At last year’s Good Food Guide Awards, we introduced the Cultural Change Champion to shine a light on those making the Australian hospitality industry a better place to work.

The award came about after investigations by this masthead revealed the workplace culture of a number of Australia’s hospitality businesses were putting women at risk, with allegations of sexual assault, harassment, drug use and misogyny. Further investigations this year has revealed more claims.

The Cultural Change Champion award, presented by The Age and Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guides in October 2025, allows Good Food to highlight the exceptional Victorian, NSW and ACT business operators, organisations, not-for-profits, voluntary groups and networks transforming the industry.

Last year’s Victoria winner was former hospitality worker Jamie Bucirde, who was behind the Instagram account Not So Hospitable. It sparked a nationwide reckoning and brought the systemic, largely sidelined issue to the surface. She consolidated her findings into an academic report with the University of Melbourne to galvanise the movement into meaningful change.

In NSW, hospitality charity Women and Revolution (WAR) took out the inaugural SMH award. WAR stood out to the judging panel for its multi-faceted approach to overcoming gender barriers, including coaching and mentoring sessions, and courses on public speaking and negotiation skills.

Application process

The Cultural Change Champion award is open to businesses, individuals and organisations that have set up initiatives or programs that foster positive, safe and empowering work environments and workplace culture in Australia’s hospitality industry. These initiatives or programs don’t need to be related to gender; they can be any idea that has made a workplace more inclusive.

Anyone may enter candidates for consideration. Businesses or organisations can also self-nominate, but only Australian businesses or organisations will be considered.

To apply, complete this online application before Friday, August 29, 2025. Winners will be announced at October’s Age and SMH Good Food Guide 2025 Awards ceremonies. The judging panel includes Good Food Guide editors and experts in the hospitality workplace culture space.

Questions? Email goodfoodguide@nine.com.au