Eligibility guidelines | Export Awards

Applications for the Australian Export Awards Program are invited from businesses that meet the following criteria.

Business

Earn foreign exchange.
Hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN).
Operate as a separate business if part of a larger organisation.
Maintain appropriate business ethics and demonstrate a commitment to legal obligations including anti-bribery laws and laws to combat modern slavery, both in Australia and overseas markets.
Government entities as defined in the “A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999” are not eligible, except where they are registered education and training providers.
Sponsors of a State or Territory Export Awards program or the Australian Export Awards program are not eligible to apply.

The product or service exported must include significant (at least 50%) Australian content or value-add, this may include:

goods made in Australia from Australian primary products
goods made overseas, mainly using Australian primary products
goods made in Australia from Australian and imported components
goods elaborately transformed in Australia
goods made overseas using substantial Australian value-add, intellectual property (IP) or know-how, including design
services delivered in Australia to foreign individuals or entities
services delivered overseas using substantial Australian value-add, IP or know-how.

The applicant must demonstrate delivery of net foreign economic returns to the Australian economy in terms of profit repatriation and employment in Australia.
Applicants must provide 3 years of export sales, unless they are applying for the Emerging Exporter Award.
Applications containing inadequate financial details will not be accepted.
Applicants that are unable to provide actual export sales for the 2022-23 financial year must provide estimates that supported their demonstrated export efforts.

The Awards program operates as a two-tier process. Applications are via each individual State and Territory Export Awards program. Each program will have 13 or more categories (only winners in the 13 national categories automatically proceed to become an Australian Export Awards finalist).
Only submit an application in one State or Territory Export Awards program. The application can only be submitted in the state or territory program where the organisation’s head office is located or where the majority of operations are established.
Applications are only accepted online via the Export Awards application website.

Organisations can apply in one or more national categories, but will only be eligible to win an award in one national category.
Winners in a state and territory category (outside of national categories) do not proceed to the National Program.
Eligibility for award categories that are not sector specific:
- Regional Exporter: Organisations with a non-metropolitan Head Office or majority of operations are eligible to apply for this award.
- Small Business: Organisations with total annual sales not exceeding $10 million are eligible to apply for this award.
- Emerging Exporter: Organisations with 3 years or less of export sales are eligible to apply for this Award.

Winners from previous years are eligible to apply, except for inductees in the Australian Export Awards national Hall of Fame.
Where an organisation is a state or territory Hall of Fame inductee check with the State or Territory Awards Coordinator for information regarding eligibility in applying into a state or territory awards program.