WIL Awards

The National WIL Awards recognise the contribution that organisations, institutions and individuals make to work-integrated learning.

Two are awarded to organisations – the Collaboration Award and the Local Hero Award – and two are awarded to individuals – Innovation and Excellence in WIL Award and Life Membership.

ACEN recognises that work integrated learning needs institutions and partner organisations to collaborate to provide an authentic learning experience for students engaged in WIL. We also know that individuals within many of our institutions and partner organisations go beyond our expectations and integrate WIL into their operations and activities and work hard to improve the WIL experience for students.

Winners Announced

On behalf of the ACEN national board, the ACEN Awards committee are pleased to announce the following winners and finalists for the 2022 ACEN WIL Awards. The winners were announced at the Beyond 2022: Creating the Future with WIL conference dinner on the 24th October, 2022 in Melbourne.

Congratulations to all finalists!

Local Hero Award

The Local Hero Award is awarded to a partner organisation that is a small-medium enterprise (SME:0-199 employees) whose engagement with an institution through WIL and whose contribution to the WIL experience of students, is above and beyond the expectation of the size of their organisation. Local Hero award finalists are:

Winner: DataSauce – nominated by RMIT University

DataSauce is a fast-growing digital marketing agency based in Melbourne. Since their inception, DataSauce has partnered with RMIT to provide university students a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program that aims to challenge, excite and mentor students in a supportive environment. Collaboration consists of internship experiences through the intensive WIL DataSauce Academy Program,  paid roles, partnered projects, presenting to students as guest speakers and a leadership role as part of the RMIT Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) for the Master of Communication. Following their internship, Datasauce has subsequently offered ongoing employment to many RMIT students. This recognition is testament to DataSauce’s incredible commitment to nurturing emerging talent and providing a highly valuable and structured learning experience.

Finalists:

• Micro X Ltd. – nominated by Flinders University
• The Society Inc by Sibella Court – nominated by Torrens University Australia

Collaboration Award

The Collaboration Award is awarded to a partner organisation that is collaborating with an institution to provide a sustained and significant contribution to WIL. Collaboration award finalists are:

Winner: Department of Families, Fairness and Housing – nominated by LaTrobe University

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing has been involved in WIL for over 15 years. This award nomination was a focus on a unique initiative that broadened the scope of students eligible for placements.  In 2012, DFFH approached Latrobe University (LTU) School of Psychological Science about developing a partnership offering undergraduate psychology students WIL experiences specifically for them. DFFH  has now provided 423 LTU psychology students with high-quality WIL experiences. The initiative has increased the pipeline of suitably qualified graduates in critical human services professions such as Child Protection in metropolitan and rural areas.

Finalists:

• Nestle – nominated by the University of Sydney
• Thales Australia – nominated by University of Technology Sydney

Innovation and Excellence Award

The Innovation and Excellence Award recognises quality and innovative WIL practices across a diverse range of disciplines, models and methods. The publication of a WIL case study on the ACEN website constitutes a submission for the award. Innovation and Excellence Award finalists are:

Winner:

• Town Camp Architecture Studio – Dr Chris Tucker, University of Newcastle, Michael Klerck, Denise Foster, Anna Flouris, and Vanessa Napaltjarri Davis, Tangentyere Council

Finalists: 

• Griffith Tax Clinic: Engaging and assisting the community to reduce the fear of tax – Professor Brett Freudenberg and Dr Melissa Belle Isle, Griffith University
• The Marketing Clinic: Work Integrated Learning in a student-led community clinic – Vivien Chanana and Professor John Dawes, University of South Australia

Honorary Life Membership

Honorary Life membership recognises significant service and contribution to Work Integrated Learning (WIL) in Australia and or internationally in areas of practice, pedagogy or research.

Sonia Ferns