These FAQs are designed to help nominators and nominees understand how the Victoria RESCA nomination process works. They do not replace the full eligibility and process information on this website, but they highlight common questions and clear answers.
Start by checking the section that best matches your question: Eligibility, Nomination Process, Supporting Information, Judging & Outcomes, or General Questions. You can expand or collapse each question using the + symbol.
If you are new to the awards, we recommend reading the Award Categories & Eligibility page first, and then visiting How to Nominate before you begin your online form.
Start by checking the section that best matches your question: Eligibility, Nomination Process, Supporting Information, Judging & Outcomes, or General Questions. You can expand or collapse each question using the + symbol.
If you are new to the awards, we recommend reading the Award Categories & Eligibility page first, and then visiting How to Nominate before you begin your online form.
Eligibility questions
Nominees must be current emergency service personnel (paid or volunteer) who serve within Victoria and meet the eligibility criteria for one of the Victoria RESCA award categories. This includes personnel from recognised emergency service organisations listed on the Award Categories & Eligibility page.
Yes. People who have received recognition from other organisations can still be nominated, as long as they meet the current Victoria RESCA eligibility criteria and have not breached any relevant codes of conduct.
Self-nominations are not accepted. Nominations must be submitted by a member of the community, a colleague, or a representative of an emergency service organisation who can verify the nominee’s contribution.
No. These awards are aimed at persons only. If you wish to recognise a team or unit within an Agency please contact the Administration of that Agency regarding this.
You may nominate someone again in a future year, but there are exceptions to this rule as below.
A Winner of these Awards previously as a Volunteer of the Year and/or Officer in Paid Capacity is ineligible to be nominated.
A Finalist in these Awards, is ineligible to be nominated again within a period of 5 years.
A Winner of these Awards previously as a Volunteer of the Year and/or Officer in Paid Capacity is ineligible to be nominated.
A Finalist in these Awards, is ineligible to be nominated again within a period of 5 years.
Nomination process questions
Nominations are submitted online through the awards nomination site at www.resca.awardsplatform.com. We recommend first reviewing the How to Nominate page, then preparing your responses.
Key dates for the nomination period, judging, and ceremony are listed on the Key Dates & Timeline page. Nominations submitted after the closing date cannot be accepted.
Yes. Ensure you save as you go. When you return to the nomination site you will be able to edit or add to your nomination prior to submitting same. When you are ready and have completed the nomination ensure you click the submit button.
Once submitted, you cannot edit your nomination directly. If you have made a significant error or need to update information before nominations close, please contact the Victoria RESCA committee as soon as possible using the details on the Contact page.
A nomination can usually be withdrawn before judging begins, especially if the nominee does not wish to proceed. Please email the Victoria RESCA committee as soon as possible with the nominee’s name and your details so we can assist.
Supporting information questions
Provide clear, specific examples of the nominee’s service, leadership, innovation, and community impact. Focus on what they did, how they did it, and the difference it made, including dates, locations and outcomes where possible.
No the nominee does not need to give their consent. Please respect privacy and workplace policies when preparing your nomination.
You should not include information that breaches privacy, confidentiality or operational security. Focus on information that can be appropriately shared in an awards context. If you are unsure, seek advice from your organisation or only provide high-level details.
Yes the nomination form allows attachments, this will be clearly indicated. Please follow the instructions on the How to Nominate page and the online form.
Each question in the nomination form may have a suggested word limit. Aim to be concise but detailed enough for judges to understand the nominee’s contribution. Avoid copying the same sentence repeatedly or using only bullet points without explanation.
Judging and outcomes questions
Eligible nominations are reviewed by a panel of independent judges appointed by Rotary Districts of Victoria. Judges assess nominations against published criteria, focusing on service, leadership, dedication and community impact.
Judges use a set of criteria that may include length and quality of service, contribution beyond normal duties, leadership and innovation, and the impact on the community or emergency service organisation. The assessment criteria are outlined on the Judging Panel & Criteria page.
Judges must declare any conflicts of interest, such as close personal or professional relationships with nominees. Where a conflict exists, the judge will not assess that nomination and may be excluded from related discussions, in line with the Managing Conflicts of Interest guidance.
The committee aims to inform finalists of the outcome following the judging process. Due to the number of nominations received, individual feedback on unsuccessful nominations is not usually provided.
Key dates for finalist announcements and the awards ceremony are listed on the Key Dates & Timeline page. Finalists will be contacted directly by the committee or their organisation before public announcements.
General nomination questions
There is no fee to submit a nomination for the Victoria RESCA awards. The program is supported by Rotary and our sponsors so that community members can recognise emergency services personnel at no cost.
Yes, you may nominate more than one eligible person. Each nomination must be submitted separately and should be tailored to that nominee’s specific contribution.
If you are not sure which category best fits your nominee, select the category that most closely reflects their primary role and contribution. The committee may adjust the category if necessary during the assessment process.
Key information from successful nominations may be used in announcements, citations or promotional materials, with care taken to respect privacy and organisational requirements. Sensitive operational details will not be shared publicly.
If your question is not answered here, you can contact the Victoria RESCA committee by email using the details on the Contact page. Please allow time for volunteers to respond, particularly during peak nomination periods.
If you cannot find the answer to your question on this page or elsewhere on the Victoria RESCA website, our volunteer committee is here to help.
Please email vicchair@rescawards.org.au with your enquiry, including your name, your connection to the nominee (if applicable), and a brief description of your question. We will respond as soon as we can.
Before you contact us, you may wish to quickly review the Award Categories & Eligibility, How to Nominate and Key Dates & Timeline pages, as many common questions are covered there.
Please email vicchair@rescawards.org.au with your enquiry, including your name, your connection to the nominee (if applicable), and a brief description of your question. We will respond as soon as we can.
Before you contact us, you may wish to quickly review the Award Categories & Eligibility, How to Nominate and Key Dates & Timeline pages, as many common questions are covered there.