RESTORATION INDUSTRY AWARDS

Showcase Your Work!

The RIA Inc. Australasia Restoration Awards were established to recognise restoration businesses who have demonstrated outstanding customer service, technical excellence and professionalism through a restoration project.

The professionals who restore damaged property following floods, fires and other events have a unique role in a setting of personal tragedy and stress; they strive to restore the damaged property in the most effective way possible. Professional restorers respond to these crises every day, performing an essential human service. Restoration professionals are also at the forefront of addressing challenges around sustainability, cost of repairs and the increasing focus of governments and organisations around the world on environmental, social and governance standards.

They are not only tasked with repairing physical damage but also with implementing practices that minimise environmental impact, promote social responsibility, and adhere to governance principles. By doing so, they ensure that their work contributes to a more sustainable and ethically responsible future, balancing the immediate needs of disaster recovery with long-term environmental stewardship and societal well-being.

The Restoration Industry Association established the RIA Restoration Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Restoration to acknowledge these achievements in Australia.

The award categories include the RIA Inc. Residential Restoration Project of the Year Award, the RIA Inc. Commercial Restoration Project of the Year Award and the RIA Inc. Avante-Guard Restoration Project of the Year Award.

RESIDENTIAL RESTORATION PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD

This category is for projects that took place in the residential setting. Generally, the projects can include the restoration and/or remediation of a structure and/or its contents. Examples may include drying out a structure, drying and/or cleaning contents, remediating Cat 3 or Condition 3 structures and/or contents.

Criteria:

The Project Should:

  • Demonstrate value through a marked reduction in the amount of the loss to the customer or property owner. This may include reductions in reconstruction costs, reductions in time spent in alternate accommodation and other economic benefits.
  • Showcase effective restoration/remediation.
  • Focus on effective problem-solving in a restoration context.
  • Identify procedures and outcomes that provide a good example for the industry.

COMMERCIAL RESTORATION PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD

This category is for projects that took place in the commercial setting. Generally, the projects can include the restoration and/or remediation of a structure and/or its contents. Examples may include drying out a structure, drying and/or cleaning contents, remediating Cat 3 or Condition 3 structures and/or contents.

Criteria:

The Project Should:

  • Demonstrate value through a marked reduction in the amount of the loss to the customer or property owner. This may include reductions in reconstruction costs, reductions in time spent in alternate accommodation and other economic benefits.
  • Showcase effective restoration/remediation.
  • Focus on effective problem-solving in a restoration context.
  • Identify procedures and outcomes that provide a good example for the industry.

INNOVATIVE RESTORATION PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD

This category is for projects that fall outside the box or where innovation and ingenuity were above and beyond what is normally required on day-to-day projects. The projects may include unique or unusual situations or settings, the use of niche technical skills and innovative approaches to uncommon problems or challenges.

Criteria:

The Project Should:

  • Demonstrate value through a marked reduction in the amount of the loss to the customer or property owner. This may include reductions in reconstruction costs, reductions in time spent in alternate accommodation and other economic benefits.
  • Showcase unique challenges and complexities associated with restoration/remediation.
  • Illustrate innovative solutions to uncommon or specialty projects.
  • Focus on effective problem-solving in a challenging situation.
  • Identify innovative procedures and outcomes that provide a good example for the industry.

ALL AWARDS – ELIGIBILITY:

The Restoration Awards are open to any RIA member OR non-member firms that provide restoration and remediation services. Projects should have been completed between July 2024 and May 2025 (The applicant’s portion of the project must be fully completed. There is no minimum project size.) 

All applications and supporting documents are due on Thursday, May 1, 2025.

ALL AWARDS – ENTRY PROCEDURES:

All entries should include the following:

  • Upload a copy of the attached application.
  • Upload a copy of a narrative (ranging from 1000- 2000 words) – this should include an overview of the project, identify the major challenges, the steps taken to address the challenges, any creative solutions or remedies utilized to save the client time and/or money, a financial synopsis of the value of the project (not the actual bid); clearly
  • Identify cost savings to the client and explain what makes this project unique.
  • Upload before/after photos of good quality (300 dpi or higher – approximately 640k to 3 mg in size – in a.jpg or .tiff format).

THINGS TO CONSIDER:

  • Allow plenty of time to compile your entry.
  • Involve your staff. It’s a great way to promote pride and camaraderie in the company.
  • Even projects that do not win may be profiled on the RIA website.

JUDGING:

The education committee will select the winning projects for each award. The applicants’ details will be redacted prior to review and selection of the winner by the Education Committee. Members will not judge any projects in which they may have been involved in some capacity.

WINNERS:

Restoration Award recipients will be announced at the 2025 RIA Inc. Restoration Conference and Trade Show during the special award session. In addition to earning the respect of fellow RIA members, this award provides a vehicle for winners, participating firms, and the entire RIA membership to achieve national recognition for their contributions.

CHECKLIST FOR SUBMISSION:

A narrative description of the project, including:

  • the dates of the project,
  • any unique challenges or hurdles presented,
  • the remedies you chose,
  • the techniques used,
  • your repair estimate overview,
  • the innovation and effective action displayed on this project and,
  • an estimate of the reduced loss or economic benefit resulting from your efforts

Questions? Contact our team at admin@restorationindustry.org.au.

VIEW HERE FOR INDUSTRY AWARD FORM