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The KWATYE Award

In partnership with TRILITY, WIOA invites applications for the Kwatye – Cultural Recognition Award.

The award is open to WIOA individual members, to recognise an initiative involving cultural or diversity and inclusion-based activities within a project and/or community in which they serve.

The winner will have made an outstanding contribution to supporting diversity and fostering inclusion in the workplace or community. The award focuses on those who have gone above and beyond to further inclusion, connection and belonging for co-workers, members of the community and people from disadvantaged and marginalised groups.

Nominees should be employed in Australia and have initiated and/or implemented a successful cultural, diversity or inclusion-related activity and/or program in association with the community they serve.

Apply here

The award will be judged by a WIOA selection committee and the winner will be announced at the WIOA NSW Conference.

Complete application

Nomination Criteria

Nominations will be assessed on the following criteria:

1 About the Program/Initiative 

The initiative involving cultural or diversity and inclusion-based activities within a project and/or community in which the applicant serves.

2 Diversity and Inclusion goals 

The extent to which the program or initiative has been designed to promote and support diversity and inclusion in the workplace or community they serve, such as access, participation and connection for co-workers, members of the community and people from disadvantaged and marginalised groups.

3 Impact 

The extent to which the program or initiative has benefited co-workers, members of the community and people from disadvantaged and marginalised groups.

4 Innovation 

The level of creativity, imagination, and innovation demonstrated within the program or initiative.

‘Kwatye’

‘Kwatye’ means water to the aboriginal Arrernte people from the Northern Territory. For many people in Australia, water is a resource more precious than gold.

The painting shows a main water hole in the centre which can also represent a community or a country. The lines radiating from the centre represent rivers and creeks. The outer circles represent other water holes where rain water is collected and then travels back along the creeks and rivers to the centre circle, the main place.

‘Kwatye’

The Kwatye (Kwa-jah) story

The wet season time in the central desert brings with it a sign of relief and rebirth for the native animals, flowers and trees. The big waterholes fills up with rain water and releases down to the creeks and rivers. The water travels to provide for all living things upon the land. Plentiful of bush food for the indigenous people of the central region. The rain is also seen as a renewal sight for the desert environment. Kwatye (water) is seen more precious than gold, living in an arid country of Australia. Kwatye (water) means a new beginning, a rebirth for the native animals and desert flora and fauna.

Kwatye pure is Kwatye rich.

Kwatye sweet is Kwatye cycle.

Kwatye knowledge is Kwatye cultured.

Painting by Artist Marie Ellis

Competitions

Eligibility

  • The award is open to individual Members of WIOA
  • Team members must be employed in an operational role in the water industry
  • Applicants must not be employed by a “product supplier” (can be from a company providing operational services to the industry)
  • Applicants must have employer support and their endorsement to apply

Sharing outcomes with the industry

  • The Award winner will produce an article that can be reproduced in a WIOA publication on their nomination
  • The Award winner will present their nominated project to an audience of WIOA members (eg: at WIOA interest day, webinar).

Criteria

The Selection Committee will assess all applications based on the following criteria:

  • Diversity and Inclusion goals – The extent to which the program or initiative has been designed to promote and support diversity and inclusion in the workplace or community they serve, such as access, participation and connection for co-workers, members of the community and people from disadvantaged and marginalised groups.
  • Impact – The extent to which the program or initiative has benefited co-workers, members of the community and people from disadvantaged and marginalised groups.
  • Innovation – The level of creativity, imagination, and innovation demonstrated within the program or initiative.

Conditions

  • It is the responsibility of the Applicant to ensure that the appropriate permission is sought in advance of nominating for this award.
  • All or parts of the application (excluding the personal profile) may be used by WIOA to publicise the Award.
  • If required short-listed Applicants must attend an interview with the judging panel at a mutually agreed time and place.
  • The judging panel reserves the right not to award the Award in any given year if, in their opinion, the applications do meet an acceptable standard.
  • The decision of the judging panel is final and cannot be contested.
  • The Award winner will be required to present one written report and one oral presentation at a WIOA event within the following year.

Previous Winners

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