Western Australian Export Awards: application information

Eligible businesses must:

• earn foreign income
• hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
• operate as a separate business if part of a larger organisation
• maintain appropriate business ethics and demonstrate a commitment to legal obligations including anti-bribery laws and laws to combat modern slavery, both in Australia and overseas markets.

Ineligible businesses include:

• Government entities as defined in the “A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999” are not eligible, except where they are registered education and training providers.
• sponsors of a state or territory Export Awards program or the Australian Export Awards program are not eligible to apply.

Eligible exported products or services must include significant (at least 50%) Australian content or value-add. This may include product or services:

• made in Australia from Australian primary products
• made overseas, mainly using Australian primary products
• made in Australia from Australian and imported components
• elaborately transformed in Australia
• made overseas using substantial Australian value-add, intellectual property (IP) or know-how, including design
• delivered in Australia to foreign individuals or entities
• delivered overseas using substantial Australian value-add, IP or know-how.

Eligible applicants must:

• demonstrate delivery of net foreign economic returns to the Australian economy in terms of profit repatriation and employment in Australia
• provide 3 years of export income, unless they are applying for the Emerging Exporter Award which requires up to 3 years of export income.

Additional information:

• Applicants that are unable to provide actual export income for the 2023-24 financial year must provide a genuine estimate that support their demonstrated export efforts
• Applications containing incomplete financial details will not be assessed.

Applications must be submitted on the Export Awards application portal.

Please note:

• * Indicates a mandatory question.
• Regularly save your online application as you submit responses.
• Applicants can access and edit their submissions until Friday 14 June 2024.
• Don’t leave it to the last day to submit your application!

Responding to Questions

Read the questions and plan your responses before starting your online award application. When preparing your responses, consider the following:

• Judges may not be aware of your business, its products, services and successes. Include these details in your responses.
• Focus on your international business success, emphasising your achievements in the current financial year (2023-24).
• Use the financial data requested to validate your responses.
• Use examples to tell your story and demonstrate your success.
• Responses can be presented in bullet point form. 
• Prepare your responses paying attention to the scoring and weighting of each section.

All financial information provided in your application will be treated as commercial-in-confidence. 

Here is a summary of the score weighting of the questions: 

To preview the questions and score weighting visit the Export Awards website. 

Judges will assess only the information supplied in the application.

Areas of focus include:

• clear demonstration of sustainable competitive advantage
• export success and growth potential
• leadership and innovation in international business and marketing strategies
• commitment to diversity, inclusion, sustainability or positive social impact
• value and contribution of exports to business expansion
• overall commitment to growth in international business.

For more details on what the judges are looking for in your WA Export Awards application visit the judging criteria web page. 

The Australian Trade and Investment Commission have information on frequently asked questions such as can you apply in multiple categories, can I edit my application after submitting it, what are judges looking for and more. 

See all the frequently asked questions on the Export Awards website.