Entries for the eighth edition of the Tasting Australia Spirit Awards opened on Friday, with distillers across the country invited to apply. There are 11 award categories, including the Best New Entrant Award, which will be presented to a distiller entering the Spirit Awards for the first time. Nominated products will receive tasting notes from industry experts, led by newly-appointed Head Judge Tim Boast from South Australia’s Never Never Distilling Co. Tasmanian distiller Bill Lark returns as Spirit Awards Patron. Winners will be determined in August, with an awards presentation in September, and trophy award-winning products integrated into a showcase at Tasting Australia presented by Journey Beyond in autumn 2026. Nominations close at 9 am (ACST) on Monday August 11. Boast said: “It’s an opportunity for distillers to not only gain deserved recognition for their products, but to connect and learn from other distillers. It truly is a celebration of the industry and the amazing producers in our country.”
Queensland’s TAFE Centres of Excellence open grants program
Queensland’s TAFE Centres of Excellence — for Clean Energy Batteries and the Centre of Excellence Health Care and Support, both state-federal joint initiatives — have opened a competitive applied research grants program. $1 million is available through the TAFE Clean Energy Batteries CoE’s first round, with applications closing on July 31. TAFE Queensland Chief Executive Officer John Tucker said the grants will aid development of innovative training solutions addressing industry-identified challenges. “With strong future job growth predicted, the Centre’s applied research grants will support the development of targeted training to build a skilled clean energy battery workforce, ensuring the long term growth and sustainability of this vital industry,” said Tucker. In the first round of grant opportunities, being offered nationally, the Centre is calling for proposals across a range of clean energy battery focus areas, including accessible education and training models for people in rural, regional and remote areas, culturally appropriate and safe training, and workforce participation. More information is available here.
ECS Botanics to support medicinal cannabis for obstructive sleep apnoea clinical trial
ECS Botanics announced on Monday that it will support an upcoming investigator-led clinical trial by the Centre for Sleep Science at the University of Western Australia, assessing the therapeutic potential of medicinal cannabis in patients with clinically significant obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA.) The trial is registered on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry. According to a statement, ECS will provide its Avani THC10 product for use, with these capsules part of its premium product suite prescribed to patients and manufactured to GMP standards. This randomised, double-blind, controlled trial targets the enrolment of 24 participants is expected to run through 2025, and recruitment is scheduled for this month. Nan-Maree Schoerie, Managing Director of ECS Botanics, said, “As a company grounded in science, sustainability and transparency, we welcome the opportunity to contribute to rigorous clinical work.”
NIOA changes advisory board
Defence contractor the NIOA Group has announced a number of changes to its advisory board, citing its “continued global expansion and strategic direction.” David Feeney, Dr Ken Anderson and Mr Dan Olson have stepped down, with Brendan O’Connor joining Christopher Pyne, Ellen Lord and Mark Donaldson on the board. Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Lee Goddard, who recently stepped aside as CEO of the Australian Missile Corporation, will take up the role of Strategic Advisor for the AMC. Group CEO Rob Nioa will also assume the additional role of Executive Chairman, and continue to lead the executive team “while also taking on broader strategic oversight as part of the combined role.” He said: “We thank David, Ken and Dan for their outstanding contribution – each of them has played a significant part in shaping our company during a period of unprecedented growth and expansion… “We welcome Brendan who will bring a wealth of experience and leadership as the company continues to grow and expand its operations.
Picture: credit TAFE Queensland
