What does it celebrate?

• Great teamwork and strong partnerships that have made a positive difference to the natural environment, a place or species in the Northern Territory.

Who can be nominated?

• This award is for two or more groups or organisations working together - it must be a joint nomination.
• The nominees can be organisations, businesses, community groups, schools, or local authorities.

Any exclusions?

• Research-focused collaborations are not eligible for this category and should apply for the Impactful Research in Natural Resource Management Award.

Questions for this category:

1. What was the focus of the project or activities carried out by the nominees, and how did they work together?
2. How did the people or groups involved benefit from working in partnership?
3. What positive outcomes for the natural environment, place or species were achieved through the collaboration, and how were these shared with the NT community?
4. How did the nominees build and keep their collaboration strong, and how are they planning to keep it going into the future, even beyond the current funding or goals?

What does it celebrate?

• Thoughtful and practical efforts by producers, businesses, or organisations in looking after the Northern Territory's natural resources. This category celebrates people and groups who are coming up with new ideas, caring for the land or sea, and offering services that help communities, the environment, and local economies thrive now and into the future.

Who can be nominated?

• An individual producer, small-to-medium business, or organisation working in areas like farming, pastoralism, fishing, horticulture, bushfoods/products, animal production, forestry, or natural resource services. Nominees should be involved in projects or activities such as:
  • Using or creating sustainable practices for looking after land, water, or other natural resources.
  • Offering services or products that help protect or improve the NT's natural places.
  • Restoring or caring for important habitats and ecosystems.
  • Finding new ways to solve natural resource challenges or improve environmental and business strength.
  • Showing leadership by making sustainability part of how they work or operate in their industry.

Any exclusions?

• Open to businesses or organisations with fewer than 200 employees and a GST-exclusive turnover of less than $10 million.
• Government departments are not eligible.

Questions for this category:

1. What approach, product, or service has been used to support the sustainable use or protection of a natural resource in the NT?
2. What benefits or positive changes have come from this work for the environment, the business, and/or the wider industry?
3. How has the approach, product or service responded to the unique challenges of looking after natural resources in the NT?
4. How has this initiative or work been shared with others, or made a difference to the community or industry beyond the original approach, product or service?

What does it celebrate?

• Meaningful efforts by individuals or community-based groups who are working to care for the environment and protect nature. This could be through hands-on work and encouraging others to get involved through community and Landcare groups, volunteer teams, or local ranger groups.

Who can be nominated?

• An individual, small organisation, or community group that has carried out a project or activity involving strong community participation that has made a real difference for conservation or the environment.

Any exclusions?

• Government departments are not eligible.

Questions for this category:

1. What was the project or activity, and what environmental or conservation issue did it aim to address?
2. What role did the nominee play, and how did they help with the on-ground work or bring the community together to take part?
3. What positive environmental or conservation outcomes were achieved?
4. How were the outcomes or lessons from the project or activity shared with others in the community?

What does it celebrate?

• A young person or group who has created or led a project or activity that helped raise awareness, encourage sustainable practices, protect or care for the environment or a natural resource (like water, soil, marine areas, native plants, or wildlife) through hands-on action.

Who can be nominated?

• Open to any young Territorian aged 20 or under, or any NT group where the main members are all 20 years old or younger.
  • This could be a school group, youth club, scouts/guides, or simply a bunch of young people who teamed up to tackle an environmental or natural resource issue they care about.

Any exclusions?

• Individuals over 20 years of age are not eligible.
• Groups where the main members over 20 years of age are not eligible.
• Government departments are not eligible.

Questions for this category:

1. What was the project or activity about, and what environmental or natural resource issue did it focus on?
2. If the project or activity had adult or teacher support, how did the young people show independence, take initiative, and make the project their own?
3. What improvements or positive changes came from the project or activity?
4. In what ways was the project or activity shared with the community, or how were community members involved?

What does it celebrate?

• A group or organisation that has been looking after land and sea Country in a way that helps keep the environment healthy, supports strong communities, and maintains cultural connections. This award celebrates work led by Indigenous people in the Northern Territory, where caring for Country has had good results for the environment, and also supports culture, knowledge, and wellbeing.

Who can be nominated?

• Any group or organisation based in the Northern Territory where Indigenous Australians are leading or closely involved in looking after land and/or sea Country. This might include Indigenous organisations, ranger groups, Traditional Owner groups, cultural land management teams, or other community-led efforts.

Any exclusions?

• Open only to Northern Territory-based groups or organisations where Indigenous Australians are leading or playing a key role in caring for land and/or sea Country.

Questions for this category:

1. What was the project or activity about, and what natural resource or environmental issue on Country did it focus on?
2. What positive changes or benefits for land or sea Country came from this project or activity?
3. How did this project or activity support culture, knowledge and wellbeing and strengthen connection to country?
4. In what ways was the project or activity shared with the wider community, or how were community members involved?

What does it celebrate?

• This award recognises research that helps us better understand, care for, protect, or restore the Northern Territory's land, water and biodiversity.
• It celebrates practical, real-world research that can be applied to the management of our natural resources.

Who can be nominated?

• An individual, organisation, or institution that has carried out research contributing to better natural resource management in the NT.
• Joint nominations are also welcome if the project involved collaboration.

Any exclusions?

• No exclusions!

Questions for this category:

1. What was the focus of the research, and what natural resource management issue or knowledge gap did it aim to explore or solve?
2. What were the main findings or results, and how have they helped improve the way natural resources are managed in the NT?
3. How has this research been used in real-life situations, and what changes or benefits has it brought about?
4. How were the research results shared with others, and how have they been made available to the wider community or industry?

What does it celebrate?

• A dedicated ranger who has made a real difference over the past year by caring for Country and/or managing conservation or protected areas in the Northern Territory.

Who can be nominated?

• Any ranger currently working in the Northern Territory.

Any exclusions?

• Only open to rangers who are currently employed and working in the Northern Territory.

Questions for this category:

1. What has the ranger done over the past year to care for places like national parks, reserves, marine parks, Indigenous Protected Areas, or Land Trusts?
2. What positive changes or results has the ranger achieved through their work?
3. How has the ranger supported or worked with others - for example, their team, community members, or partner organisations?
4. Why do you think this ranger deserves to be recognised and celebrated?

What does it celebrate?

• This award recognises a dedicated individual who, over many years, has made a lasting and meaningful contribution to the care and management of natural resources in the Northern Territory.
• Their work may be in conservation, agriculture, land and sea management, or the environment more broadly.

Who can be nominated?

• Anyone who is or has been involved in protecting, restoring, or supporting the NT's natural resources.

Some tips for nominations:

• The nominee doesn't need to be currently active in natural resource management, and their work doesn't have to be hands-on.
• This person will have made a real difference through efforts such as:
  • A long-term commitment to natural resource management in a specific place or region.
  • Taking action to address an environmental challenge and working steadily toward a better outcome.
  • Supporting or inspiring others through education, advocacy, or guidance.

Any exclusions?

• Groups are not eligible.

Questions for this category:

1. Tell us about the person's journey - what kind of work or activities have they done in natural resource management in the NT, in what roles, and for how long?
2. What positive changes or contributions have they made to natural resource management in the NT?
3. How have they supported, encouraged, or inspired others through their work?
4. Why do you believe this person deserves to be recognised and celebrated for their lifetime of effort?

Finalists in all of the above categories will be entered into the People's Choice Award category.

Voting will open 2 weeks prior to the 2025 NT NRM Awards Gala Dinner.

Online voting and in-person voting opportunities during the conference will be available until midday on Wednesday, 19th November 2025.