The ACSES Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Impact on Higher Education Policy and Practice 2026 will recognise teams or individuals who have made significant contributions to shaping policy and/or transforming practices in ways that drive positive outcomes in higher education student equity.
Recognising the diverse ways in which excellence can be demonstrated, this award scheme honours up to five recipients, each excelling in different aspects of the award criteria. This approach acknowledges the wide-ranging and impactful work being undertaken across the sector, whether through innovation, advocacy, collaboration, or evidence-based practice.
These awards celebrates those whose work has not only influenced decision-makers, but has also led to tangible improvements in higher education outcomes for students from equity backgrounds. Their work may span any stage of the student lifecycle, from pre-access and participation to university completion and post-graduation pathways.
Recipients of the awards have demonstrated a profound ability to bridge research, advocacy, and practical application, ensuring that their efforts result in sustainable, real-world outcomes in higher education equity.
Award recipients (or a nominated team member for team awards) will be supported by ACSES for their attendance at The Australian Student Equity Symposium 2026 in Brisbane (event details to be announced soon), where they will be formally recognised for their contributions and presented with their awards.
Eligibility to apply
Nominations are open to individuals or teams employed at a Table A or Table B provider or a Regional University Study Hub. Both self-nominations and third-party nominations are welcome.
Nomination and award key dates
Applications close: 4.00pm (AWST) on Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Assessment by judging panel: July-August 2025
Award presentation: September 2026 at The Australian Student Equity Symposium 2026 (details to be announced soon)
Award criteria
Up to five recipients will be recognised for demonstrating excellence across all of the following five key areas:
- Innovation and Originality
- The extent to which the nominee has introduced new ideas or approaches in their work on Australian higher education student equity and outcomes
- Creativity in addressing complex issues in Australian higher education student equity and in identifying unique solutions.
- Impact and Effectiveness
- Demonstrated positive and measurable outcomes resulting from the nominee’s work on Australian higher education equity policy or practice.
- Clear evidence of the lasting and sustainable impact on students from equity backgrounds.
- Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement
- Evidence of effective collaboration with key stakeholders, including institutional leaders, policymakers, practitioners, students, and communities.
- Demonstration of the ability to build partnerships and foster support for policy change or practice transformation.
- Advocacy and Leadership
- Strong leadership or advocacy for change in influencing decision-makers in policy or practice.
- Evidence and Research-Based Approach
- Use of sound evidence, research, or data to inform decisions, policies, or practices.
- Commitment to applying rigorous methods in assessing impact and outcomes.
Applications
Applications must be between three (3) to five (5) A4 pages, with up to four (4) A4 pages of supporting documentation, following the format outlined below, and in the specified order. Applications from teams can include one A4 page outlining the contributions of team members. Video presentations and related evidence should only be included in applications via links to publicly available platforms.
Applications should not exceed ten (10) A4 pages in total.
To assist applicants, redacted versions of applications to the 2025 ACSES Awards are available upon request to ACSES at the email address below.
Application format
Applications should follow the format outlined in the template (provided for download below), including:
- A synopsis of the nominee’s work, approach(es), methods, and outcomes in Australian higher education student equity. The synopsis should be no more than 200 words. ACSES will draw on the synopsis in publicising the work of award winners.
- A statement addressing award criteria, including evidence supporting the claims being made. Nominees are encouraged to draw on quotes from students, colleagues, and other stakeholders, as well as measurable and tangible outcomes. Please address award criterion in the order specified.
- A statement of team nomination (for team nominations only) outlining the contribution of each team member to the work described in the application. No more than one additional A4 page.
- Other supporting documents of up to four (4) additional A4 pages. This can include commendation and impact statements in relation to outcomes from the activities undertaken. It is recommended that supporting documents be referenced to in the statement addressing award criteria.
- Reference list in APA 7 format. The reference list is not included in the page limit, but nominees should be judicious in their use of references.
All documents produced by the applicant must meet accessibility guidelines.
Teams are encouraged to include a link to a video presentation outlining the activities and impact of their initiative. The video should be hosted in a way that allows anyone with the link to view it (for example, an unlisted YouTube video). Please include the link in the written application and ensure it is easily accessible to the judging panel.
Judging panel
The judging panel will consist of the following members:
- A senior higher education leader (Chair)
- A senior equity and/or First Nations higher education leader
- A representative from Equity Practitioners in Higher Education Australasia (EPHEA)
- An expert in higher education equity research and/or trials and evaluation
- The ACSES Executive Director
Click here to download a Word version of the ACSES Awards 2025 Application Pack and Form
Click here to download a PDF version of the ACSES Awards 2025 Application Pack and Form
