The Change Maker Awards celebrate the amazing people and organisations in our network who are creating real change.
The Awards will be held on Thursday 23 July from 6:30-8:30pm at the InterContinental Hotel, Brisbane City.
In 2026, we are shining a spotlight on our operators, and the positive difference they make by leading change in their in your local communities.
Nominations are open. The closing date for nominations is Wednesday 27 May.
We would love you to share what you have achieved over the past 12 months by submitting a nomination for the Change Maker Awards.
This year, we’re focusing on our people. There are three main award categories:
In addition, finalists will be automatically shortlisted for Change Maker of the Year Award.
This award celebrates someone who leads with excellence, brings fresh ideas and innovation to the workplace and makes a positive impact across our network.
Judges will use the criteria below to measure each nominee’s performance, impact and achievements. Everyone will be assessed against the same standards, no matter their service style, size or location.
This section will help judges understand the nominee’s operating environment and scale of impact. Please describe:
This criterion recognises operators who create safe, well-managed environments. The judges will assess commitment to exceptional safety outcomes, including:
This criterion recognises operators who have increased customer participation and created a positive local impact. Judges will assess how the operator has improved customer experience and community access to container recycling, including:
This criterion celebrates operators who take initiative, keep improving, and stay strongly focused on the scheme’s purpose. Judges will assess how the operator has contributed to the vision that “no container goes to waste”, including:
This award honours the standout finalist, someone whose contribution goes above and beyond expectations to show real leadership, innovation, and impact across the Containers for Change network. The judges will consider how the finalist has:
Nominators must provide at least one (and preferably more) high-resolution, good quality photographs (in a .jpg format) of the Refund Point being nominated.
Other documents to support the nomination can also be provided. Photos could include:
Please make sure you have permission to use people’s images before providing.
Each of the criteria will be scored out of 10 points, with a possible total of 40 points.
Judges will use the following scoring guide:
The top three entries in each category (small, medium, and large operators) will become finalists. If there is a tie, the judging panel may seek advice from COEX’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to choose the winner.
The judges will then cast an anonymous vote to decide the winner of the Change Maker of the Year Award.
Attendance caps have been set so representation is proportionate and manageable.
Travel reimbursement will only be paid once per operator, not per attendee. All allowances will be paid in a block a week before the event. The travel distance will be measured from the operator’s site to Brisbane’s CBD.
| Distance | Allowance | What is covered? |
|---|---|---|
| 0–200 km (less than 2.5 hrs driving) |
Mileage only, capped at $500 |
Driving costs + one night accommodation |
| 200–500 km (2.5–5.5 hrs travel) |
$800 | Return flight + one night accommodation OR fuel + one night accommodation |
| 500 km+ (more than 5.5 hrs of travel) |
$1,000 | Return flight + one night accommodation |
*NB: If an operator living more than 200km from Brisbane brings a plus one to the awards requiring a separate room (e.g. An operator brings an employee of the opposite gender who they’re not in a relationship with) COEX will cover this extra cost.
Accommodation support is targeted at operators travelling longer distances, with safety‑based provisions (including cab vouchers) where alcohol is consumed at the evening event.
Operators book their own travel to simplify administration.
Only operators (not their team members) are permitted to bring a plus-one to the awards to:
Yes! The Change Makers Awards event will be held on Thursday 23 July 2026 from 6.30 – 8.30pm at the InterContinental Hotel, 190 Elizabeth St, Brisbane City (formerly the Hilton).
Nominations can be submitted by operators (owners or staff), COEX team members or network delivery partners.
To enter the awards, just go to the 2026 Change Maker Awards Portal. Once you enter your details, you’ll be emailed a link to log in. Please be patient – this link can sometimes take a little while to arrive and may go to your junk folder, so please check it if you haven’t received the email.
Once you’ve logged in to the awards portal, just work your way through the entry process, including responding to the key criteria and providing at least one photograph of the site you’re nominating.
We have provided information about the nomination process here on the Hub, but if you continue to have any issues, please get in touch with your Network Lead or email enquiries@containerexchange.com.au.
The categories this year are:
| Award category | Volume in 2024–25 financial year | Estimated staff |
|---|---|---|
| Small Operator of the Year | Up to 5 million containers | Approx 1–4 full time staff |
| Medium Operator of the Year | More than 5 million but less than 30 million containers | Approx 5–20 full time staff |
| Large Operator of the Year | More than 30 million | Approx 20–80+ full time staff |
| Change Maker of the Year | All finalists will be automatically considered for this award. It will honour a person who demonstrates outstanding commitment to leadership and inspires others to create meaningful change. | |
Strong nominations will clearly show:
Tip: Use real examples, measurable outcomes and specific achievements.
Before beginning your nomination, you could prepare:
Yes. Each section in the nomination process has a set word limit of 300 words. In most cases you shouldn’t need to write this much. We recommend providing short, clear responses that address the criteria.
Yes. We need at least one high-resolution JPEG photo of the refund point – this is mandatory. We also strongly encourage you to upload additional photos or supporting documents (positive news stories, community awards, testimonials, etc.). You can provide up to four additional photos and/or documents.
Please ensure the files you upload do not exceed 5MB. If you are having trouble uploading your files, please contact enquiries@containerexchange.com.au.
Operators are eligible if they:
Operators who are non-compliant or have outstanding safety issues are not eligible for shortlisting.
Nominations close on Wednesday 27 May 2026.
A shortlisting panel of senior COEX team members will go through the award nominations to confirm they meet safety, compliance and reputational requirements before judging:
All shortlisted entries will be judged by a panel including the Chair of the COEX Board, COEX leaders and a key senior external stakeholder from the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation:
Finalists will be announced in late June 2026 after judging has taken place.
Have a question about the awards, travel allowances or something else? Please email us at enquiries@containerexchange.com.au
