National Medicinewise Awards 

Consumer initiatives: community or population level

Programs, services or activities initiated by any individual or group in Australia that build quality use of medicines and/or medical tests by consumers in a local area and involve consumer participation at every step.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander initiatives (new category)
Programs, services or activities initiated by any individual or group in Australia that supports quality use of medicines and/or medical tests to improve the health and empower Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders.

Health professional programs: < $100,000 budget
Educational resources and activities developed in Australia that encourage better use of medicines and/or medical tests by health professionals, with the ultimate aim of improving consumer health outcomes. Demonstrate improvement in clinician skills, behaviour or knowledge in relation to medicines and medical tests.

Health professional programs: > $100,000 budget
Educational resources and activities developed in Australia that encourage better use of medicines and/or medical tests by health professionals, with the ultimate aim of improving consumer health outcomes. Demonstrate improvement in clinician skills, behaviour or knowledge in relation to medicines and medical tests.

Excellence in consumer information
Innovative Australian activities that provide clear, relevant and easy-to-understand information for consumers and in doing so enhance medicines literacy and safe use of medicines.

Excellence in e-health resources
Electronic consumer, community or health professional resources developed in Australia that improve medicines literacy and safe use of medicines and medical tests.

Excellence in media reports
Articles or broadcasts in Australian media that have raised awareness of significant medicines or medical test issues, either among health professionals or the general public. Entries may be authored by journalists and other communication professionals including freelancers or students.

Entries must address the specific criteria for each award category as well as the overarching awards criteria. 

Winners will receive:

• One complimentary registration for NMS 2020.
  
• Publication of details of the winning entry on the National Medicinewise Awards website and in NPS MedicineWise publications.
  
• Promotion in relevant industry media
  

We welcome all entries that reflect a genuine effort to improve medicines or medical test use and consumer health outcomes.

The evidence supporting your submission might be from a published work or a case study. Alternatively, your initiative might work towards a medicinewise Australia on an ongoing basis, in which case your entry should describe your approach, outcomes and the value of the activity.

Award entries will be judged on the following criteria:

(a) Background – the abstract clearly explains the context of the initiative and the significance of the problem/opportunity.
(b) Goals and objectives – the objectives are measurable and are relevant to QUM principles.
(c) Research/environmental scanning – the initiative is shown to be based on an identified need/interest and explanation is provided on how this is addressed.
(d) Target audience – the audience is clearly described and its relationship to the organisation/initiative is established.
(e) Activity – the implementation of the initiative is based on sound strategy and process. Clear description of the activity is provided.
(f) Evaluation and results – convincing evidence is provided to demonstrate the results achieved by the initiative. The success of the initiative is evaluated by measuring the outcomes against the original objectives.
(g) Future initiatives – appropriate future initiatives arising from this activity are described.
(h) Contribution to QUM – QUM principles are identified in the initiative and an explanation is provided on how they are addressed.
(i) Relevance to selected theme. 

The 2016 National Medicinewise Award winners provided excellent examples of their work towards making Australia more medicinewise.

• Consumer initiatives: community level – Highly Commended – Galambila Aboriginal Health Service Inc
  
• Consumer initiatives: population level – Highly Commended – Jill Margo, The Australian Financial Review
  
• Excellence in health professional programs: < $100,000 budget – Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University
  
• Excellence in health professional programs: > $100,000 budget – Highly Commended – Metro South Health Service Queensland
  
• Excellence in consumer information – Danila Dilba Health Service
  
• Excellence in e-health resources – The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
  
• Excellence in media reporting – Gabrielle Jackson
  
• People's choice poster award – Millie Nakatsuka