Gold Coast Student Volunteer Program of the Year Award

Terms and Conditions for the 2023 Gold Coast Volunteer Awards

1. The Gold Coast Volunteer Awards are organised by Volunteering Gold Coast Ltd (VGC) and are held to reward and recognise volunteers, not-for-profit organisations and organisations with diversity and inclusion initiatives on the Gold Coast.
2. There are six categories in the Gold Coast Volunteer Awards:
I) Gold Coast Volunteer of the Year
This award recognises an individual who has made a significant contribution to the wider Gold Coast community through their volunteering and who exemplifies the impact that volunteerism can have. The Volunteer of the Year Award is awarded to an individual who has shown a high level of commitment, leadership, service and achievement as a volunteer in one or more areas, and usually over a sustained period.
II) Gold Coast Youth Volunteer of the Year (25 and under)
This award recognises the outstanding contribution a young Gold Coast individual aged 25 or under makes to the Gold Coast community through their volunteering and who exemplifies the impact that youth volunteerism can have. This individual will have made a substantial impact on the community through their volunteering and giving back, and will have shown a high level of commitment, leadership, service and achievement as a volunteer in one or more areas.
III) Robina Town Centre Gold Coast Community Organisation or Project of the Year
This award recognises an organisation or project which creates positive impact and supports the Gold Coast community through volunteerism. Organisations must be not-for-profit (not necessarily registered charities) which is predominately run by or greatly supports Gold Coast volunteers, whilst community projects can be a new or existing initiative by a not-for-profit organisation which is predominately run by volunteers that contributes to and supports the Gold Coast community.
IV) Gold Coast Student Volunteer Program of the Year
This award recognises a school, university or vocational education provider based on the Gold Coast who has created volunteer programs for their students to help others, and which makes a positive impact on the local community or beyond. The institution through their program is shaping the social responsibility for future generations through their community spirit, and their students deserve recognition for their volunteering efforts.
V) Gold Coast Corporate Volunteering Program of the Year

This award recognises to a business which has instituted / maintains a corporate volunteering program that has positively impacted on its employees and corporate culture, and the wider Gold Coast community. This program will have offered long-term rewards through employee retainment and engagement, as well as created a more meaningful connection to the greater community for its employees.
VI) Diversity and Inclusion Award
This award recognises diversity and inclusion initiatives implemented by both profit and not-for-profit organisations on the Gold Coast. This program will have recognised the impact that inclusion can have on organisations and the wider community, and enhanced the culture of an organisation through its embracing of diversity.
Nominations
3. All nominators must agree to the terms and conditions for their nomination to be considered part of the Gold Coast Volunteer Awards.
4. A nominator can only make one nomination per award category.
5. Nominees must be an individual or organisation located within the Gold Coast Local Government Area. Addresses can be checked / confirmed at https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Council-region/Mayor-Councillors/Divisional-boundaries.
6. Although multiple nominations for a volunteer or organisation may be submitted by various nominations / nominators, finalists and winners for each category will be chosen based on a scoring process, not by voting or strategy.
7. VGC reserves the right to verify the validity of nominations, allocate nominations into an alternative category and disqualify any nomination which, in the opinion of VGC, can be considered objectionable, potentially insulting or inflammatory or generally damaging to the goodwill or reputation of the Awards, VGC or the broader volunteering community, or any nomination that is not compliant with these Terms and Conditions.
8. Entries are reviewed by VGC staff to ascertain authenticity and eligibility. VGC reserves the right to accept, clarify or reject an application at any stage during the process with no right of review.
9. Eligible entries are then reviewed by the judging panel, the members of the panel being constituted by decision of the the Board of Directors of VGC.
10. The top three (3) finalists will be selected based on an individual scoring system. Each finalist will be determined based on the top 3 scores for each category. If there is a draw in any of the scores, the judges will reconvene, rescore and agree on the entrant’s result. Where a judge declares a conflict of interest the nominee will be awarded the average score across all scored nominees.
11. Nominations close Friday 6th October 2023. All finalists will be announced via VGC’s marketing and media channels including but not limited to social media, website, email and the media, on Tuesday 31st October 2023. Finalists will be notified by a VGC team member prior to the announcement via phone or email.
12. The judge’s decisions are final and cannot be altered, unless a defamatory or criminal circumstance has been identified or if submissions are deemed to be fabricated or false. VGC’s decisions on all matters relating to the Awards are final and no correspondence or discussion will be entered into.
Awards and Recognition
Each finalist, and up to three guests, will be invited to attend the Awards ceremony to be presented with a certificate. Finalists under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Nominators of Finalists, and one guest, will also be invited to attend the Awards ceremony.
13. The winners for each category will be announced at the Gold Coast Volunteer Awards Gala Dinner on Friday 1st December 2023, as well as via VGC marketing and media channels. The results will be promoted post the event, from Saturday 2nd December 2023 onwards.
14. All finalists will be presented with a certificate. The winners will be given a trophy and a prize.
15. All finalists and winners must be prepared and willing to participate in media and marketing opportunities presented through the Gold Coast Volunteer Awards; including but not limited to radio and TV appearances, interviews and posts on social media and website.
16. VGC shall not be held liable for any loss or damage whatsoever which is suffered (including but not limited to indirect or consequential loss), or for any personal injury sustained in connection with the prize; except for liability which cannot be excluded by law.
17. All information collected by nominees will be only used by VGC to promote, advocate and communicate about volunteering, unless otherwise agreed upon at that time.
Nominators Consent
By submitting a nomination, each nominator confirms consent, and has the consent of any person whose personal information is contained in a nomination, to provide that information to VGC to disclose that personal information to other parties for the purposes of conducting the Awards.
Each nominator consents to VGC using the nominator’s statements, name, likeness, image, voice and/or participation in the Awards (including photograph, film and/or recording of the same) in any media for an unlimited period without further notification, remuneration or compensation for the purpose of promoting, publicising or marketing the Awards (including any outcome). The personal information of nominators will not be given to any third party, unless personally contacted and agreed upon.
Receiving VGC e-newsletters or electronic direct mail about VGC’s products or services. This can be opted out at any time.
If the nominator does not agree, the nominator must not provide their personal information or the personal information of anyone else and their nomination for the Awards may not be considered.
Nominee Consent
By accepting their nomination, the nominee(s) (or if under the age of 18, the nominee’s parent or legal guardian) consent to:
(a) VGC using their nomination statements, name, likeness, image, voice and/or participation in the Awards (including photograph, film and/or recording of the same) in any media for an unlimited period without further notification, remuneration or compensation for the purpose of promoting, publicising or marketing the Awards (including any outcome); and
(b) VGC using their personal information, and for VGC to disclose their personal information to other parties including, for the purposes of conducting the Awards. The personal information of nominees will not be given to any third party, unless personally contacted and agreed upon ie. A media company wanting to interview a nominee, finalist or winner
(c) Assigning nominees to become the property of VGC. As such, VGC is the owner of all copyright and other intellectual property in the award process.
(d) Receiving VGC e-newsletters or electronic direct mail about VGC’s products or services. This can be opted out at any time.
If the nominee does not agree, the nominee will not be able to accept their nomination and will be ineligible for an Award.
The nominee will be required to confirm their acceptance of these Terms and Conditions by following the instructions set out in the email notification.