The third annual Asuria Employer Awards brought together Australia’s leading employers, industry partners and program participants in Sydney on 5 March 2026 at Business Sydney, celebrating outstanding achievement in inclusive employment and workforce development.
Winners across seven categories were recognised for creating impact through inclusion, with this year’s finalists drawn from organisations of all sizes — from multinational corporations to pioneering small businesses — alongside individuals who have transformed their lives through sustainable employment.
Judged by an expert panel comprising Professor Jo Ingold FIEP CAHR, Dr. Jodie Trembath PhD, and Suzanne Colbert AM GAICD, all finalists were assessed against rigorous criteria covering the intentions, approaches, and outcomes of businesses and individuals committed to creating Australia’s workforce of the future.
Nicole Grainger-Marsh, CEO of Asuria Australia, reflected on the calibre of this year’s field: “Our 2026 winners come from vastly different industries and corners of the country, but they share something fundamental: a belief that the right opportunity, offered in the right way, can change a person’s life. What strikes me most about this year’s cohort is the ingenuity they’ve brought to that belief. They haven’t just opened doors; they’ve created entirely new entry points.”
Across an inspiring afternoon of mutual support, heartfelt speeches, and joyful camaraderie, the Asuria Employer Awards 2026 winners were revealed as:
Enterprising at Heart Award
This award recognises employer partners who embody “Heart-Led Hustle” — balancing compassion with business outcomes and measuring success by lives transformed, not just numbers achieved.
Winner: Programmed
As one of Australia’s largest labour hire providers, Programmed has placed 124 Asuria participants through innovative pre-employment programs including Introduction to Supply Chain with Forklift and Introduction to Food Process and Manufacturing. Their dedicated advocacy team works nationwide to challenge preconceptions, attending recruitment events and implementing bi-weekly retention check-ins that support participants to thrive beyond placement.
Embedding balance between compassion and business imperatives gets more challenging as a business grows larger, yet Programmed has designed and implemented a comprehensive program of practical activities that will build confidence and skills for participants in genuinely compassionate ways. The judges appreciated the strategic approach Programmed had taken, with staff dedicated to implementation across a range of areas including a recruitment strategy that focuses on potential rather than experience, a retention strategy that includes bi-weekly meetings with participants as they adjust to their new work environment, and structured training that provides both specific skills for the work they are undertaking and job-readiness skills to help them adapt to working life.
Accepting the award on Programmed’s behalf, Carly Johanesen, Employment Pathway Coordinator, said, “We simply try to approach each day with empathy, respect and genuine commitment to supporting people and move forward in their lives. We're grateful to partner with Asuria and to contribute in our own way to outcomes that are measured not just by numbers but in confidence rebuilt and futures reshaped."
Diversity and Inclusion Impact Award
This award recognises employers who deliver measurable impact in building and sustaining diverse workforces, embedding inclusion into core business strategy and creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds.
Winner: Cripps Nubake
Since 2022, Cripps’ co-designed recruitment model with Asuria has transformed workforce diversity across Tasmania. By removing resume requirements and introducing on-site factory walk-throughs, they have placed 90 participants overall, and increased female workforce participation to 34% — well above the industry average of 27.5%. This streamlined, inclusive approach has become the company’s standard recruitment method, embedding diversity as core business capability.
Cripps has recognised the advantages of inclusive recruiting and taken action, partnering with Asuria to develop a program that would increase representation from female, transgender, First Nations and CALD workers, mature-aged jobseekers, principal carer parents, people living with a disability, and participants who have experienced long-term unemployment. The judges were impressed with the results achieved, including increased workforce diversity and higher staff morale. The judges particularly appreciated that all staff from the factory floor to upper management receive training in inclusive communication and cultural awareness.
Accepting the award on Cripps Nubake’s behalf, Tristan Baker, Manufacturing Operations Manager, said, “Having diverse people from different backgrounds, different demographics, enhances our business. Without those people, we can't supply our customers, which is our community. We are very, very privileged and honoured to win this award."
First Nations Excellence Award
This award recognises employers who demonstrate leadership in creating culturally safe and sustainable employment opportunities for First Nations peoples, embedding cultural safety into recruitment and retention while contributing to broader community wellbeing.
Winner: Coles
Coles’ First Nations Recruitment Team partners with Asuria’s National Partnership Manager to reserve roles and provide culturally attuned support across Albury and Sydney. The April 2025 Future Foundations program in Albury equipped nine participants with job-readiness training and cultural mentoring, with six commencing employment. Coles now embeds local practices including in-person walk-ins, coordinated onboarding and regular cultural check-ins.
Coles has embedded their long-term commitment to increasing First Nations employment into their organisational strategy and are working with local Indigenous communities to operationalise that commitment. The judges were particularly impressed with Coles’ commitment to providing career paths, not just jobs, through leadership training, culturally informed mentoring, and targeted leadership opportunities for First Nations staff.
Accepting the award on Coles’ behalf, Sara Stuart, Head of Indigenous Affairs, said, “When we invest in First Nations employment, we invest in a stronger and more inclusive Australia. This award belongs to every First Nations team member across our stores... your resilience, your talent and your leadership inspire us every day."
Local Champion Award
This award celebrates small to medium employer partners who create meaningful employment opportunities in their local or regional communities, demonstrating that local leadership and inclusive practices transform lives and leave lasting legacies.
