Active Schools Award

This award recognises Victorian schools for outstanding sustainability achievement, sustainable practices, reducing their environmental impact and leading the community by example.

Initiatives may include:

• programs that encourage mentoring and development of sustainability throughout the school and in the community
• environmental programs or sustainability initiatives where students have led or participated in awareness raising campaigns.

Examples of initiatives include adopting sustainable methods in operations, such as retrofitting school infrastructure, undertaking whole of school behavior change campaigns including monitoring, auditing and reporting on energy and water consumption, school participation in community or industry programs, implementation of plans for the school community to work with and/or lead the local community in reducing their environmental impact, hosting environmental education conferences and seminars.

Clean Beach/Waterway Award

This award recognises outstanding achievement in protecting, maintaining and enhancing a local coastal environment or area with a body of water such as a bay, river or lake.

Initiatives may include:

• activities that promote positive usage and development of beach/waterway programs
• development and/or enhancement of facilities, amenities and public areas.

Examples of initiatives include well maintained beach/waterway upgraded amenities and facilities including improved seating areas and installation of bins, water or energy efficient infrastructure, public water safety campaigns, festivals or events, dune protection infrastructure, improved community access or amenities for disabled access.

Community Action & Leadership Award (population 3000 and below)

This award recognises outstanding achievement in protecting, enhancing and promoting the environment through actions which contribute positively to the community, demonstrate leadership, foster community spirit and build stronger communities.

Initiatives may include:

• activities to promote civic pride, create community awareness, cohesion and wellbeing
• development or enhancement of community amenities and public areas which address a community’s need or increase access to community services
• celebrations organised, participated in or coordinated by the community.

Examples of initiatives to enter include sustainability expos, seminars, festivals or events, pre and post natural disaster activities, development of community emergency plans and strategies, improved access to community information services and activities, community environmental education displays, upgraded community facilities, including seating, signage, and disability access.

Community Action & Leadership Award (population above 3000)

This award recognises outstanding achievement in protecting, enhancing and promoting the environment through actions which contribute positively to the community, demonstrate leadership, foster community spirit and build stronger communities.

Initiatives may include:

• activities to promote civic pride, create community awareness, cohesion and wellbeing
• development or enhancement of community amenities and public areas which address a community’s need or increase access to community services
• celebrations organised, participated in or coordinated by the community.

Examples of initiatives to enter include sustainability expos, seminars, festivals or events, pre and post natural disaster activities, development of community emergency plans and strategies, improved access to community information services and activities, community environmental education displays, upgraded community facilities, including seating, signage, and disability access.

Community Government Partnerships Award

This award recognises outstanding achievement in partnerships between community and government.

Initiatives may include:

• activities and community programs, grant and resource support, coordination of community group activities
• development and implementation of plans that strengthen communications and partnerships between government and the community
• development and enhancement of public amenities or areas such as community precincts, information services or public infrastructure.

Examples of initiatives include successful collaboration projects showcasing positive community consultation between working groups and government, enhancement of community facilities, wellbeing programs, multi-lingual communication campaigns, bulk buy schemes, environmental education and information sessions/workshops, community resource centres.

Cultural Heritage Award

This award recognises outstanding achievement by regional communities to preserve, celebrate and value Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultural heritage including maritime, agricultural and industry, ethnic or regional heritage and culture.

Initiatives may include:

• programs and initiatives encouraging historical interpretation, the establishment/ enhancement of local museums and community education activities
• restoration of Indigenous history and sites
• preservation of heritage sites and historical artefacts recording and displaying local culturally significant artefacts and sites.

Examples of initiatives include cultural exchange programs, museum upgrades/restorations, preservation of culturally significant buildings, anniversary events, development and sharing of historical information, or walking trails, effective development and implementation of plans that create coordinated culture or heritage enhancements, community education activities, implementation of environmentally friendly preservation methods, establishment of a local cultural heritage group.

