Top 50 Year 12 Trailblazer Awards 2022

Be recognised for achievements that go beyond your ATAR 🙌 

 

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Applications close Sunday May 29th 📌
Learn more!
Orange dots
Orange dots

Featured in

ABC News logo
SMH Logo
Daily Telegraph logo
SBS logo

What Are the Trailblazer Awards?

Introducing the Top 50 Year 12 Trailblazer Awards

 

The Top 50 Year 12 Trailblazer Awards are about celebrating more than just academic achievement or your ATAR. We identify & celebrate students who use their final years of school to make a positive impact in their community.

Apply now
LP edit (1)

Why Apply to be a Trailblazer?

Green dots

So much of Year 12 felt like it came down to what number I got at the end of the year, instead of skills I had learned.

Green dots

Don't let your ATAR define your success

📚 Year 12 isn't just about your ATAR

Art of Smart helps you perform your best, but we realise that the focus on a raw number at the end of high school intensifies pressure on young people, which is why we encourage a holistic approach towards learning.

📈 Study-related anxiety is on the rise

A report by the Black Dog Institute found that one of the top 3 concerns for young people meeting the criteria for a probable mental illness was coping with school or study problems.

Apply now

University degrees are no longer the gateway to employment

💼 Employers look for skills not degrees

In recent years, there’s been a shift at top firms such as Ernst & Young and PwC who have ended the requirement for candidates to have completed a university degree, allowing Year 12 students to bypass university and start working.

🌟 Students need broader goals

Art of Smart recognises and helps students set broader goals from a younger age so they can build a diverse set of skills and capabilities that can be adapted to many job opportunities.

Apply now

Go beyond adding your ATAR to your resume by showcasing your skills via projects and experiences!

Celebrate your enterprise skills 🎉

Meet like-minded individuals 💡

Invest in skills and opportunities that set you up for success

👋 You are more than your marks

At Art of Smart, we help you get the best marks possible, but a narrow focus on marks fails to reward students who invest in broader skills via their own passion projects which is why we focus on broader goals.

✏️ Pave your own way to success

Mike Cannon Brookes and Scott Farquhar, founders of Sydney-based $53 billion software company, Atlassian, dropped out of university to pave their own way to success.

Apply now

How Does it Work?

EssayWriting

Submit an Application

Students must submit a written application by 22nd May


Checklist

Judges Shortlist Students

Judges will select students from a
shortlist by 17th June



Trophy

Awards Night

Presentation of awards by
judges on 30th June

Benefits of Becoming a Year 12 Trailblazer

Celebrate

Be recognised as a Trailblazer

Recognition as one of Australia’s Top 50 Trailblazers with holistic excellence

Trophy

Invitation to Awards Night

Meet fellow nominees and network with industry leaders

Girl on stairs

Build your personal brand

Build your personal brand and profile as a future leader

EssayWriting

Be featured in media

Be featured in articles, videos, podcasts and more that reach over 1 million people

FD-2@2x

Access our 1-day HSC Trials Accelerator

We help you build a proven study plan so you can ace your HSC Trials

Talking

Mentored by industry leaders

Top 10 Trailblazers receive 1 on 1 mentoring with industry leaders

Want to become a Top 50 Year 12 Trailblazer?

Apply now!
Who Should Apply?

We know that traditional academic results don’t define you.

They're not the full picture for success - for students or employers. We're looking for Year 12 students
who have taken initiative and made an impact. You should nominate if you have:

community

Community Volunteers

Created a project or volunteered in your school or community

Run

Co-curricular Participants

Participated in co-curricular activities including sport, academics or arts

SO-3@2x

School Leaders

Current Year 12 student who has held a leadership position at school

Award Categories

Apply in one of the following categories:

  • Arts & Music
  • Business & Entrepreneurship
  • Science & Technology
  • Social Impact & Change
  • Environment

Be recognised as
1 of 50 Year 12 Trailblazers across
Australia

AOS Student
Apply Now!

Here Are Some of Our Judges

  • Marina Wu

    Co-Founder & Chief Community Officer at Earlywork

    🔎 Ex-Product Manager at Finder

    💡 Led youth not for profit Generation Entrepreneur

    💻 Passionate about helping young people create the careers of tomorrow

     

  • Mandy Dante

    CEO & Founder of Flourish Girl

    🗣 Accredited TEDx speaker and facilitator

    🦋 Senior female facilitator at The Rites of Passage Institute

    💫 Passionate about giving teenage girls a voice

  • Jahin Tanvir

    2022 Young Australian of the Year Finalist

    🌐 Youth Ambassador at UNICEF

    🎙 Award-winning keynote and TEDx speaker

    🧠 Board Director of the Adolescent Health Association of Australia

  • Elisabeth Goh

    Blackmores Women+Wellbeing Winner

    🏆 Anthill 30 Under 30 Entrepreneur Winner

    📑 12 years experience in public policy with NSW Government

    👩‍🚒 NSW Rural Fire Service Firefighter

Want to become a Top 50 Year 12 Trailblazer?

Apply now!

Meet our Top 50 Trailblazers for 2021! 🏆

Watch the 2021 Trailblazer Awards Night!

Have Questions?

Read our Frequently Asked Questions

  • Key Dates
  • Applications
    • When is the deadline to submit an application?
      The deadline has been extended so written applications now must be submitted by 29th May.
    • When is the deadline for schools to nominate a student?
      Student nominations made by schools must be submitted by 22nd May.
    • When will the shortlist be released?
      Applicants will be shortlisted by 6th June.
    • When is the Awards Night?
      The Top 50 Trailblazer Awards Night will be held on 30th June.
    • Are there any requirements you need to meet in order to apply?
      Yes, there are three.

      1. You must be a current high school student and intend to complete Year 12 in 2022.
      2. You must submit your completed nomination form and all supporting documents by the required deadline.
      3. You must make reasonable efforts to be available for the Awards Night on 30th June.
    • What sort of student should apply?
      We know that traditional academic results don’t define you. They are not the full picture for success - for students or employers. Instead, we are looking for students who have taken initiative and made an impact. You should nominate if you:

      1. Created a project or volunteered in your school or community
      2. Participated in co-curricular activities including sport, academics or arts.
      3. Held a leadership position such as captain or SRC representative.

Art of Smart has been equipping high school students for life after school since 2009

We know school isn’t just about academic success — it’s also about maintaining your wellbeing and answering the difficult question, “What am I going to do with my life when I finish school, and how do I get there?”

AOS Asset - Westpac
AOS Asset - Local Business
AOS Website Asset 2

What are you waiting for? Become a Trailblazer!

Send through an application below

Apply now
AOS Website Asset 1