Sustainable Communities – Tidy Towns

Sustainable Communities – Tidy Towns
(A Keep Victoria Beautiful Program)

Submit Entry/Nominate Entry


The Sustainable Communities – Tidy Towns Awards recognise, celebrate and share grassroots initiatives and positive actions taken by community groups, educational institutions, businesses and councils in rural and regional areas in Victoria. These initiatives may empower, protect the environment, reduce waste, engage local youth, combat loneliness or simply be a fun way to celebrate being part of a community. Ultimately they play a critical role in fostering resilient, happy people and in building a strong sense of community.

COVID-19 Update:

We will continue to follow the ongoing restrictions from the Covid-19 pandemic and plan the awards accordingly to keep our volunteers and communities safe.

This may result in the awards being held virtually as they were run in 2020. Please continue to check back on our website for ongoing updates at www.kvb.org.au.


Award Categories

An educational campaign or program that results in empowerment and behaviour change that builds community.

Eligible Entries:

  • Primary and Secondary Schools
  • Universities
  • TAFEs
  • Higher Education Institutions
  • Other Education Institutions
  • Pre-school/ kindergartens
  • Community groups

Any project that leads towards a stronger, more resilient and thriving community or economy.

Eligible Entries:

  • Community Groups
  • Individuals
  • Not-For-Profit Organizations

Any project that shows leadership and innovation in conservation, production and distribution of energy.

Eligible Entries:

  • Community Groups
  • Businesses
  • Government
  • Individuals
  • Not-For-Profit Organizations

Projects that protect, restore and prevent damage to the natural environment.

Eligible Entries:

  • Community Groups
  • Businesses
  • Government
  • Individuals
  • Not-For-Profit Organizations

A project that takes action to address their local litter issues.

Eligible Entries:

  • Community Groups
  • Businesses
  • Government
  • Individuals
  • Not-For-Profit Organizations

Projects that focus on minimising what goes into landfills.

Eligible Entries:

  • Community Groups
  • Businesses
  • Government
  • Individuals
  • Not-For-Profit Organizations

An individual or group of people all 25 years or younger who demonstrate outstanding contribution to any of the categories.

Eligible Entries:

  • Individual 25 years old or younger
  • Group of individuals all 25 years old or younger

Any project that recognises outstanding commitment to the conservation and celebration of a community’s heritage and culture.

Eligible Entries:

  • Community Groups
  • Businesses
  • Government
  • Individuals
  • Not-For-Profit Organizations

Any project that recognises outstanding commitment to the conservation and celebration of the rich diverse culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Eligible Entries:

  • Community Groups
  • Businesses
  • Government
  • Individuals
  • Not-For-Profit Organizations

Any project that contributes to an accessible community with resilient, healthy and happy people.

Eligible Entries:

  • Community Groups
  • Businesses
  • Government
  • Individuals
  • Not-For-Profit Organizations

Submit your project here and we will make sure you are included.

Eligible Entries:

  • Anyone and any project

Community and Council Nominations

This award recognises an outstanding individual of a community participation who also has been or is involved with KVB. You can nominate anyone or yourself for this award. If your nominee is not chosen this year, you or your nominee could be chosen in a futureawards event.

The winner will be an individual who demonstrates:

  • Community involvement and contribution – years and level of involvement and contribution to their community
  • Environment concern – actively involved in protecting and enhancing their local environment
  • Leadership – evidence of leadership and guidance of others within and outside their community to achieve a positive community outcome
  • Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria participation – current or past participation in KABV programs

The Keep Victoria Beautiful Gift Fund was established to encourage and support community groups to get started with new community projects.

Each year the Gift Fund may award two grants of up to $1000 to grass roots projects that will deliver sustainability outcomes, or reduce litter or build capacity in local communities.

What is a Sustainable Community?

Your town can have the opportunity to win the overall Sustainable Community of the Year award. However to qualify, your town will need to submit projects in a minimum 3 different categories. Only your top 3 projects within the categories will be judged to become the overall winner. We still encourage towns to enter projects if you have less than 3 projects as you could win your overall category.

What is a Dame Phyllis Frost Winner?

A further award, the Dame Phyllis Frost award will go to an outstanding participant whose contribution has had a significant impact on their community and has been involved with KVB. You can nominate yourself for this award or someone you believe has truly gone above and beyond..

What is a Gift Fund recipient?

A $1,000 grant will also be awarded to yet-to-be-launched project which is considered particularly worthy. This is designed to encourage and support community groups to get started on new projects. To enter for this award, access the entry BUTTON above.

**Finalists are not announced for the Dame Phyllis Frost or Gift Fund.


Why enter the awards?

Entering the awards has many benefits, including increased community participation, pride, ownership and responsibility for local environments. The Keep Victoria Beautiful awards provides an opportunity to promote the amazing work being carried out in communities across Victoria.

Who can enter?

These awards are open to community groups, businesses, government, individuals, educational institutions and not-for-profit groups. Anyone can enter a project or submit a nominee for the Dame Phyllis Frost award and the Gift Fund Recipient.

How to Enter

All we need for you to submit your project is the following:

  • Create a Login
  • Contact Details of nominee and nominator (name, email, phone, organization, website)
  • Social Media Handles (optional)
  • Volunteer Information (optional)
  • Local Media (optional)
  • Project Description (200 words)
  • 2-4 Photos
  • Video (optional)
  • Additional Attachments (optional)
  • Photo Release Form (mandatory for any children under 18 in photos)

What are we looking for in your project description?

We do not do any judging based off your project description; this is only used for us to share your story so other people can understand what you are doing within your community. We will use this on our website and for printed media at the event. A few ideas for your description are:

  • How and why did the initiative start?
  • Who managed the project?
  • What challenges were faced and overcome?
  • Was there any collaboration between different groups?
  • Was there any community engagement in the project?
  • What was the overall outcome?
  • Is there ongoing commitment to maintain or expand the initiative?

CONTACT US

Please contact Emma White, Events Manager with any questions or concerns regarding your application.

Email: awards@kvb.org.au
Phone: 0426152202

You may submit multiple entries and nominations with your login details.

Submit Entry/Nominate Entry

For inquiries and general help about the awards contact:
Emma White
Phone: 0426152202
Email: awards@kvb.org.au
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