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HEIA awards
About HEIA awards
The Home Economics Institute of Australia (HEIA) and its divisions benefit greatly from the dedication and expertise of passionate individuals. HEIA is committed to recognising the outstanding contributions of its members, who volunteer their time and expertise to support the Institute’s goals. Through various awards, HEIA acknowledges the significant impact members have in advancing the profession and supporting the home economics community.
The Institute presents three main awards
Each award honours excellence in different areas of involvement and contribution within HEIA.
In summary
- Fellowships are conferred on those who have made an outstanding contribution, at a national or divisional level, to HEIA or to the home economics profession.
- Leadership awards are conferred on those who have demonstrated significant leadership at a national level to HEIA or to the field of home economics through one or more significant projects, processes or events.
- Service awards are conferred on those who have provided effective service to HEIA at a national level over an extended period of time, typically for work on one or more committees.
Many divisions also offer local awards to recognise members' achievements at the divisional level. Further information is available on the divisional websites.
We encourage nominations for these awards. Details about each award, including guidelines, nomination forms, and past recipients, are available via the relevant links above.Dr Janet Reynolds Writing Award
In addition, HEIA offers the Dr Janet Reynolds Award annually to recognise exceptional academic writing and contribution to the field.
The Home Economics Institute of Australia Dr Janet Reynolds Writing Award is an annual prize that invites undergraduate and postgraduate students in home economics and related fields to share their research and insights through academic papers or literature reviews.
Open to students from disciplines such as nutrition, design and technologies, textiles, family and consumer studies, and related areas, the award recognises excellence in writing on topics including food and nutrition, health, families, textiles, education, and sustainability.
The winning entry receives a $500 prize, a certificate, and publication in the Journal of the Home Economics Institute of Australia. Entries (2500–3500 words plus abstract) are judged on content, use of literature, and academic writing quality, with submissions due annually by 30 July.
Dr Janet Reynolds played a pivotal role in shaping the Home Economics Institute of Australia Inc (HEIA), serving as its inaugural national President and contributing extensively to its growth and direction. She held multiple roles over many years such as National Treasurer, convenor of Education and Professional Development standing committees, author of Nutrition‒The inside story, National Conference convenor, and long-standing editor of the HEIA journal to name a few. Through her leadership and commitment to excellence, she has made a significant and lasting impact on home economics education in Australia. This award acknowledges her exceptional service and enduring contribution to the profession.
Teacher of the Year awards
The HEIA Teacher of the Year awards, presented in 2024 and 2025 to recognise exemplary teaching practices, strong connections to local communities, and significant impact on students and the profession through creative and high-quality teaching, have now been retired. These awards celebrated teachers who made outstanding contributions to home economics education and community engagement, with a national winner selected from state and territory recipients, and HEIA membership was not required.