Questions about entering

• Why enter?

  The Awards program offers a valuable opportunity to be recognised for excellence and leadership within the development industry. If your company has delivered a standout project, pushed boundaries, or innovated to overcome challenges, entering showcases your achievement to industry. Being named a finalist, a winner or receiving a commendation is a significant endorsement of capability and success.

• How do I enter?

  All submissions must be completed through our online platform, AwardForce.

  Steps:

  1. Create a login in AwardForce
  2. Select your award category/s
  3. Enter a name for your submission

• Can non members enter the Awards program?

  The Awards program is an exclusive benefit for UDIA members. Non-members may submit an entry but they must become financial members prior to the submission deadline, and remain financial throughout the nomination, judging, and awards process.

   

Pricing and Payment

• What are the submission fees?

  Project Category (single entry): $

  Project Category (multiple entries): $

  Leadership Category: $

• When is payment made?

  Payment must be finalised via credit card or direct deposit once your online submission is complete.

Category Questions 

• Can I enter any category?

  Refer to eligibility document (link to be added) for full details.

• Is there criteria for every category?

  Yes. Each award category has specific criteria:

  • Project Awards: Judged via submission and site inspection.
  • Marketing Award: Judged on campaign, strategy, creativity and impact – does not need to be onsite.
  • Leadership Awards: Judged via submission and interview.

  Make sure to review the criteria carefully for your chosen category before submitting.

  Criteria are available on the Award Categories page or via AwardForce.

• How is the criteria weighted?

  Each award category has specific criteria, and each carries a weighting to show its relative importance. This helps entrants understand what judges focus on and align their submission, site tour or interview accordingly.

• Does my written submission need to address the category criteria?

  Yes. Submissions should directly respond to the criteria, as judges use this information to assess entries.

• What is the word count per criteria question?

  Maximum of 200 words per question.

Submissions

• What are the Opening and Closing Dates for submissions?

  • Open: Tuesday, 10 February 2026
  • Close: Friday, 22 May 2026

• Does the Marketing award require permission from the developer?

  Yes. Architects submitting for the Design Award must obtain written consent from the developer. This must be submitted with the online entry.

   

• Can consultants enter all categories?

  Consultants may enter the following categories:

  • Professional Services and Consultancy
  • Property Technology Innovation (Proptech)
  • Young Leader
  • Women in Leadership
  • Employer of Choice

• Does my project have to be completed?

  Yes, for Project Awards your project must be at practical completion, with at least one dwelling accessible to judges.

  This does not apply to Leadership or Marketing Awards.

• Can I enter my project in multiple categories?

  Yes. A separate submission is required for each category, and a discount will automatically apply at checkout. Ensure you respond to the specific criteria for each category.

• Can I re-enter a project?

  Yes, if you submitted a project in a previous year and it did not win, you can re-enter the same project.

  Projects that have previously won must demonstrate significant changes for a valid resubmission.

• Are there location restrictions?

  Yes, projects must be located within Victoria.

• How do I prepare my submission?

  • Submit via AwardForce – hard copy submissions are not accepted.
  • Some entrants draft responses in Word before submitting. Ensure word limit does not exceed the maximum 200 word count.

• Can I make changes to my submission?

  Submissions may be updated up until the submission deadline. Following this date all submissions will be considered complete.

  Late changes may be accepted or declined at UDIA Victoria’s discretion.

• What is the Summary used for?

  The Summary helps the judges and may be used to create Award citations for finalists and winners.

• Do I need to provide images?

  Yes. Project category submissions require 6 to 10 high resolution images to be provided.

  UDIA Victoria reserves the right to select images for marketing purposes.

• Can I withdraw my submission after the due date?

  Cancellations (withdrawal) must be submitted in writing to awards@udiavic.com.au at least two weeks before submissions close.

  Cancellations or withdrawals made after this time are non-refundable.

  Any refunds will be processed approximately one fortnight after the event has concluded.

Judging

• How will my submission be judged?

  • Each category is judged by independent and experienced practitioners from across the urban development industry
  • Reviews include online submission, criteria responses and for Project Awards, an on-site inspection, Leadership Awards, an interview
  • Minimum of three judges for Project Award site inspections
  • Entrants should allow up to one hour for presentations, including site tours for each category. Additional time will be allocated where the project is entered in multiple categories
  • On-site presentations should be delivered by a senior representative familiar with the project
  • UDIA Victoria may transfer entries to a more suitable category. Entrants will be notified and be given the option to amend their submission for the category
  • Judging decisions are final

• When will submissions be judged?

  • Project Awards: mid August
  • Leadership Awards: early September

• When and how are the winners announced?

  Project and Leadership Winners and Commendations will be announced at the Awards Lunch held in November at Crown Palladium, Melbourne.

Other queries?

• Can we change the date of our site inspection?

  No. Changes to site inspection dates or times are not permitted under any circumstances. Entrants are strongly encouraged to block out the judging period in advance to ensure key company representatives are available.

• Can submissions be disqualified?

  Yes. Entrants must not contact or approach any member of the judging panel outside their scheduled site inspection. If UDIA Victoria becomes aware of such behavior, the submission will be disqualified immediately.

• When will finalists be announced?

  All finalists will be announced in August.

  Award winners and commendations will be announced at the Awards Lunch held at Crown Palladium on Friday, 27 November 2026.

• Will you let winners know if they have won beforehand?

  No. Winners and Commendations will be announced at the Awards Lunch in November.

• How do state winners nominate for the National Awards?

  State winners in eligible categories will be contacted by the National Awards team the next business day following the state award announcements. Winners will receive an invitation to nominate and commence a National award submission, with one week to finalise their entry.

• Can I purchase additional trophies or certificates if we win?

  Winning projects will receive one trophy and one certificate, presented on stage to the entrant named on the submission. All consultants involved in the winning project will also receive a certificate, which will be mailed following the Awards Lunch. Entrants receiving a Commendation will be issued a certificate at the Awards lunch.

  Additional trophies and certificates are available for purchase and may be requested following the Awards Lunch by emailing awards@udiavic.com.au.

• Do you reserve tickets to the lunch for entrants?

  Tickets are not allocated to entrants. You must purchase your tickets via the Events webpage.

UDIA Victoria Awards Program contact details:

E: awards@udiavic.com.au

P: 03 9832 9600