Nominations for the Oral History Australia Media Award opened on 1 June 2026 and close on 31 July 2026.
The next award will be presented in conjunction with the 2026 OHA Biennial Conference in Adelaide, South Australia, 3-6 December 2026.
For further information about the award and to learn about past winners go to: https://oralhistoryaustralia.org.au/awards/media/.
About the award
The OHA Media Award is available to an oral history production in any media other than a book.
The judging panel may award a joint prize and / or commendations to outstanding runners-up. The award winner will receive a prize of $300, and the details of the winner/s and all commended applicants will be posted on the OHA website.
Note that there is also an OHA Book Award. To apply for the 2026 OHA Book Award go to: https://oralhistoryaustralia.org.au/awards/book/2026-apply/.
How to apply
Applicants must apply using the form on this page.
After submission applicants will receive an acknowledgment of the application and contact information for each of the judges.
If the production has a digital format, then one copy must be sent to each of the judges via email or an appropriate download link (such as WeTransfer, Dropbox or Google Drive). For an ephemeral media production such as a dramatic performance, exhibition or art installation, you must provide each judge with appropriate and sufficient evidence (e.g. a video of the production), which you should send to each judge (if it is a hard copy that cannot be sent online, each judge will send you a postal address to which you should post the hard copy).
Judging criteria
The award winner will have made an innovative, excellent and inspirational use of oral history in a media production other than a book. Judges will take into account the funding and other resources available for the production, so that less well-resourced productions are not disadvantaged.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the OHA Media Award:
- the production will be in any media that is not a book or ebook, including, for example, film or radio production, podcast, exhibition, website, dramatic performance, art installation or other media
- the media production must have been produced, published, exhibited or performed in the period between 1 September 2024 and 31 July 2026
- the media production must make substantial use of oral history material
- the award is open to oral historians working in any field, across community, academic, media or professional history
- applicants must be based in Australia, though the production is not required to include Australian oral history content
- applicants need not be members of OHA state associations, though they are encouraged to join.
Judging criteria
The award winner will have made an innovative, excellent and inspirational use of oral history in a media production other than a book. Judges will take into account the funding and other resources available for the production, so that less well-resourced productions are not disadvantaged.
The judging panel may award a joint prize and / or Commendations for Excellence to outstanding runners-up. The award winner will receive a prize of $300 and the details of the winner and all Commended applicants will be posted on the OHA website.