Application preview

Review these questions and advice when preparing your award application.

Tips for applying

Applications must be submitted on the Australian Export Awards application portal. 

Please note:

• * Indicates a mandatory question.
• Regularly save your online application as you submit responses.
• Applicants can access and edit their submissions until 14 June 2024.
• Don’t leave it to the last day to submit your application!
  

Responding to questions

Read the questions and plan your responses before starting your online award application. When preparing your responses, consider the following:

• Judges may not be aware of your business, its products, services and successes. Include these details in your responses.
• Focus on your international business success, emphasising your achievements in the current financial year (2023-24).
• Use the financial data requested to validate your responses.
• Use examples to tell your story and demonstrate your success.
• Answers can be presented in bullet point form. 
• Prepare your responses paying attention to the scoring and weighting of each section.

Please note, all financial information provided in your application will be treated as commercial-in-confidence. 

Section 1 – Business details

This section does not attract a score. Score weighting 0%.

Question 1

Business address and year of establishment.

• Which business name would you like to be referred as in this Program. This will be used in website content, digital and print marketing collateral, plus any trophies or certificates etc.*
• Provide details of your business's parent and subsidiary businesses*
• Year business established*
• Year commenced exporting*
• Business address (where the majority of operations are established) *
• Postal address
• First Nations place name (What traditional/ First Nations land is your main business located on e.g. Ngunnawal)*
• Federal Electorate for your main business address

Question 2

Website and social media.

• Website (format e.g. www.businessname.com.au)*
• LinkedIn
• X (formerly Twitter)
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

Question 3

Other background information:

• are you a First Nations business? (must be at least 50% owned by indigenous persons) (Y/N)*
• are you a women-led business? (independently or jointly) (Y/N)*
• are you a first time Export Awards applicant? (Y/N)*
• how did you hear about the Export Awards?

Section 2 – National award category selection 

This section does not attract a score. Score weighting 0%.

Question 1

Select all categories that you wish to apply for.

You will need to answer a specific question tailored to each category that you select.

• Advanced technologies
• Agribusiness, food and beverages
• Creative industries
• e-Commerce
• Emerging exporter
• International education and training
• International health
• Manufacturing and advanced materials
• Professional services
• Regional exporter
• Resources and energy
• Small business
• Sustainability and green economy

Note: Select state or territory-based award categories (where applicable) at the end of the application form (section 22).

Section 3 – About your business, products and services

This section does not attract a score. Score weighting 0%.

Question 1

Describe your business in 30 words or less – make it your best elevator pitch. This will be used in promotional material. (maximum 30 words)

Question 2

Tell us more about what you do in maximum 300 words, including: 

• what your business does
• what products or services you sell
• what problem your business solves
• which countries you export to.

Tip: This will be used for promotional purposes. Keep it simple and factual.  Consider using bullet points for clarity (maximum 300 words).

Section 4 – Your business and brand story 

This section, including national category responses - Section 5-17, has a score weighting of 25%.

Question 1

Tell us the story behind your business (maximum 300 words) * 

Tip: Consider the following:

• The motivation or idea behind your business.
• What makes your brand, products or services, intellectual property and operations unique and competitive.
• Why your business is outstanding, inspiring, and innovative.
• Your customers and your key export markets, and how that has changed in the past 3 years.
• Business milestones such as export growth, research and development or other achievements in the past 3 years.
• Public awards or recognition your business has received.
• Sales and export growth, research, and development commercialisation, entering new export markets, or growth in existing export markets.

Question 2

Describe one outstanding international business outcome in the past year (maximum 300 words) *

Tip: Include quantitative results and consider the following in your response:

• what was the impact on your bottom line?
• did it allow you to invest in more staff?
• did it facilitate expansion into other markets?
• did you work with a new customer, or in a new market?

Sections 5-17 - Category specific questions

Only the questions applicable to your chosen national category/ies will be displayed.

