How our awards work - Accelerating Women
Accelerating Women category
This Award category is for businesses actively challenging exclusion to create lasting equity for women.
Who can apply in this category?
If you’re fulfilling one or more of the following category examples, consider nominating and entering your business for this Award.
Initiative development
For businesses who have developed and put internal initiatives in place focused on supporting women.
Challenging stereotypes
For businesses actively challenging stereotypes by reshaping traditionally male-dominated industries or roles.
Core focus
For businesses with a core offering built on providing products or services that support and help women.
Championing women
For businesses passionately working to keep women employed or helping women to re-enter the workforce at every stage of life.
Career pathways
For businesses advocating for women by providing career pathways to leadership positions for women.
Addressing the gap
For businesses offering training and education for women aspiring to work in male-dominated fields to reduce the skills gap.
Equity fighters
For businesses resolutely fighting for, or offering equal pay and work opportunities for women.
Ikuntji Artists
National Accelerating Women Winner
Ikuntji Artists is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1992. Originally a women’s centre, its focus changed in 2005 to support local Aboriginal artists and foster Anangu culture. Specialising in canvas, fabrics and jewellery, Ikuntji Artists collaborates globally to exhibit more than 40 artists’ work in museums and on fashion runways worldwide.
UNDERWEAR FOR HUMANITY
NSW Winner
Underwear for Humanity aims to transform fashion through sustainability and social impact. Their one-for-one donation model, eco-friendly materials, and zero-plastic shipping demonstrate their core values and commitment. Underwear for Humanity's innovative approach includes paying Indigenous communities and empowering refugees, and setting new standards for responsible, impactful business practices.
Wholesome Blends
QLD Winner
Wholesome Blends, founded by Sarah Thomas, provides Australian families a wholefood option for enteral, or tube-fed, nutrition. Made entirely from natural ingredients, Wholesome Blends offers enteral feeding solutions and fosters a supportive community to empower families and enhance the quality of life for tube-fed individuals.
VA Institute
TAS Winner
Founded in 2017, VA Institute offers comprehensive training and support for virtual assistants, providing a tangible "business in a box". VA Institute delivers training that's grounded in real industry experience. Its comprehensive programs equip participants with the skills and resources they need to launch fully operational virtual assistant businesses.
Eligibility criteria
To enter, the following eligibility criteria must be met. Each category also has specific requirements. If you have any questions about these conditions, please contact us.
- Reside in Australia
- Have a registered Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Have been operating in Australia for at least 12 months at the time you submit your Stage 1 entry
- Be more than 60 percent Australian-owned, with the owner(s)/founder(s) responsible for making the key management decisions
- Be a small-to-medium business that’s a sole trader, partnership, incorporated, NFP, social enterprise or franchise whose franchisor is 60 percent Australian owned and not a listed company
- Earn more than $50,000 in annual revenue
- Have under 200 full-time equivalent staff at the time you submit your Stage 1 entry
- Operate in an ethical manner with suppliers, distributors and contractors
- Supply financials when requested. All financials will remain confidential and will not be shared or used outside the purposes of judging the business’ performance, success and viability.
- Be a listed company, franchisor, a club, co-operative, or a Telstra licensee
- Be affiliated with Telstra through investments, donation or reselling
- Be more than 50 percent owned by another business
- Be a government agency
- Have filed for bankruptcy in the prior 5 years or been subject to court proceedings in the prior 12 months – including in the business owner or founder’s personal capacity – at the time you submit your Stage 1 entry
- Be a recipient of significant ongoing government funding (excluding temporary government relief or support packages, such as Jobkeeper or disaster recovery)
- Have been a contracted commercial supplier of Telstra in the last 3 years
- Enter the same category where the business has previously won at State or National level at the Telstra Best of the Business Awards in the past 3 years
- Have a staff member that has applied and/or Have a staff member that has been a State or National judge in the Telstra Best of Business Awards for any category in the past 3 years
- Enter the awards if a staff member or owner has applied to be a judge in the same awards program year.
Our program dates
Nominations open
All year round
We accept nominations all year round. If you know an exceptional business moving Australia forward, nominate them today.
Stage 1
3 March to 23 April 2025
This initial stage is a multiple choice assessment of your business and how successful it is. Your total score will determine whether you progress to stage 2. You will be advised of the outcome of your entry by email.
Stage 2
30 April to 20 May 2025
For this stage, the goal is to gain a deeper understanding of your business and give you an opportunity to expand on your answers from stage 1.
Need help?
Have a question?
Find answers to your frequently asked questions.
Contact us
Speak with our Awards Team and call 1800 AWARDS Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm (AEDT).
Terms of entry
Ensure you're eligible to enter by viewing our official terms and conditions.