteria

Supporting Statement: Your supporting statement should provide an overview of why you/the team should be awarded the Innovation and Excellence Award. You may use testimonials from staff, students and industry partners, as well as graphic material in support of your application. The statement should be no more than 1,000 words in total and should address the following criteria:  

1. How you/the team demonstrate innovation in WIL practice  
2. How the innovative practice enhances student skill sets and employability prospects 
3. Outline the broader/longer term impacts for stakeholders 
4. How the WIL activity demonstrates excellence in curricula design, including how this incorporates the preparation, implementation and reflection phases of WIL.  
5. Outline future plans for the WIL activity 

Award Criteria

Supporting Statement: Your supporting statement should provide an overview of why the organisation should be nominated for the Collaboration Award. You may use testimonials from staff and students, as well as graphic material in support of your application. The statement should be 1,000 words in total and should address the following criteria:  

1. How the relationship has been sustained, and how the nominated organisation regularly contributes to WIL  
2. How WIL is integrated into the operation of the organisation  
3. How the nominated organisation has improved the WIL experience for students and contributed to their growth and employability prospects  
4. How the nominated organisation engages with the University e.g. in–classroom contributions, input into curriculum design, evaluation of course materials and support of student engagement related activities etc  
5. Any standout factors that demonstrate their ongoing commitment to WIL for students e.g. interdisciplinary projects, team focused projects, opportunities for international students, sustainable capacity building in work placements and internships etc.  

Award Criteria

Supporting Statement: Your video demonstrates scalable and/or sustainable WIL practice aligned with one or more WIL Australia conference sub-themes. The case provides evidence or supporting reference to innovation, application, or student learning outcomes in WIL.

1. demonstrates quality practice and/or innovation and impact
2. is aligned to the WIL Australia conference 2026 sub-themes
3. Introduces an initiative that offers broader/longer term impacts for stakeholders
4. Is communicated in a creative, coherent and informed way

Guidelines

Top 5 cases to be showcased at WIL Australia Conference 2026 for People’s Choice Award (WILAPCA) notified: 30 August 2026 

Criteria to Qualify for Nomination  

Nominees will  

• Be either WIL institutions or WIL Australia industry/community partners  
• Have made a significant contribution to advancing the practice, theory or status of WIL  
• Have a minimum of 10 years' service in the field of Work Integrated Learning or related area.  

Honorary Life members  

• will receive a complimentary annual membership   
• will be recognised at the WIL Australia National Conference  
• will be provided with a plaque indicating their Honorary Life Membership  

Nomination Process  

The award is based on written information provided by a member of WIL Australia and should include:  

• A letter of nomination signed by a member of WIL Australia who is familiar with the work of the nominee.  
• Evidence of the nominees outstanding contribution to ACEN/WIL Australia in Australia and or internationally. Examples of evidence could include publications, major projects, resource development, program development, student feedback, industry partnerships, awards, contributions to institutional state, national or international activities and any other supporting documents deemed appropriate.  
• Two (2) letters of support from colleagues or associates.  
• Applicants may not self-nominate.  

Selection Process  

Honorary Life memberships will be awarded at the discretion of the Board. Criteria for assessing applications will include:  

• Evidence of sustained contribution or innovation in WIL of at least 10 years  
• Evidence of outstanding contribution to advancing national and international knowledge and practice regarding WIL   
• Evidence of outstanding contribution to the impact of WIL activities at state, national or international level.  

Up to 3 Honorary Life memberships will be awarded bi-annually.  

Applications can be emailed to: admin@wilaustralia.edu.au