The VEFN Awards recognise and reward the extraordinary voluntary work that is performed by members of Friend Groups. The Victorian Environment Friends Network (VEFN) acknowledges the time, energy and care that go into restoring and nurturing our beautiful environmental places. Whether they work along a coastline or beside a river or creek, in bushland in a regional park, or in an urban landscape, we appreciate everything that Friend Groups do and believe they should be celebrated.
This year, we are providing six ways that you can nominate someone, a team, or a partnership for an award:
Best Friend Award – This is our traditional way of recognising people who go above and beyond in their group. These people are active participants, support others, demonstrate leadership, advocate for and make a personal impact on their area.
For more information, download PDF: VEFN Best Friends Award 2024 – final or Word Doc VEFN Best Friends Award 2024 – final
Lifetime Achievement Award – Beyond the BFA, the Lifetime Achievement Award recognises the length of service given to a Friends Group by an extraordinary individual. It acknowledges the significant contribution given on a strategic level and the impact that this has had on the wider environmental community.
For more information, download the Best Friend Award PDF above.
Young Best Friend Award – There are two age group categories for the Young Best Friend Award being for teenagers 15 – 21 years and for children 14 years and younger. Getting younger people involved in caring for their local environment helps them understand their own impact and contributes their skills with leadership, environmental knowledge and teamwork. It’s good for our future too.
For more information, download PDF: VEFN Young BFA 2024 – final or Word Doc VEFN Young BFA 2024 – final
Outstanding Environmental Group Award – A champion team gets things done! The purpose of this award is to recognise that there are many people, teamwork, perseverance and care that contribute to a group’s environmental achievements and successes. If you think a Friends Group, including yours, has made an outstanding impact on your local environment, consider applying.
For more information, download PDF: VEFN Outstanding Friends Group Award 2024 – final or Word Doc VEFN Outstanding Friends Group Award 2024 – final
Habitat Connections Award – This award celebrates and encourages connection of habitats for native flora and fauna across patches of public and private land by groups of environmental volunteers and agencies working together. This new award is being launched in 2023 to recognise how important collaboration and connection are to supporting habitat in fragmented environments.
For more information, download PDF: VEFN Habitat Connections Award 2024 – final or Word Doc VEFN Habitat Connections Award 2024 – final
[NEW] CDS Vic Litter Award – The CDS Vic Litter Award acknowledges the hard work performed by environmental volunteers to keep their special patch of bushland, coastline or waterway free from litter. although litter is a societal problem, this award rewards groups who are actively addressing the issue through initiatives that involve education, clean-ups and are integrating recycling with CDS Vic in these initiatives.
For more information, download PDF: VEFN CDS VIC Litter Award 2024 – final or Word Doc VEFN CDS VIC Litter Award 2024 – final
DETAILS
The Best Friend Awards are independently judged and awarded based on the information provided in the nomination form. Please read the criteria for each award carefully. The closing date for nominations is Friday, 20th September at 5pm.
If you have any questions about the VEFN Awards, please contact us via awards@vefn.org.au
The Best Friend Award Ceremony will be held in conjunction with the VEFN’s AGM and will be an opportunity to showcase the amazing work that your group conducts as well as network with other Friend Groups from across Victoria.
“Our efforts may be local, they may not seem like much, but together they make a patchwork of care, and caring for country is everything” – Laura Mumaw, past VEFN Convenor