Tip: Tailor your response to each selected category. Consider strategies implemented in the past year which demonstrate your business competencies, leadership and innovation. 

Section 5 - Advanced technologies

Advanced technologies category applicants only (maximum 300 words).

Thinking about your business in the Advanced Technologies sector, demonstrate what innovative strategies you have implemented to achieve export success and ensure it has a sustainable future. Consider research and development, product innovation, industry, and market diversification.

Section 6 - Agribusiness, food and beverages

Agribusiness, food and beverages category applicants only (maximum 300 words). 

Thinking about your business in the agribusiness, food and beverage sector, demonstrate what innovative strategies your business has implemented to achieve export success. Consider product, service or technology innovation, supply chain improvements, and research and development.

Section 7 - Creative industries

Creative industries category applicants only (maximum 300 words). 

Thinking about your business in the creative industries sector, demonstrate what innovative strategies your business has implemented to achieve export success. Consider product innovation, cultural exchange, technology, service, and design.

Section 8 - e-Commerce

e-Commerce category applicants only (maximum 300 words).

Thinking about your business in e-Commerce, demonstrate what innovative strategies and online practices you have implemented to maximise the reach to your overseas customer base, and achieve export success. Consider innovation in platforms, tools, payments, UX and customer engagement.

Section 9 - Emerging exporter

Emerging exporter category applicants only (maximum 300 words).

Thinking about your business as an emerging exporter, demonstrate what strategies you have implemented to address challenges and achieve export success in your sector. Consider measures such as customer identification, market access, technology, or product innovation.

Section 10 - International education and training

International education and training category applicants only (maximum 300 words). 

Thinking about your business in the international education and training sector, demonstrate what innovative strategies you have implemented to achieve export success and make a positive contribution to the international student experience. Consider partnerships, product or service innovation, market diversification and use of technology.

Section 11 - International health

International health category applicants only (maximum 300 words).

Thinking about your business in the international health, medical and wellbeing sector, demonstrate what innovative strategies you have implemented to achieve export success and make a positive impact.  Consider partnerships, product or technology innovation, research and development, and patient outcomes. 

Section 12 - Manufacturing and advanced materials

Manufacturing and advanced materials category applicants only (maximum 300 words). 

Thinking about your business in the manufacturing and advanced materials sector, demonstrate what innovative strategies you have implemented to achieve export success. Consider design, product or technology innovation, research and development, and industry diversification.

Section 13 - Professional services

Professional services category applicants only (maximum 300 words).

Thinking about your business in the professional services sector, demonstrate what innovative strategies you have implemented to achieve export success and deliver outstanding service. Consider product, technology or service innovation and client outcomes.

Section 14 - Regional exporter

Regional exporter category applicants only (maximum 300 words).
 
Thinking about your business as a regionally based exporter, demonstrate what strategies you have implemented to address challenges and achieve export success in your sector. Consider service, product or technology innovation and supply chain measures.

Section 15 - Resources and energy

Resources and energy category applicants only (maximum 300 words). 

Thinking about your business in the resources and energy sector, demonstrate what innovative strategies you have implemented to address challenges and achieve export success.  Consider product innovation, technology, research and development, industry and market diversification.

Section 16 - Small business

Small business category applicants only (maximum 300 words).

As a small business exporter, demonstrate what innovative strategies you have implemented to address challenges and achieve export success.  Consider partnerships, product or service innovation, market diversification and use of technology.

Section 17 - Sustainability and green economy

Sustainability and green economy category applicants only (maximum 300 words).
 
Demonstrate what innovative strategies your business has implemented to achieve export success and contribute to environmental sustainability . Consider service, product or technology innovation, waste and water management, your carbon footprint or your business operations.

Section 18 - International business and marketing strategy

This section has a score weighting of 40%.

