Pause Awards 2021 opens for entries

Enter before 16 July to take advantage of discounted Early Entry fees (A$265), and you can save yourself 20% off Standard Entry.

When you pay the Pause Awards entry fee, you will automatically be considered for the award and be put forward to the judges. We aim to hold our first in-person Awards Night event because we couldn’t hold one due to the pandemic last year. However, if that’s not possible again, we will host this online.

Our entry prices remain one of the most affordable in the market.

Standard Entry fees are A$325, and they end on 24 September. You will save yourself an additional 20% if you submit before Late Entry kicks in with A$395 per entry.

It pays off to enter early, before 16 July, as you could be saving 40% in fees. This is especially helpful if you plan to submit multiple entries across categories.

This year the application process is simple. We are using Typeform, and it only takes seven minutes to complete the application and pay. You can try it now to see how it goes here.

2021 Categories

There are 22 categories this year, which is double from last year. The categories are not industry-specific. We have four new categories in Sustainability, two new categories for Creative, two for Breakthroughs and two for emerging businesses and individuals. Please find out more about our categories here.

New Sustainability Categories

This year we have introduced four sustainability categories across the board. These categories are awarding circular economy, ethics in business, clean energy, climate change, healthy environment, and workplace culture projects that consciously reduce the impact on the planet and leave a positive social contribution. We hope you will appreciate and enter them.

Our Judges

Pause Awards judging panel comprises 40 industry leaders, entrepreneurs, execs, journalists, founders, academics, creatives and investors from all over the globe. Past judge David Swan, Tech Editor at The Australian, said, “Pause Awards are a great way to discover and recognise talent”. We are looking for a few more judges from social good, ethics and sustainability to join this year’s awards. Please submit your expression of interest here if you would like to join.

Why Enter Pause Awards 2021?

The Pause Awards program was born to discover and celebrate the next generation of thinkers and doers.

Shortlisted entries will be published on our website and provided with promotional kits to share on their social media channels. In addition, winners will receive a beautiful handmade Award Trophy, which comes with a cost but is optional.

2018 Winner of Unexpected Twist Award Cyan Ta’eed, Exec Dir/ Co-Founder, Envato, said, “Well, it a) made me laugh when I read it and b) made me feel a lot prouder than any other award I’ve received. I’m honoured”.

Important Dates and Fees

When you pay the Pause Awards entry fee, you will automatically be considered for the award and be put forward to the judges. We aim to hold our first in-person Awards Night event because we couldn’t hold one due to the pandemic last year. However, if that’s not possible again, we will host this online.