The Australian Development Award is back and celebrates new product released into the Australian market in 2027.
The Australian Development Award is an important recognition of the creativity, innovation and talent within Australia’s toy industry. Celebrating products that are designed or developed here in Australia, the Award shines a spotlight on the ideas, expertise and entrepreneurial spirit that exist within our local industry. It provides an opportunity to recognise the people and businesses bringing Australian concepts to life, while encouraging continued investment in local design, development and innovation. Importantly, it also showcases Australia’s ability to create products that can compete on both the domestic and international stage, helping to strengthen and promote our industry for the future.
Entry details will be available in Q3 2026.
Entry Criteria:
- Product must be suitable for children 0-12
- Entry to the Australian Development Award is open to Toy Fair Exhibitors only
- Must be new product first released in Australia after January 2027
- An entry can be a prototype or a finished product
- Maximum of two entries per exhibitor
- Entry must be an individual product (assortments accepted)
The adjudication of the Australian Development Award is also based on the following adjudication criteria:
- 75% or more Australian made content or
- 100% Australian designed.
Entries based on either of the adjudication items must be accompanied by support documentation and signed declaration that the product meets one or both of these criteria.
Definitions
75% or more Australian made content:
- The product has been substantially transformed in Australia; and
- 50% or more of the cost of producing or manufacturing the product is attributable to production or manufacturing processes that occurred in Australia; or
- Australia was the country of origin of each significant ingredient or component of the product.
100% Australian designed
- originality;
- novel functionality and performance;
- the design is superior in its overall sense of completeness;
- it makes skilful use of new technology and new materials;
- it offers solutions through the creation of systems;
- it demonstrates new modes of production.
Judging Criteria:
The judges will use three (3) criteria in judging: Uniqueness/Innovativeness, Play Appeal and Sales Potential.