Excellence Awards

Adventist Nurses Aotearoa NZ (ANAnz) Nurses Symposium

Oral Presentation: Submission Criteria and Judging Rubric

Purpose

The Oral Presentation session celebrates the real, hands-on work being done by nurses in their churches, schools and communities. Applicants are invited to share how they use their nursing knowledge and expertise to reach, support and uplift the people around them, reflecting the symposium theme of

Prize

$500, sponsored by ELIA Wellness, awarded to the winning presentation. The winning presentation must be grounded in genuine, current or recently completed work within the applicant’s community. It must not be a hypothetical, proposed or purely academic project.

Submission Requirements

Word limit: Written submissions must be between 1,500 and 2,000 words. Submissions outside this range will not be considered.
Real community work: The presentation must describe actual work the applicant is doing or has done within their church, school or community.
Theme alignment: The submission must clearly connect to the symposium theme.
Applicant details: Full name, contact details, place of work/study, and the community setting in which the work takes place.

Presenting at the Symposium

Finalists will have the opportunity to present their work at the Symposium within a 10 minute time frame. Finalists may use whatever medium best showcases their work, for example a slide presentation, video, storytelling, photographs, props or displays, or a combination of these. Presentations must be kept within the 10 minute limit.

Judging Criteria

#	Criterion	What judges are looking for	Weight
1	Alignment with the symposium theme	The presentation clearly and meaningfully connects to the theme of the ANAnz Nurses Symposium. The theme is woven through the work itself, not just mentioned in passing.	20%
2	Sharing knowledge and expertise	The applicant demonstrates a strong understanding of what it means to share their nursing knowledge and expertise, using it purposefully to reach, educate and support people within their church, school or community.	25%
3	Whole-person health and wellbeing	The work reflects a whole-person approach to health: physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing are considered and addressed, not just clinical or physical health alone.	25%
4	Cultural diversity and inclusion	The applicant shows genuine understanding of cultural diversity and/or an ability to reach and care for people from different walks of life, with respect, humility and cultural safety.	20%
5	Authenticity and impact of real community work	The presentation is based on real work being done in the community, with evidence of genuine engagement and impact (stories, outcomes, participation and feedback).	10%

Total: 100%

Scoring Scale (applied to each criterion)

Score	Descriptor
5 (Excellent)	Criterion is met fully and compellingly; clear depth of understanding and evidence throughout.
4 (Very good)	Criterion is well addressed with only minor gaps.
3 (Good)	Criterion is addressed adequately but lacks depth or detail in places.
2 (Fair)	Criterion is only partially addressed; connection is weak or unclear.
1 (Poor)	Criterion is barely addressed or missing.

Each judge scores all five criteria; scores are weighted and totalled. The highest overall weighted score wins. In the event of a tie, the panel will give preference to the submission demonstrating the strongest evidence of real community impact (Criterion 5).

Guidance for Applicants

Strong submissions will typically answer these questions:

What are you doing? Describe the work: the programme, initiative, ministry or ongoing service in your church, school or community.
Who are you reaching? Who benefits from this work, and how do you connect with people from different backgrounds and walks of life?
How does your nursing expertise shape it? Show how your professional knowledge and skills are being shared and put to use beyond the clinical setting.
How is it whole-person care? Explain how the work supports people physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.
What difference is it making? Share the real impact, such as outcomes, stories or changes you’ve witnessed.

Disqualification

Submissions may be excluded if they:

Fall outside the 1,500 to 2,000 word range;
Describe hypothetical or proposed work rather than real work being done;
Are submitted after the closing date; or
Do not relate to the symposium theme.

Prize proudly sponsored by ELIA Wellness.

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