Environmental Sustainability Award

This award recognises outstanding achievement by regional communities to use resources more efficiently, including sustainable water and/or energy management, decreasing the environmental footprint and creating sustainable communities.

Initiatives may include:

• innovative programs or initiatives with a focus on efficient use of resources, sustainable living, sustainable transport, water and energy efficient technologies and reduced environmental impact
• implementation of sustainable building or public space designs that minimise their environmental impact
• development and implementation of environmental management plans that address local practices and efficient resource use.

Examples of initiatives include water and/or energy conservation, public education campaigns, water re-use or recycling projects, implementation of water sensitive design principles, low carbon emitting energy generation programs, campaigns to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, installation of water and energy saving infrastructure, community retrofit campaigns with quantifiable results.

Litter Prevention Award

This award recognises outstanding achievement of communities to address litter management, reduction and education initiatives.

Initiatives may include:

• development of infrastructure to assist litter abatement
• programs or initiatives with a focus on community education demonstrating best practices for litter reduction.

Examples of initiatives include programs to address litter prevention, improved bin infrastructure in public or commercial places, litter education, enforcement and awareness campaigns, literature and signage, cigarette butt campaigns and disposal facilities in public places, community ‘clean up’ days, roadside clean-ups, programs addressing illegal dumping, graffiti reduction programs, litter audits and behaviour surveys.

Protection of the Environment Award

This award recognises outstanding achievement in the protection of the natural environment with particular focus on the conservation, preservation and management of local fauna and flora, and biodiversity.

Initiatives may include:

• protection schemes and community action initiatives that aim to reconstruct the environment to protect the local fauna and flora;
• development and implementation of vegetation management plans for natural areas
• environment awareness and revegetation initiatives.

Examples of initiatives include weed eradication projects, salinity and soil erosion projects, development and implementation of plans to protect and enhance local fauna and flora and improve biodiversity, installation of interpretive and informative environmental protection signage, fauna and flora and animal monitoring and audits, collaborative community efforts by environment groups such as Landcare, maintenance and protection of wildlife corridors.

Resource Recovery & Waste Management

This award recognises outstanding achievement in reusing, reducing and recycling waste in regional communities.

Initiatives may include:

• programs or initiatives with a focus on community education demonstrating best practices that promote waste reduction, recovery and recycling
• development of programs to assist in successful collection of waste.

Examples of initiatives include integrated waste management plans, resource recovery center’s and waste transfer stations programs and deliverables, provision of recycling bins and appropriate signage and collection in public places, resource recovery and recycling education and awareness programs, recovery and reuse of resources, regular audits and data gathering showing improved recycling efforts.

Young Leaders (A group or individual aged 25 years or under)

This award recognises outstanding achievement by a young leader/s taking action in environmental and community initiatives that involve local youth and benefit regional communities.

Initiatives may include:

• active youth community members and role models
• youth run, participated and coordinated celebrations
• mentoring and development activities led by or participated in by youth, advocating involvement in local community projects and groups
• development and/or enhancement of youth facilities and amenities.

Examples of initiatives include plans that address youth action, development, encouragement and improvement of environment and wellbeing, successful collaboration between youth, community groups, industry and government, public education campaigns driven by young leaders, youth-driven projects to build amenities such as skate/bike facilities.

The Dame Phyllis Frost Award

This award recognises outstanding achievement of an individual in community participation and environmental protection.

To recommend a person for consideration for this award please email cmorgan@kvb.org.au.

An adjudication panel decides a winner and will be looking for an individual who demonstrates:

• community involvement and contribution – years and level of involvement and contribution to their community
• environment concern – actively involved in protecting and enhancing their local environment
• leadership – evidence of leadership and guidance of others within and outside their community to achieve a positive community outcome
• KABV participation – current or past participation in KABV programs

Tidy Town of the Year

Gift Fund Prize

The KABV Gift Fund was established to encourage and support community groups to get started with new community projects. Each year the Gift Fund seeks to award prizes to a small number of grass roots projects that will deliver sustainability outcomes, reduce litter and build capacity in local communities.