Award categories

Indigenous Excellence.

Embracing, learning from and celebrating our First Australians can make us stronger and more united as a country. This category is for Indigenous-led, owned and operated small and medium-sized businesses succeeding through entrepreneurialism, innovation and inspiring the next generation of all Australians.

Who is it for?

If you’re achieving one or more of the following Category examples, consider nominating and entering your business for this Award.

Goals of change

For businesses who have set clear and actionable goals to be a role model for change.

Inspiring practices

For businesses finding new ways to operate and set an inspiring example for others.

Innovative approach

For businesses embracing bold and innovative ideas to build on or maintain success.

Strong growth

For businesses experiencing significant year-on-year growth that are successful across the board.

Achieving ambitions

For businesses on track to achieve ambitious goals set out in a business plan.

The 2023 Telstra Best of Business Awards National Indigenous Excellence Award Winner is: Winyama Digital Solutions Pty Ltd

Winyama is an Indigenous owned and operated business specialising in Geographic Information Systems and Cloud solutions. The business works with commercial, public sector and First Nations organisations to create digital solutions that optimises the management of the Indigenous land estate in Australia.

Featured 2023 Entrants.

ACT Winner

Evolve FM

Evolve FM delivers integrated facility management services for both public and private sector businesses. With Indigenous heritage founders, the business is one of the only Indigenous majority-owned full service facilities management companies in Australia.

SA Winner

Print Junction

Print Junction is a print supplier that provides digital, offset and wide format print solutions, along with creative design and artwork services. Founded in 1996, the business has an experienced graphic design and pre-press team, with fully equipped offset and digital printing, in-house binding and finishing.

QLD Winner

Hillery Group

Hillery Group is an Indigenous family-owned business founded in 1976. Today, the business is led by next generation, Luke and Liam Hillery. They operate five quarries and provide quarry products, landscaping supplies and plant hire.

Explore Awards Alumni

Eligibility criteria.

To enter, the following set of eligibility criteria that must be met. Each category also has specific criteria requirements too. If you have any questions about these conditions or eligibility please contact us.

The business must:

  • Reside in Australia
  • Have a registered Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • Have been operating in Australia for at least 12 months at the time you submit your Stage 1 entry
  • Be more than 60% Australian-owned, with the owner(s)/founder(s) responsible for making the key management decisions
  • Belong to or be certified as being an Indigenous-owned and operated from any of the following organisations/groups: Supply Nation, FACCI Assured Affiliate, Indigenous Chamber of Commerce within your state (e.g., NSWICC), Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, FACCI Assured Affiliate, or be registered as an Indigenous business through the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, or Supply Aus
  • Be a small-to-medium business that’s a sole trader, partnership, incorporated, NFP, social enterprise or franchise whose franchisor is 60% Australian owned and not a listed company
  • Earn more than $50,000 in annual revenue in the current financial year
  • Have under 200 full-time equivalent staff at the time you submit your Stage 1 entry
  • Operate in an ethical manner with suppliers, distributors and contractors

The business must not:

  • Be a listed company, franchisor, a club, co-operative, or a Telstra licensee
  • Be affiliated with Telstra through investments, donation or reselling
  • Be more than 50% owned by another business
  • Be a government agency
  • Have filed for bankruptcy in the prior 5 years or been subject to court proceedings in the prior 12 months – including in the business owner or founder’s personal capacity – at the time you submit your Stage 1 entry
  • Be a recipient of significant ongoing government funding (excluding JobKeeper or any other COVID19-related support)
  • Have been a contracted commercial supplier of Telstra in the last 3 years
  • Enter the same category where the business has previously won at State or National level at the Telstra Best of the Business Awards in the past 3 years
  • Have a staff member that has been a State or National Judge in the Telstra Best of Business Awards for any category in the past 3 years

Conditions of entry

  • A business may not enter the awards if a staff member or owner has applied to be a Judge in the same awards program year.
  • When requested, business financials must be supplied. All financials will remain confidential and will not be shared or used outside the purposes of judging the business’ performance, success and viability.

Key Dates for the 2024 Program.

Nominations open.

All year round.

Nominations close 5 May 2023. If you miss this date, you can still nominate in advance for next year’s program.

Stage 1.

27 March – 17 May 2023

The initial stage is a multiple choice assessment of your business and how successful it is. Your total score will determine whether you progress to Stage 2. You will be advised of the outcome of your entry by email.

Stage 2.

23 May – 13 June 2023

For this stage, the goal is to gain a deeper understanding of your business and give you an opportunity to expand on your answers from Stage 1.

Have a question?

Try our FAQs or speak with our Award Team. Call 1800 AWARDS Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm (AEDT)

Nominations open all year round.

Nominate an exceptional business moving Australia forward – even your own.

Nominate now