LGPro is the member association and leading voice for people working in Local Government. We support, represent and advocate for all people working in Councils across Victoria through:
The LGPro Awards for Excellence promote and celebrate the outstanding work being undertaken and delivered by individuals and teams working in Local Government in Victoria.
There are 15 award categories including the small rural Council award category, introduced in recognition of the resource challenges faced by these Councils. Small rural Councils nominating across any of the original categories (except for Young Achiever) will automatically be entered into this category without having to make a separate submission. LGPro will form a judging panel for each category, selected for their technical and specialist skills, knowledge, and experience related to each award category. Decisions of judging panels are final and appeals are not accepted.
Award recipients will be announced at the LGPro Annual Conference Awards Dinner following the 2027 LGPro Annual Conference to be held at Plaza Ballroom Melbourne on Thursday 20 May 2027.
Winners in each category, whether individuals or teams, will receive a statuette and the Council they represent will receive a replica of the statuette. The Young Achiever Award will also include an honorary LGPro Membership for a 12-month period.
Please note that the awards are open to Council Subscribers only.
One nominator must be the Chief Executive Officer of the Council where the award nominee(s) is employed or contracted. The second nominator must be a member of the team. Both nominators must be LGPro Members.
Click here to begin nomination now!About this Award
This award is for an initiative or program that demonstrates exceptional collaboration and dedication in fostering meaningful relationships and outcomes between councils, First Nations people and the general community.
This could include, but is not limited to, initiatives in:
Judging Criteria
The key criteria that will be considered in judging this category are:
Initiatives, projects or programs that have been implemented for 12 months or more are generally preferred nominations as they allow enough time to demonstrate measurable outcomes and community benefits. Due to the pandemic however, some Councils have fast tracked initiatives for more immediate benefit, so LGPro does allow initiatives that have not been implemented for 12 months as long as demonstrable outcomes exist.
Projects that do not have demonstrable outcomes will not score well with the judges and as such projects in their planning phase are not recommended.
About this Award
Initiatives that maximise benefits to the community and showcase partnerships in developing and managing community assets. It is for projects that are new and a one-off activity of a capital nature.
Judging Criteria
The key criteria that will be considered in judging this category are:
Initiatives, projects or programs that have been implemented for 12 months or more are generally preferred nominations as they allow enough time to demonstrate measurable outcomes and community benefits. Due to the pandemic however, some Councils have fast tracked initiatives for more immediate benefit, so LGPro does allow initiatives that have not been implemented for 12 months as long as demonstrable outcomes exist.
Projects that do not have demonstrable outcomes will not score well with the judges and as such projects in their planning phase are not recommended.
About this Award
Initiatives that maximise benefits to the community and showcase partnerships in developing and managing community assets. It is for projects that are new and a one-off activity of a capital nature.
Judging Criteria
The key criteria that will be considered in judging this category are:
Initiatives, projects or programs that have been implemented for 12 months or more are generally preferred nominations as they allow enough time to demonstrate measurable outcomes and community benefits. Due to the pandemic however, some Councils have fast tracked initiatives for more immediate benefit, so LGPro does allow initiatives that have not been implemented for 12 months as long as demonstrable outcomes exist.
Projects that do not have demonstrable outcomes will not score well with the judges and as such projects in their planning phase are not recommended.
About this Award
Initiatives that maximise benefits to the community and showcase partnerships in developing and managing community assets. It is for projects that are new and a one-off activity of a capital nature.
Judging Criteria
The key criteria that will be considered in judging this category are:
Initiatives, projects or programs that have been implemented for 12 months or more are generally preferred nominations as they allow enough time to demonstrate measurable outcomes and community benefits. Due to the pandemic however, some Councils have fast tracked initiatives for more immediate benefit, so LGPro does allow initiatives that have not been implemented for 12 months as long as demonstrable outcomes exist.
Projects that do not have demonstrable outcomes will not score well with the judges and as such projects in their planning phase are not recommended.
About this Award
Initiatives that maximise benefits to the community and showcase partnerships in developing and managing community assets. It is for projects that are new and a one-off activity of a capital nature.
Judging Criteria
The key criteria that will be considered in judging this category are:
Initiatives, projects or programs that have been implemented for 12 months or more are generally preferred nominations as they allow enough time to demonstrate measurable outcomes and community benefits. Due to the pandemic however, some Councils have fast tracked initiatives for more immediate benefit, so LGPro does allow initiatives that have not been implemented for 12 months as long as demonstrable outcomes exist.
Projects that do not have demonstrable outcomes will not score well with the judges and as such projects in their planning phase are not recommended.
About this Award
Initiatives that demonstrate a commitment to working with and/or in the community to achieve positive outcomes.
Judging Criteria
The key criteria that will be considered in judging this category are:
Initiatives, projects or programs that have been implemented for 12 months or more are generally preferred nominations as they allow enough time to demonstrate measurable outcomes and community benefits. Due to the pandemic however, some Councils have fast tracked initiatives for more immediate benefit, so LGPro does allow initiatives that have not been implemented for 12 months as long as demonstrable outcomes exist.
Projects that do not have demonstrable outcomes will not score well with the judges and as such projects in their planning phase are not recommended.
About this Award
This award recognises excellence in innovation and expertise in utilising electronic tools, devices, systems and resources to enhance the work of councils, from generating, storing or processing data to improving engagement and streamlining administrative processes. It celebrates outstanding commitment to leveraging digital solutions for the betterment of communities, fostering efficiency, transparency and inclusivity in governance.
Initiatives can include those that increase safety and responsibility online or those that increase effectiveness of professional messaging and communication online.
