Questions and Answers about the AILA Awards

Recently asked questions

if you have other queries - ring or email them through to the National Office
and the question and answer will be added to this page

Are there sub categories in the Design Category?

There is only one major design category - the list provided is indicative as to what is included in this one major category.

How many slides can there be in the powerpoint?

As many as it takes to show the images/drawings plus the text - with the maximum number of powerpoint slides being 25

Why must the project statement be a word document?

The project statement must be a three pages word doc - (plus the client statement as separate page)  - this allows for the text to be selected and used for publications and to be used online.

What is the one page summary (word doc) used for?

In most cases this is the text sent through to the media and other publications for publicity - as well as for the summary in booklets and online. It must be a word doc - it must not be a pdf - it must be one page only - and not in a tiny font!

How important is it to clearly address the criteria?

Absolutely important! Both in the text and within the powerpoint (or pdf) presentations you must clearly address each criteria separately. If the jury does not get it in the first reading - then the submission may not make the first short listing.

What if I cannot get hold of the client to get the client signature?

It is preferred that the client sign the submission to indicate that permission is given. If this proves impossible, then the submitter must make a statement and take responsibility that the client has given the permission.

Can I provide more than the specified number of slides/images?

No - jury members are asked to reject presentations that do not follow the submission criteria. It does happen! that is juries have just canned submissions - in the past they were at times confronted with about 80 slides!!

Hint on the images: it is a waste of slides to show the mayor opening the site - or to show lots of slides of the hard landscape when the point of the submission may be the innovative use soft materials, such as soils, native plants and water recycling.

Levels of Awards for 2009

In previous years there were levels called Merit and Commendation.

These two levels were not fully understood. There is now just one main level of award -  the (State/National) Award  - with the Excellence and the Medal being the higher awards.

So no more Merits and Commendations and lack of understanding of which was the highest and what is a commendation?

The Landscape Principles

The new Landscape Principles refer to the Australian Landscape Principles and the relation to Climate Change

Special Citations

Special jury citations are NOT separate awards and are NOT a separate category. They are to be used as special citations (a special one line note) to an award.


State Presentations

In the past some state groups have conducted special presentations.

These have now been eliminated for all states.

Submissions will be assessed using the documentation submitted only.

Site Visits

The national and state juries do not carry out formal site visits.

This means that the submission must rely on the stuff provided as part of the submission - nothing else. no visits and no special presentations.

This allows for equity across the country and for those with sites unable to be visited.