Australia’s National Print Awards are to return next year, in time for PacPrint and its upcoming 40th anniversary.

Changes to organisation will see a direct entry system, without the previous regional PICAs.

Current organisers the Visual Media Association say the awards, with presentations on May 22, the NPAs will take a refreshed approach to format, categories and judging “reflecting the evolution of the industry” and driven by industry feedback.

A survey had explored entry costs, member discounts, and the relative merits of the state and national award programmes.

Some 57 per cent of respondents favoured national awards, with 92 per cent saying they supplied to national or mixed state and national customers.

VMA chief executive Kellie Northwood said members overwhelmingly favoured maintaining the awards without limiting other programmes. “This saw the opportunity to unite us all under a National Print Awards, which is a positive outcome I am very excited about,” she added.

All of the respondents called for printers to be included in the judging process, as well as suppliers.