Digital Child Awards – 2023
The inaugural Digital Child Awards will be presented at DCAM 2023. These awards recognise the contributions of members to Centre engagement and impact.
There are 8 awards on offer in this round with the addition of a Research Translation Award led by the Research Translation Portfolio (this award has a different application process, please see the details here). Below we provide an overview of the award categories.
Applications are now open and close 16 June 2023.
You are welcome to self-nominate (except where noted) or nominate another Digital Child member for an award. Each award has specific criteria that your nomination should address. The word limit for each submission is 300 words.
Overview
Recognising excellence in work or research which has influenced and enhanced the profile and reputation of the Centre through outreach, media engagement and/or public policy activities and by acknowledging the contribution that research makes to the economy, society, environment or culture, beyond the contribution to academic research.
Criteria
Nominations will be assessed against demonstrated influence upon two or more of:
- DC audiences;
- The local, national and/or international community; and/or
- Centre stakeholders;
and
- Evidence of impact upon DC’s public profile (e.g. media coverage).
Eligibility
All centre members are eligible for this award either as an individual or as part of a team, whether Academic or Professional Staff, whether Australia-based or international. Nominees must have a role in the Centre and be listed on the website. Current students may be included in team nominations as appropriate.
Nomination
Nominations of no more than 300 words can be made by any CI, and whole-of-centre Professional Staff members with an overview of operations.
The Award can only be held once (other than as part of a team).
The Awards Panel creates a shortlist, but selection is by the Director.
Overview
Recognising the excellence of a Professional Staff member or Professional Staff team in contributing to the effectiveness and outcomes of the Centre
Criteria
Nominations will be assessed against work that maximises one or more of:
- supporting node(s), individuals and events;
- the efficiency and effectiveness of Centre research;
- the impact of outcomes;
- the communication of results;
- engagement with stakeholders including the ARC.
Eligibility
Open to all Centre-related and funded Professional Staff, as individuals or as teams
Nomination
Nominations of no more than 300 words can be made by any member of the Centre. The performance and professionalism recognised will take into account the relative seniority, track record and opportunity open to the nominee.
Overview
Recognising the achievements of a researcher or a research team in contributing to innovative methods and resources that support improvement in digital childhoods. In particular, the award celebrates how such innovations may amplify and honour the voices of children and families, centring children’s perspectives and experiences within research and public discourse.
Criteria
Nominations will be assessed against evidence for two or more of:
- commitment to establishing, adapting, and/or developing research methods and/or resources focused on improving digital childhoods;
- innovatively applying research methods and/or resources that improving digital childhoods, working with children, families, and communities;
- sustained engagement in innovative research with children and families wherein their voices, perspectives, and experiences are meaningfully amplified and honoured.
Eligibility
Open to individuals and teams. Current students may be included as part of team nominations as appropriate.
Nomination
Overview
Recognising a DC individual or group whose work with key stakeholders has resulted in a change in thinking or process that improves any aspect of digital childhoods (e.g. digital inclusion, accessibility, online safety).
Criteria
Nominations will be assessed against evidence for:
- demonstrable change in policy or practice;
- engagement to achieve change, such as (but not limited to) changes in institutional policy, practices, processes: or
- commitment to continued exchange and collaboration between the centre and the stakeholders.
Eligibility
Open to teams, groups, individual researchers and research students.
Nomination
Provide a 300-word description of the individual or group’s evaluation of the impact achieved. Provide at least one piece of evidence that describes or demonstrates the impact achieved (e.g. evaluation of impact, stakeholder feedback, or similar)
Overview
Recognising talented and passionate young researchers within the centre.
Criteria
The ECR will have shown remarkable contribution to the centre within the past 12 months. Remarkable contribution will be assessed in one or more of the following areas:
-
- publication (academic or non-academic), or
- participation in a project with the broader centre.
- service (to centre or to the community)
- leadership (excellence across at least two academic areas: research, teaching, and service)
Eligibility
Open only to ECRs who are active centre members.
Nomination
Identify the applicable categories and provide details (100 words max) under each. Open ended justification as to why they deserve the award (100 words max). Whole nomination not to exceed 300 words regarding personal contribution to project/significance of the publication, etc., in relation to opportunity.
Overview
Recognising ECR-led culture and capacity building via initiatives that support and develop emerging researchers within the Centre, helping create a nurturing research environment.
Criteria
Valid nominations take one of two forms, either:
- One or more nominators can nominate an ECR
Eligibility
This award is limited to ECRs and can only be won once. No self-nominations for this award.
Nomination
Provide a 300-word description of the individual’s contribution and the impact achieved that demonstrates how the nominee has built research culture and capacity.
Overview
Recognising HDR students associated with the Centre who are making outstanding contributions and collaborations within the DC community and/or with industry, advancing the Centre’s capabilities and profile.
Criteria
Engagement must involve at least one of the following:
-
- Students (within own and other institutions)
- Community activity (both within the DC community and beyond)
- Global partners (meaningful connections with international DC collaborators)
- Industry (public, private, or government related)
Eligibility
Open to people who were HDR students for at least part of the relevant time period.
Nomination
Identify the applicable categories and provide details (100 words max) under each. Open ended justification as to why they deserve the award (100 words max). Whole nomination not to exceed 300 words regarding their engagement activities.
Overview
Recognises HDR research that has achieved demonstrable impact in the research community and/or with other key stakeholders (e.g. public, industry)
Criteria
Nominations will be assessed against (i):
- communication around,
- raising awareness of, and/or
- contributing to,
current debates around digital childhoods, engaging stakeholders within and/or beyond the research community, drawing on their own and/or centre-based research
OR (ii):
The HDR researcher must have applied innovative design and practice to improve digital childhoods at the institutional or community level.
Eligibility
HDR students only.
Nomination
HDR supervisors, mentors or peers within the centre, or nominees themselves should provide a 300 word statement (max) explaining how nominee fulfils at least one of the award criteria.
Guiding Principles
‘ECR’ has the same definition as that used by the Australian Research Council.
No award to be won by the same person in consecutive years: except as noted below.
As specified, some awards are open to individuals and some to teams.
To be judged by one Awards Panel across the board: except as noted.
Time of interest is previous calendar year (2022, for DCAM 2023).
Self-nominations and other nominations equally appropriate: except as noted.
Digital Child membership eligibility is established via inclusion in the Digital Child website.
The Awards Panel may grant more than one award per category under exceptional circumstances, as identified by the Panel.
Awards Panel Assessment Criteria
All applications will be assessed by an Awards panel on the following points:
- The candidate or nominator has clearly stated and provided excellent evidence of meeting the criteria listed for the nominated award;
- The contribution impacts the students, investigators and/or Centre, with the potential to also impact the surrounding community
- The candidate(s) distinguish themselves from others and their work is original, and/or innovative, and/or demonstrates a new way of thinking and/or meets a current or emerging need
The Centre thanks the Digital Child Awards Working Group: Madeleine Dobson, Lelia Green, Michelle Gregory, Katrin Langton, Luci Pangrazio, and Cassandra Pattinson; support by Belle Johnston.