Judging Criteria
The key criteria that will be considered in judging this category are:
Initiatives, projects or programs that have been implemented for 12 months or more are generally preferred nominations as they allow enough time to demonstrate measurable outcomes and community benefits. Due to the pandemic however, some Councils have fast tracked initiatives for more immediate benefit, so LGPro does allow initiatives that have not been implemented for 12 months as long as demonstrable outcomes exist.
Projects that do not have demonstrable outcomes will not score well with the judges and as such projects in their planning phase are not recommended.
About this Award
This award recognises initiatives that help to prevent disasters and mitigate climate change, that support recovery and preparedness, and/or that increase capacity to protect lives and livelihoods while reducing infrastructure damage or loss. This includes initiatives that reduce the impact of disasters, support the identification of risk and increase response capacity.
Judging Criteria
The key criteria that will be considered in judging this category are:
Initiatives, projects or programs that have been implemented for 12 months or more are generally preferred nominations as they allow enough time to demonstrate measurable outcomes and community benefits. Due to the pandemic however, some Councils have fast tracked initiatives for more immediate benefit, so LGPro does allow initiatives that have not been implemented for 12 months as long as demonstrable outcomes exist.
Projects that do not have demonstrable outcomes will not score well with the judges and as such projects in their planning phase are not recommended.
About this Award
This category is open to achievements/outcomes that acknowledge, support and celebrate diversity and inclusion in relation to internal practices and/or within the broader community context. This includes, but is not limited to ethnicity, language, ability, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, class, education level, personality, political beliefs and other ideologies. It is about understanding and respecting each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity within each individual - whether it be in an organisational or community context.
Judging Criteria
The key criteria that will be considered in judging this category are:
Initiatives, projects or programs that have been implemented for 12 months or more are generally preferred nominations as they allow enough time to demonstrate measurable outcomes and community benefits. Due to the pandemic however, some Councils have fast tracked initiatives for more immediate benefit, so LGPro does allow initiatives that have not been implemented for 12 months as long as demonstrable outcomes exist.
Projects that do not have demonstrable outcomes will not score well with the judges and as such projects in their planning phase are not recommended.
About this Award
Initiatives that demonstrate excellence in the delivery of environmentally sustainable processes or projects. These provide a new way of ensuring programs, projects and developments meet present needs, without compromising future generations.
Judging Criteria
The key criteria that will be considered in judging this category are:
Initiatives, projects or programs that have been implemented for 12 months or more are generally preferred nominations as they allow enough time to demonstrate measurable outcomes and community benefits. Due to the pandemic however, some Councils have fast tracked initiatives for more immediate benefit, so LGPro does allow initiatives that have not been implemented for 12 months as long as demonstrable outcomes exist.
Projects that do not have demonstrable outcomes will not score well with the judges and as such projects in their planning phase are not recommended.
About this Award
Projects demonstrating new ways of leading, facilitating, administering, controlling or ensuring a particular outcome is achieved and that make positive changes to management of an organisation’s practices or projects.
Judging Criteria
The key criteria that will be considered in judging this category are:
Initiatives, projects or programs that have been implemented for 12 months or more are generally preferred nominations as they allow enough time to demonstrate measurable outcomes and community benefits. Due to the pandemic however, some Councils have fast tracked initiatives for more immediate benefit, so LGPro does allow initiatives that have not been implemented for 12 months as long as demonstrable outcomes exist.
Projects that do not have demonstrable outcomes will not score well with the judges and as such projects in their planning phase are not recommended.
About this Award
Initiatives demonstrating best practice (outstanding action), or the pursuit of excellence in service/s delivery to the community or specified target market and that will continue.
Judging Criteria
The key criteria that will be considered in judging this category are:
Initiatives, projects or programs that have been implemented for 12 months or more are generally preferred nominations as they allow enough time to demonstrate measurable outcomes and community benefits. Due to the pandemic however, some Councils have fast tracked initiatives for more immediate benefit, so LGPro does allow initiatives that have not been implemented for 12 months as long as demonstrable outcomes exist.
Projects that do not have demonstrable outcomes will not score well with the judges and as such projects in their planning phase are not recommended.
About this Award
Initiatives that are exceptional and one-off. Projects entered in this category must be original and assist the community over and above Council’s day to day activities.
Judging Criteria
The key criteria that will be considered in judging this category are:
Initiatives, projects or programs that have been implemented for 12 months or more are generally preferred nominations as they allow enough time to demonstrate measurable outcomes and community benefits. Due to the pandemic however, some Councils have fast tracked initiatives for more immediate benefit, so LGPro does allow initiatives that have not been implemented for 12 months as long as demonstrable outcomes exist.
Projects that do not have demonstrable outcomes will not score well with the judges and as such projects in their planning phase are not recommended.
About this Award
This category recognises the resource challenges faced by smaller rural Councils. Nominations received by eligible Councils in the existing categories (except for Young Achiever) will automatically be entered into this new category without a separate submission having to be made.
Judging Criteria
The key criteria that will be considered in judging this category are:
Small rural councils entering the awards in other categories will be automatically nominated in this category.
About this Award
This award acknowledges recognisable achievements in the sector by people up to 30 years of age (as of 31 December 2025) and working in Local Government. Nominations will be accepted from both LGPro Members and Non-Members. The person putting forward the nomination must be an LGPro Member however, it is not a requirement for the nominee to be an LGPro Member.
Judging Criteria
The key criteria that will be considered in judging this category are:
| Nominations Close | Friday 4 December 2026 |
For further information, please contact:
Diana Pawluk
LGPro Sector Engagement Lead
dianap@lgpro.com
(03) 9268 6404
www.lgpro.com