Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If I am a Nominee, do I get a discount to the iAwards Gala Dinner?
A: Nominees pay a reduced price for the Gala Dinner. If they book a table of 10 this reduced rate will be applied to the entire table

Q: What is the dress code for the iAwards Gala Dinner?
A: After 5 Business/Evening wear.

Q: Is the iAwards Gala Dinner when the winners will be announced?
A: No. As of 2011 the majority of Company Category presentations will take place during a pre-dinner awards ceremony commencing at 5.30. The Gala Dinner commences at 7pm.

Q: Where is the iAwards Gala Dinner being hosted?
A: At the Palladium at Crown, 8 Whiteman Street, Melbourne.

Q: How do I enter the iAwards?
A: To enter the iAwards simply nominate online. It is a self nomination process (except for Individual Categories).

Q: Is there a fee to nominate in the iAwards program?
A: The iAwards nomination fee for company categories is $330 (inc GST) and for Individual Categories, Secondary School Student Project or Tertiary School Student Project nominations are free. Nominations will not be accepted until payment has been received. Payment should be made online through the iAwards system, or can be made via EFT.

Q: Do we need to be an AIIA, ACS or Pearcey member to nominate?
A: No, you do not have to be an AIIA, ACS or Pearcey member to nominate for an iAward, the program is open to anyone or any company that has an ICT innovation.

Q: I don’t see any events listed in the Northern Territory or Tasmania – can we still enter?
A: iAwards events in the Northern Territory and Tasmania have not yet been scheduled, however entries from those states are still very much encouraged.

Q: Our company has developed a product specifically for a client. Can we enter the iAwards program or does the client have to enter?
A: You are welcome to nominate your company and use your client as a referee or, alternatively, you can submit a joint nomination. iAwards celebrate great partnerships and innovative applications of technology, so we actively encourage the end user to nominate for an award.

Q: Can I submit multiple nominations for my company?
A: Yes. Companies are able to submit multiple nominations for the iAwards program, either for the same category or across different categories if the innovation meets the category criteria. If you are submitting multiple nominations, you will need to pay multiple nomination fees and complete the specific nomination form for that category.

Q: What are the selection criteria for the iAwards?
A: The iAwards selection criteria are provided to assist you in completing your nomination and must be adhered to, however, you are encouraged to highlight the inspirational and innovative aspects of your nomination. The judges will take the selection criteria into account when reviewing nominations. The selection criteria are included on the website.

Q: Do I need to supply supporting material?
A: For company categories, yes, absolutely. You are requested to attach a high quality version of your logo and two print resolution (300 dpi) photographs illustrating your solution in action that can be used for publicity should you win. In addition you can optionally include a video (maximum3-minute) about your product (Flash movies [.FLV] preferred), product brochures, referee statements or any other material that supports your nomination.

Q: How much is ‘too much’ information?
A: As a courtesy to our judges and due to the large number of nominations we receive, it is important that you keep to the specified word limits in your nomination.

Q: What is the Judging process for Company Categories?
A: Company iAwards Categories

The first phase of state judging is an on-paper review carried out by ICT industry professionals. The judging panel will assess all iAwards nominations in order to select winners in each category for each state. iAwards judges will assess your nomination against the relevant selection criteria.
The second national phase of judging is designed to enable each of the state winners to present their nominations to a panel of iAwards judges in person. Alternative arrangements will be made for any finalists that are unable to attend the judging event, however, attendance is highly encouraged as it enables the judges to get a much greater insight into the ICT innovation than can be gained over the phone or email. The final judging event will be held in Melbourne.

Q: What is the Judging process for Individual Categories?
A: iAwards Individual base categories judging is a one stage process where the:

Judging panel will assess nominations and then conduct subsequent panel teleconferences to decide whether selected nominees will be required for individual interviews.
Judging will be based on the information given by the nominee in response to the selection criteria listed on the iAwards website

There is no need for Individual category nominees to attend an in-person presentation. Finalists are notified and are encouraged to attend the awards ceremony and gala dinner in Melbourne on 9 August 2012.

