Heart of Ivanhoe
Recognising the businesses that make Ivanhoe feel like home.
A community recognition initiative inviting local residents to share the stories of businesses that show genuine care, contribute to their community, and make our neighbourhood feel like home.
Nominations are not yet open. Dates are being finalised.
- Prize
- In-kind Digital Growth Package
- Campaign area
- Ivanhoe & Ivanhoe East, VIC 3079
- Status
- In development — pre-launch
01 · The initiative
Recognition rooted in real stories
Heart of Ivanhoe is a community recognition initiative being developed by Ivanhoe-based digital agency Digital Sanctum.
It invites local residents to share stories about Ivanhoe and Ivanhoe East businesses that demonstrate genuine customer care, contribute to their community, and create the small experiences that make a neighbourhood feel like home.
02 · How it works
Care and contribution—not a popularity contest
Residents nominate an eligible local business and tell us what it has done to deserve recognition. Nominations are moderated rather than displayed as a popularity leaderboard, and nomination counts do not determine the result.
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01
Nominate
A resident shares a specific story about an eligible local business.
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02
Moderate
Submissions are checked for relevance and eligibility before assessment.
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03
Shortlist
Up to five finalists are selected for consideration against the framework.
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04
Recognise
The panel applies the published criteria and selects the award recipient.
Published judging framework
- Customer care
- Community contribution
- Surprise & delight
- Ethical business practice
- Transformational fit
The judging panel will comprise one Digital Sanctum representative and two independent judges. The panel and complete framework will be confirmed before nominations open.
03 · The prize
An in-kind Digital Growth Package
Digital Sanctum will fund and deliver an in-kind Digital Growth Package for the winning business.
The final inclusions, conditions and value will be documented in a Prize Schedule and the campaign Terms before nominations open. No funding is being sought from community organisations or Council.
04 · Why we’re doing it
Making local care visible
Ivanhoe’s independent businesses contribute more than products and services. Heart of Ivanhoe is intended to surface the stories that often go unrecognised: the extra help, thoughtful service, community contribution, and moments of human care.
Digital Sanctum is based in Ivanhoe and is funding this initiative as a local contribution to the community in which we work.
05 · Who can participate
Businesses meaningfully operating locally
Eligible businesses must be physically and meaningfully operating in Ivanhoe or Ivanhoe East, VIC 3079. This includes eligible home-based businesses.
Detailed eligibility rules, exclusions, judging criteria, privacy information and campaign terms will be published before nominations open.
06 · Our ask from local partners
Advice and amplification—not sponsorship
We are inviting local organisations and community leaders to help shape and share the initiative in ways that are useful and appropriate for Ivanhoe.
There is no obligation to endorse the campaign, participate in judging, provide funding, or contribute to the prize.
- Feedback before launch
- Introductions to local networks
- Advice on local communication channels
- Consideration of sharing the campaign once open
07 · Timing
A consultation-led path to launch
Campaign dates are being finalised after partner consultation, panel confirmation and completion of campaign governance. Partners will receive campaign information and ready-to-use promotional material before nominations open.
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01
Partner consultation
Feedback and network introductions.
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02
Launch governance
Confirm the panel and final dates.
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03
Partner pack
Share information and promotional material.
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04
Nominations open
Residents nominate local businesses.
FAQ
What we know so far
- Who can be nominated?
- Businesses that physically and meaningfully operate in Ivanhoe or Ivanhoe East, VIC 3079, including eligible home-based businesses. Detailed eligibility rules and exclusions will be published before nominations open.
- Can I nominate my own business?
- Yes. Self-nominations are allowed when disclosed. The form adapts: self-nominators describe their business's values and contribution directly, while third-party nominators share specific personal experiences. Self-nominations receive no advantage or penalty in judging.
- Does getting lots of nominations help a business win?
- No. Judging is based on the quality and credibility of evidence, not nomination volume, social reach, business size, or revenue.
- What does the winner receive?
- An in-kind Digital Growth Package funded and delivered by Digital Sanctum. The final inclusions, conditions and value will be documented in the Prize Schedule and campaign Terms before nominations open.
- How is the winner selected?
- Up to five finalists will be assessed against a published framework covering customer care, community contribution, surprise and delight, ethical business practice, and transformational fit. The panel will comprise one Digital Sanctum representative and two independent judges.
- When do nominations open?
- Dates are being finalised after partner consultation, panel confirmation and completion of campaign governance. Campaign information, promotional material and final terms will be published before nominations open.
- Why do I need to enter the business name? Don't you already know which businesses are in Ivanhoe?
- We maintain a growing database of Ivanhoe businesses. When you start typing, matching businesses appear and autofill the category, location and website — saving you time. If the business isn't in our database yet, you can enter its details and it will be added.
Follow the campaign as it takes shape
The panel, dates, Prize Schedule and final campaign terms will be confirmed before nominations open. Until then, explore the detailed partner briefing or preview how community stories will be presented.