Question 1

Tell us about your international and marketing strategies (maximum 300 words)*. Include the following information:  

• What strategies you have employed to achieve international business success?
  • Consider product development to meet customer preferences, relationship building, attending events, new packaging, market research, business or product diversification.

• What international marketing strategies you have employed to grow your export business?
  • Consider how you are leveraging new marketing or PR channels, addressing cultural diversity in marketing content, digital marketing campaigns, rebranding.
    

Question 2

Highlight any diversity, inclusion, sustainability, or social impact initiatives that your business has implemented, particularly as it relates to your international business (maximum 300 words).

Tip: Consider the following:

• demonstrated commitment to ethical or sustainable sourcing
• staff disability or mental health training or support programs
• diversity and inclusion policies
• corporate social responsibility or not-for-profit commitments.

Question 3

To validate the information you have provided in other questions, submit your total sales revenue from domestic and export sales and foreign revenue from export sales only, for the past 3 financial years.

Tip: Consider the following:

• in the table provided, the 2021/2022 line will be FY2021 figures, 2022/2023 will be FY2022 figures and 2023/2024 will be FY2023 figures
• if you report figures on a calendar year basis all data should reflect actual figures. Otherwise, careful estimates will be accepted for the current financial year (2023/2024)

Question 4

Key export markets (countries)*

Submit your foreign revenue from export sales to each of your key export markets over the past three (3) financial years.

Tip: Consider the following:

• in the table provided, you can add figures for up to 10 countries
• figures should be in AUD.

Section 19 – Business management

This section has a score weighting of 25%.

Question 1

Human Resources - Provide the total number of employees over the past three years. Identify the percentage % of employees employed in Australia.*

Question 2

How have you developed and supported your staff to succeed in international business? (maximum 300 words)*

Tip: Consider the following:

• training and development
• mentoring
• relocation or secondment
• recruitment and retention
• language or cultural competency
• diversity.

Question 3

Outline the key risks you face in your international business, and what risk management strategies you have in place (maximum 300 words). 

Tip: Consider the following risks: 

• supply chain
• regulations
• inflation
• exchange rate
• reputational
• geopolitics.

Question 4

Outline your key capital and operational investment priorities to support your export business plans for the next 3 years (maximum 150 words). *

Tip: Demonstrate plans both in Australia and in key export markets. 

Question 5

Financial results*

Is your business an Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) listed company? Yes/No

Question 6

• If your business is an ASX listed company, submit the most recent audited financial report including the auditor’s report.
• Where the audited report is more than two financial years old, also provide the most recent un-audited financial results.

Question 7

Financial results*

• If your business is NOT an ASX listed company, provide financial reporting data for the past three (3) financial years.
• You will need to identify the organisation’s net profit (after tax), assets and liabilities.
• Provide complete financial data sets to ensure the judging process can assess soundness of financial position and business strategy for international growth.
• You can include a brief explanation of any year-on-year changes.

Question 8

Has your business received state and/or federal government grants to support your export strategy in the past three years? Yes | No*

Question 9

If yes, provide details of the grant amounts and the purpose of the grants.

Section 20 – Future export plans

This section has a score weighting of 10%

Question 1

Outline your strategies for planning, monitoring performance and managing growth in your export business over the next 3 to 5 years (maximum 300 words).

Tip: Consider the following:

• strategic planning
• business model
• customer development
• product or service performance 
• sales forecasting
• supply chain management.

Section 21 – Attachments

This section has no score weighting - 0%.

Provide the following assets that reflect your business' products, services, culture, and community:

• upload product/service images (3 minimum)* noting:
  • images may be used in promotional material for the Awards including programs, presentations, and social media activity 
  • do not send corporate head shots
  • label each file: your business name_image1 , your business name_image2, etc.
  • EPS, JPG or PNG, landscape orientation, minimum of 1MB in size and minimum of 300dpi or above. 
• upload business logo (1 minimum) *
  • 1 x colour and/or 1 x reverse (white logo, no background)