Q: If we are selected as a state winner, do we have to travel to Melbourne for the national judging?
A: For company categories, you don’t have to travel to Melbourne for the judging, however, it is strongly encouraged as an in-person presentation is much more impressive and enables the judges to gain a much better insight into your innovation. For individual categories, there will be no face to face judging in Melbourne like there is for the company categories. You will be notified that you are a finalist, and we strongly urge you to attend the Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner in Melbourne on 9 August 2012.

Q: When will I find out if I am a winner?
A: Company category nominees will find out if you are a state winner at the state iAwards Presentation Events in July. These events will be promoted on the AIIA website and all nominees will also be sent details. Once the state winners have been announced, the iAwards Project Manager will then contact the State winners to discuss the arrangements for attending the judging in Melbourne which will be held on the 7th and 8th of August 2012.

Individual winners will be informed that they are a finalist, the winners will be announced on the evening of the Gala Dinner. The national winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony Gala dinner which will be held in Melbourne on the 9^th of August 2012. Media release will also be sent out to announce the winners at both stages. You will be able to read these media releases at AIIA’s website http://www.aiia.com.au.

Q: What do I win if I am a Company State iAward Winner?
A: Company Category iAward State Winners will win:

An iAwards plaque,
The right to use state iAward winner logo on company publicity materials and website,
Entry into the national competition.

Q: What do I win if I am a Company National iAward Winner?
A: Company Category iAward National Winners will win:

An iAwards trophy,
The right to use iAward winner logo on company publicity materials and website,
The opportunity to attend the Asia-Pacific ICT Awards (APICTA).

Q: What do I win if I am a Individual National iAward Winner?
A:Individual Category iAward National Winners will win:

An iAwards trophy,
The right to use iAward winner logo on company publicity materials and website,
Complimentary one year subscription to the ACS membership
Opportunities to present at the ACS and AIIA events to promote ICT as rewarding and challenging career

AIIA and ACS will also publish information about winners on our website and release media releases at each stage.

Q: What is APICTA and, as a Company iAward winner, how do I get to go?
A: As the peak representative of the Australian ICT industry, AIIA has strong alliances with the world's leading international computing and communication associations. The Asia-Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards were initiated to increase ICT awareness in the international community and assist in bridging the digital divide. The APICTA network has 16 member-economies and provides an international awards program to showcase innovation, creativity and excellence in ICT in the Asia-Pacific region. APICTA’s member-economies include Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. APICTA provides the region’s ICT entrepreneurs with valuable networking and product benchmarking opportunities, fosters ICT innovation and creativity, promotes economic and trade relations and facilitates technology transfer. APICTA nominees gain access to valuable business matching opportunities through exposure to venture capitalists and investors. Category iAward winners are the exclusive Australian representatives at the prestigious awards program. If you are an iAwards winner, you will work with AIIA’s project manager for APICTA to submit your entry and organise your travel to the event. The 2012 APICTA Awards will be held in Brunei December 2012.

Q: If I have previously entered the iAwards can I enter again?
A: If your solution has won a National iAward in the past three years, then you are ineligible to enter, even if you have undertaken product development. If your solution has won a State iAward, been a Merit recipient at either the State or National level or you have entered but not won an iAward, you are more than welcome to enter again. Winners in the previous two years who won the ACS State ICT Awards (ie. ACS Queensland ICT Awards, ACS Canberra ICT Awards, WAITTA) are eligible to enter the individual iAwards categories. Nominations may be made with or without the knowledge of the person being nominated

Q: Quality (technology, methodology, packaging and recognition) - what does this mean?
A: The 'quality’ selection criteria measures whether the product:

shows a good deployment of the latest technology
satisfies the ISO / CMM standards
has a degree of compliance with any requirements of its target usage
has won awards locally, regionally or internationally
has consistently proven to be a stable and reliable product by users.

This does not apply to all categories - please check the relevant category page.

If you have any questions or require any assistance with your iAwards campaign, please contact the iAwards Program Manager on 1300 665 145.