Winner: Real Dairy
Since October 2023, Real Dairy has placed 79 Asuria participants from their Greenacre base, including 29 very long-term unemployed individuals. Manager Sharon’s inclusive philosophy extends opportunities to nearly all group interview attendees, with comprehensive on-the-job training and strategic pairing of culturally and linguistically diverse candidates with staff from similar backgrounds driving strong retention outcomes.
The judges were impressed by Real Dairy’s decision to take an open hiring approach, providing all participants who have the capacity to do a job with a job to do, with no criteria related to experience creating barriers to entry. All participants receive comprehensive on-the-job training from day one, and their onboarding program pairs experienced staff with newcomers of similar ethnic backgrounds to ease the transition. The organisation hosts monthly social events to encourage cultural inclusion among its highly diverse workforce.
Innovative Recruitment Solutions Award
This award recognises organisations that have developed innovative and effective recruitment solutions in partnership with Asuria, demonstrating creativity, scalability and lasting value while addressing the needs of both employers and jobseekers.
Winner: Thrive Group
Partnering with Asuria since February 2025, Thrive Group tackled Tasmania’s early childhood educator shortage through creative community engagement, from hosting nappy-changing competitions at festivals to delivering training in remote areas including Bothwell and Strahan. Their collaboration with the Migrant Resource Centre reopened a Queenstown Early Learning Service that had closed due to staffing shortages, immediately employing five trainees and substantially reducing waitlists.
The judges were impressed with the diversity and creativity of Thrive’s recruitment solutions. Creative community events, collaborating with the Migrant Resource Centre to deliver training pathways in marginalised locations, and partnering with the Tasmanian Department of Education, Children and Young People to ensure students were receiving appropriate mentoring and support in their training all helped Thrive to stand out. Thrive have worked closely with Asuria to reach disadvantaged groups in remote areas, resulting in increased numbers of early childhood educators becoming available.
Accepting the award on Thrive’s behalf, Nicky Bolt, Training and Project Advisor, said, “We are super proud, and we look forward to coming back again next year."
Small Business Start-Up Award
This award recognises Asuria participants who have successfully launched and grown their own small businesses through the Self-Employment Assistance Program, celebrating entrepreneurial spirit, resilience, innovation and businesses that demonstrate viability, growth and positive community impact.
Winner: Donna Forster — WandiliDogs
Starting her dog grooming business at age 44 after enrolling in TAFE Animal Care courses, Donna overcame significant adversity including caring for her unwell husband, recovering from a serious concussion and managing the demands of returning to study. After covering initial start-up expenses, she achieved nearly $10,000 net profit in her first quarter. Word-of-mouth recommendations and endorsements from two retiring local groomers accelerated growth, with Donna now expanding from grooming into retail products and planning future additions including doggy daycare.
WandiliDogs grew out of Donna’s hard work, love of animals and persistence in the face of adversity. It provides dog grooming services, retails dog grooming tools and dog accessories, and even partners with another local small business to offer custom pet pillows featuring printed images of customers’ own pets. The judges were impressed by Donna’s ingenuity — faced with her husband’s illness, she enrolled at TAFE having never undertaken formal study in her adult life, mapped out a vision for her future business and applied for the Asuria Self-Employment Assistance Program. She faced a range of challenges, from working remotely from her family in the early days to sustaining a serious head injury that affected her ability to think, plan and work. Through it all, Donna demonstrated resilience, focus and a willingness to give anything a go in order to succeed.
Accepting her award, WandiliDogs founder, Donna Forster, said, “I knew I had a dream, I knew I had a plan, I knew I put the hard work in, but beyond that I didn't really know what to do. The [Self-Employment Assistance] program has done so much for me, turning a dream and hard work into a clear path forward."
Outstanding Achiever Award
This award recognises Asuria participants who have demonstrated exceptional determination and resilience, overcoming significant obstacles to achieve meaningful employment outcomes in priority industries and inspiring others by showing what is possible.
Winner: Suzanne
Celebrating her 60th birthday while building her dream career, Suzanne overcame the impacts of domestic violence, financial insecurity and anxiety to pursue her lifelong passion for animal care. She completed RSPCA’s 12-week Certificate II in Animal Care with a 95% average while volunteering up to 20 hours weekly and managing a two-hour daily commute. Graduating in December 2024, she commenced employment in January 2025. At her six-month review, leadership recognised her as an organisational asset.
Suzanne started working with her Asuria mentor, Gabi, in 2024, with 12 months remaining before her 60th birthday. As a single parent who had raised two children while living with domestic violence, she had lost confidence in her abilities, but she had a dream and the grit to pursue it despite the challenges. Having systematically rebuilt her confidence and built the necessary skills, she is now a valued staff member at the RSPCA and is looking at longer-term career plans within the organisation — ambitions that the RSPCA supports. The judges saw her transformation from self-doubt to a resilient, confident employee as a powerful testament to her strength and perseverance.
Together, this year’s winners and finalists demonstrate the powerful impact that inclusion can create. Their commitment, innovation and leadership are helping shape a more inclusive and resilient workforce across Australia, showing what is possible when barriers to employment are removed and new pathways are created.
For organisations looking to strengthen their workforce while creating opportunities for people across Australia, Asuria partners with employers to deliver inclusive recruitment pathways that benefit both businesses and communities. Learn more about how we can support your organisation here.
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