Judging of the Parks Forum Awards Program has commenced.

The winners will be announced at the Gala Conference Dinner at the 4th International Biennial Parks Leadership Conference, Common Ground, in Sydney on Wednesday 25 August 2010.

The Parks Industry Awards Scheme is part of our program to promote best practice and innovation, as well as raise the profile of the industry more widely in the community. The Award Program will be an integral part of the park sector's performance, benchmarking and standards program.

The Awards celebrate the dedication and excellence of individuals, project teams and organisations in managing parks and communicating their extensive environmental, social, cultural and economic values.

Applicants will need to demonstrate excellence in the management of parks and a commitment to looking for new, more effective ways to conduct their management programs.

The Sir Edmund Hillary Parks Award

The Sir Edmund Hillary Parks Award recognises an individual’s outstanding contribution to the parks industry over a number of years or through action that has resulted in significant changes in attitude or management practice. 

With this name, the award recognises the role of Sir Edmund Hillary as Park Forum's inaugural Patron, as well as his lifetime of contribution to the environment, and builds upon the ongoing association with the Hillary Family. As our inaugural Patron, Sir Edmund lent his outstanding reputation and powerful voice to our mission. His willingness to to be part of our work reminds us of the importance not only of what we do, but also of the way we do it - with the character and integrity that was a hallmark of all his endeavours.

The Sir Edmund Hillary Award is proudly sponsored by Australian Geographic.

The Excellence in Parks Awards

These four awards recognise excellence and best practice in operational programs, as evidenced by improved outcomes in the park/parks in which they are implemented. Areas and their associated themes are:

Cultural

The theme for this award is the use of interpretation, information and education program/s to promote cultural history to the visitor and engage them with changes in built, natural and/or human landscape.

Social

Applicants are asked to describe how their parks welcome new visitors or encourage the use of parks by groups that do not usually visit or recreate in them (e.g. youth 12–18 years old).

Environmental

Agencies are asked to illustrate how they are responding to the challenges of global warming. What programs are they implementing to embed sustainable practices across the organisation for long-term change?

Economic

Effective partnerships are a key part of park management today. Applicants must describe an example of a successful partnership that provides positive visitor opportunities, financial support for the park agency and facilitates a greater appreciation of the natural and cultural value of parks.

The Awards Program has been generously supported by Auckland Regional Council through an Industry Partnership.



For more information about the Parks Forum Awards Program please contact us via email or call +61 (0)3 9416 2080.

Download a free PDF copy of the Parks Forum Awards Program. Information below:





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