Award 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.
* Australasia includes Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.
Awards are presented in the following categories:
- APEN Open or Experienced Extensionist (open to all ages)
- APEN Amabel Fulton Award for Excellence in Extension by a Young Professional (35 years of age or under)
Sponsorship of the Awards has been provided by:
- Grains Research and Development Corporation - 2003
- Dairy Australia - 2006
- Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation – 2007
- Dairy Australia - 2015
- Coutts J&R - 2022 for the Amabel Fulton Award for Excellence in Extension by a Young Professional
- Hort Innovation - 2022 for the Open award
Conditions of the award
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.
Nominations
Nominations should include a summary of the work addressing the selection criteria, a copy of any written material or reports produced, and the names of two independent referees able to comment upon the work.
Selection criteria
2017 Award Winner Heather Collins
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
APEN Amabel Fulton Award for Excellence in Extension by a Young Professional
- 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-committtee will judge entries and their decision will be final.
The Prize
The award will include:
- Twelve months APEN Ordinary membership
- A plaque and certificate
- APEN conference registration
- 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 $1000 AUD
- Profiling on the APEN website and communication channels
NOTE: The award is not transferable.
APEN Life Membership
APEN Life Membership is called for and awarded at the same time as the Awards for Excellence in Extension. They may also be called prior to the AGM in a non-conference year. Life Membership will be awarded on the basis of contribution to the Extension profession and to APEN.
The APEN Board will judge entries and their decision will be final.
The Nomination form can be downloaded here.
Life Membership benefits will include:
The successful nominee is announced and a plaque and badge are presented at the APEN Conference Dinner or AGM .
Recognition
• An Honour Board on the APEN website which lists life members and has their photos and a comment about their contributions.
• At conference dinners, a table is designated for current board members, life members and possibly past-presidents, to honour them and recognise their efforts.
• APEN membership is free for the life member going forward.