Entries open for 63rd Australian Export Awards (Australia)

National Categories

• Apply in one or more category in your home State or Territory export award program. Eligible winners in the following 14 national categories will proceed as national finalists in the Australian Export Awards program.
  • Agribusiness, Food and Beverages
    • For outstanding international success in the field of manufactured foods, beverages or agricultural products.
    • This includes primary production, forestry and fisheries and related services or technology.
  • Creative Industries
    • For outstanding international success in any creative industry.
    • This includes music, visual and performing arts, fashion, design, film and television, digital media and content, animation, software and games, festival and event production, writing and publishing and creative services.
  • e-Commerce
    • For outstanding international success selling goods or services to customers overseas via e-Commerce, including cross-border e-Commerce and online sales.
    • This includes sales to business (B2B), consumer (B2C) or government (B2G) via own website, online marketplaces and other e-Commerce channels.
  • Emerging Exporter
    • For outstanding export achievement by a business which has been exporting for three years or less.
    • This includes established and new businesses in any industry.
  • First Nations Exporter
    • New category in 2025
      • For outstanding international success by a First Nations business.
      • This includes First Nations businesses operating in any industry, who have been exporting for 3 years or more.
  • International Education and Training
    • For outstanding international success in the field of education and training.
    • This includes higher education, vocational education and training, transnational education, online learning, curriculum development and EdTech.
  • International Health
    • For outstanding international success in the fields of health, medical or wellbeing.
    • This includes biotechnology, biosecurity, medical technology, digital health, e-health, aged care, disability, complementary health, pharmaceuticals and related services.
  • Manufacturing and Advanced Materials
    • For outstanding international success in manufacturing, engineering or advanced materials development.
    • This includes advanced manufacturing and materials technologies, engineering, design and production.
  • Professional Services
    • For outstanding international success in the field of professional services.
    • This includes legal, accounting, administration and support services, business management and consultancy, marketing services, franchising and licensing, engineering, financial and insurance, market research, translation services and tourism and business events.
  • Regional Exporter
    • For outstanding international success by a regional business.
    • This includes businesses whose head office or majority of operations are based in a non-metropolitan location.
  • Resources and Energy
    • For outstanding international success in the resources and energy sectors.
    • This includes businesses involved in the production, processing or value adding of extractive resources or the provision of energy or resources related equipment, services or technology.
  • Small Business
    • For outstanding international success by a small business.
    • This includes businesses with total annual turnover not exceeding A$10 million.
  • Sustainability and Green Economy
    • For outstanding international success in the Green Economy.
    • This includes the provision of green economy technology or capabilities such as environmental solutions, clean energy, sustainable materials, renewables, waste and water management, green building, smart cities or businesses committed to sustainable business practices.
  • Technologies
    • For outstanding international success in the field of information technology, digital technologies, software, hardware or digital services.
    • This includes solutions utilising cloud-based platforms, artificial intelligence, machine learning, Internet of Things, augmented reality, autonomous systems, robotics, quantum, virtual reality, data collaboration and management tools, fintech, cyber security and/or blockchain with civilian, defence, space and/or other industry applications.
  • Australian Exporter of the Year
    • The Australian Exporter of the Year will be selected by the national judges from the national winners of the categories shown above.

Benefits

• Recognition
  • In addition to receiving recognition within your state or territory Awards program, national finalists and winners will receive significant benefits in Australia and overseas.
  • As a national finalist or winner, your business will be:
    • recognised as one of Australia’s top exporters within the Australian business community, helping you unlock new business opportunities
    • promoted internationally as a best-in-class exporter from Australia, helping you attract new customers and partners
    • profiled as a highly successful Australian exporter, inspiring other Australian businesses to develop or grow their export strategy.
• Celebrating your success
  • If you are successful in proceeding as a national finalist in the Australian Export Awards, you will:
    • be invited to celebrate at the Australian Export Awards national ceremony at Parliament House, Canberra in November 2025
    • join fellow exporters, Ministers and senior representatives from the business community to honour Australian export achievements.
• Enhance your brand
  • Brand and profile benefits that includes:
    • a comprehensive marketing package including a profile of your business published on the Australian Export Awards website
    • promotion of your business on Austrade’s digital channels, and potential media coverage and public relations opportunities.
• Actionable advice
  • National finalists are offered valuable feedback and insights from their esteemed national category judges. This includes advice on your award submission and assistance with your export strategy and future business promotions.

Eligibility Criteria

• Business
  • Eligible businesses must:
    • earn foreign income
    • hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
    • operate as a separate business if part of a larger organisation
    • maintain appropriate business ethics and demonstrate a commitment to legal obligations including anti-bribery laws and laws to combat modern slavery, both in Australia and overseas markets.
• Products or services
  • Eligible exported products or services must include significant (at least 50%) Australian content or value-add. This may include product or services:
    • made in Australia from Australian primary products
    • made overseas, mainly using Australian primary products
    • made in Australia from Australian and imported components
    • elaborately transformed in Australia
    • made overseas using substantial Australian value-add, intellectual property (IP) or know-how, including design
    • delivered in Australia to foreign individuals or entities
    • delivered overseas using substantial Australian value-add, IP or know-how.
• Financial
  • Eligible applicants must:
    • demonstrate delivery of net foreign economic returns to the Australian economy in terms of profit repatriation and employment in Australia
    • provide 3 years of export income, unless they are applying for the Emerging Exporter Award which requires up to 3 years of export income
  • Applicants that are unable to provide actual export income for the 2024-25 financial year must provide a genuine estimate that support their demonstrated export efforts.
  • Applications containing incomplete financial details will not be assessed.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Ineligible businesses include:
  • Government entities as defined in the “A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999” are not eligible, except where they are registered education and training providers.
  • sponsors of a state or territory Export Awards program or the Australian Export Awards program are not eligible to apply.

Application Process

• The Awards program operates as a two-stage process:
  • Stage 1: A business applies to their home state or territory Export Awards program, where they are judged on their selected national and state-based categories (where applicable).
  • Stage 2: A business that wins a national category in their home state or territory, and meets the eligibility criteria, progresses to judging as a national finalist in the Australian Export Awards.
• A business can only submit one application; it must be in the state or territory Export Awards program where the business’ head office is located or where the majority of operations are established.
• Applications are only accepted online via the Export Awards application portal.

For more information, visit Australian Export Awards.