Flinders University Alumni Awards

• Nominees for the awards must be Flinders University graduates i.e. individuals who have been formally conferred with a degree from Flinders University.
• Self-nominations are not permitted, however, nominations for graduates can be received from anyone connected with the graduate.
• Posthumous nominations will be considered for all awards. The nominee must not be deceased for more than five years at the time of nomination.
• Alumni may be nominated in multiple categories; however, a separate nomination must be submitted for each category, clearly detailing their impact against the specific criteria of each award.
• Only one Convocation Medal may be awarded in any one year, or the Alumni Awards Selection Committee may recommend that no award is to be made.
• Only one John Moriarty AM Impact Award may be awarded in any year, or the Alumni Awards Selection Committee may recommend that no award is made.
• Up to four Distinguished Alumni Awards may be awarded in any one year, or the Alumni Awards Selection Committee may recommend that no award is to be made.
• Up to six Early Career Alumni Awards may be awarded in any year, or the Alumni Awards Selection Committee may recommend that no award is to be made.
• A Distinguished Alumni Award will not normally be awarded to a recipient of a Convocation Medal or Honorary Degree, or to a person who would more appropriately be considered for such an award.
• A person may hold only one Convocation Medal, Distinguished Alumni Award, John Moriarty AM Impact Award or Early Career Alumni Award. The Early Career Alumni Award will not normally be awarded to a recipient of a Convocation Medal or Distinguished Alumni Award, or a person who would more appropriately be considered for one of these award categories.
• A Flinders University Alumni Award will not normally be awarded to a graduate who, at the time of nomination and award selection, is a serving federal, state or local government politician (or the international equivalent).

Read the Alumni Awards Policy (PDF)

The strongest nominations provide detailed but brief descriptions that clearly explain why the individual is worthy of an award.

• Use plenty of examples, showcase their contribution and keep it simple!
• Use clear and concise language and explain any industry phrases or jargon so the Committee understands your nominee's achievements.
• Ensure your nominee is eligible and suited to the award category you have chosen.
• Review the selection criteria below before writing your statement of support.
• Quality over quantity – attach the most relevant supporting documents that match criteria.
• Letters of support from peers can provide a unique perspective outlining their real-world impact.
• Write and review your nomination in a saved word document to ensure you have a copy prior to completing/submitting the nomination form.

DO

Summarise the key information at the start of your application.

Be sure to give us context and benchmark your nominee's achievements.

Provide us with detail on your nominees real-world impact. Due to the volume of submissions, we don't have capacity to look for further information online.

Be yourself and write your nomination as though you’re talking to us.

DON’T

Use words like "world-class" or "superstar" as they are overused and not evidence-based.

Cut and paste your nominee’s LinkedIn profile into the statement of support. We ideally want an executive summary of HOW they’ve made a difference, not their career timeline since graduating from Flinders.

Feel you need to use the entire word count limit, hitting a good balance and addressing criteria is what’s most important.

We unfortunately can't open and read all links provided. If you think the information is worthy, please summarise and include it in your impact statement. 

Download our top tips print-ready PDF

When will Alumni Award recipients be announced?

During the selection process, the Alumni Relations Team Award recipients for each category will be announced at the Alumni Awards Gala Dinner. All winning nominees/nominators will be invited to attend.

Whom should I contact for questions about the nomination form, the selection process or the Awards function?

Get in touch with the Alumni Relations team on +61 8 8201 7969 or alumni@flinders.edu.au .

How do I find information on a nominee if I do not know them personally?

Information on a nominee can often be sourced by searching online for: media articles, LinkedIn profiles, employee/company websites, conference speaker profiles or featured talks on YouTube, etc.

How do I nominate someone for the Alumni Awards?

All nominations must be submitted via an online form. When considering which category to nominate for, consider how long since your nominee graduated, what stage of their career they are in and whether their achievements meet the same level of previous winners, which can be found here.

Nominators will receive an automated response email with a copy of the nomination once the form is submitted. Please keep this for your records. If you experience issues submitting an online nomination form, please contact alumni@flinders.edu.au.

Can I nominate myself?

No, we do not accept self-nominations.

Can I nominate posthumously?

Posthumous nominations will be considered for all awards. The nominee must have been deceased for no more than five years at the time of the nomination.

How many nominations can I put forward?

There is no limit to the number of people you can nominate.

Who can be a referee and support the nomination?

References can be provided by professional or academic colleagues – anyone who can speak to your nominee’s impact and achievements. As the nominator, you will have been asked to supply your own supporting statement for the nominee and so, although optional, reference letters are designed to provide additional support for your nomination.

If a nominee has been unsuccessful in previous years, can they be nominated again?

Yes, definitely. We are limited with the number of awards we can present annually within each category and welcome nominations to be resubmitted for consideration in following years.

Who sits on the Alumni Awards selection committee?

The Chair of the Alumni Awards Selection Committee is selected by the Chancellor from the University Council and they are joined by prominent alumni who all bring a unique perspective and set of expertise to the table to make the final recommendation to the Vice-Chancellor of Alumni Award Recipients for that year. During the selection process, the Committee may decide to move a nominee to another award category if they feel that they are more aligned to the selection criteria of that award.

How do I find out about the outcome of the nomination?

The University only communicates with the award nominators throughout the nomination process. All nominators will be contacted with the outcome. Only successful nominees will be contacted directly to determine their willingness to accept the award.

What does ‘alumni’ mean and whom does it include?

‘Alumni’ are graduates of Flinders University who have been formally conferred with a degree from Flinders University.