Awards for Excellence in Extension

The APEN Awards for Excellence in Extension are open to all extension professionals that reside in Australasia*. These awards are open to individuals or groups, who have demonstrated excellence in extension through a work program completed within the last five years.

The winner will be required to give a presentation of their work at the APEN Conference and/or at a webinar, and to take part in publicity associated with their success.

Awards are presented in the following categories:

1. APEN Open or Experienced Extensionist (open to all ages)
2. APEN Amabel Fulton Award for Excellence in Extension by a Young Professional (35 years of age or under)

The Award was first presented at the 1999 APEN Conference. In 2009 the Young Professional Award was renamed the APEN Amabel Fulton Award for Excellence in Extension by a Young Professional in memory of the late Amabel Fulton who was a major contributor to APEN and the development of extension in Australia.

^{* Australasia includes Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.}

The Award winners will be announced at the APEN conference in Brisbane

14th-16th October 2025

Click here to view past award winners

Nominations for 2025 - NOW OPEN

Nominations can be received direct from the nominee(s), or from other persons or organisations on behalf of the nominee(s).

Copies of written material or reports may be requested by the judging committee.

Nominations are now being called for and will close August 25th 2025. Nominations can be completed using the webform application forms below.

The Prize

The award will include:

Twelve months APEN Ordinary membership
A plaque and certificate
The opportunity to give a presentation about the extension work for which the prize has been awarded (Individual or one person from within a group)
Professional development bursary of $1250 AUD
Profiling on the APEN website and communication channels

_{NOTE: The award is not transferable.}

APEN Open or Experienced Extensionist

The applicability of the work in the broader practice of extension and contribution to the extension practice profession through providing training, mentoring, papers, article and/or manuals
Leadership in a major extension program/initiative
The use or development of extension principles in the work
Evidence of the effectiveness and efficiency of the work
A commitment to ongoing professional development
APEN membership and/or participation in APEN events would be highly regarded

Open Award Nomination Form

APEN Amabel Fulton Award for Excellence in Extension by a Young Professional
(35 years of age or under)

A commitment to ongoing professional development and actively undertaking training and/or mentoring to further develop extension skills
The use or development of extension principles in the work
Evidence of the effectiveness and efficiency of the work
The applicability of the work in the broader practice of extension
APEN membership and/or participation in APEN events would be highly regarded

Amabel Fulton Award nomination form

An APEN Board sub-committee will judge ALL entries and their decision will be final.

2025 Award Sponsors

Amabel Fulton Awards for Excellence in Extension by a Young Professional

&

Open Award

2025 Award Sponsors