Prizes honouring support for female workers and young professionals have been added to this year’s Australian Insurance Industry Awards.

Criteria for the small, medium and large broker of the year awards have also been changed, to focus more on service and responsiveness to clients’ needs.

The new Women’s Council employer of the year prize will go to an organisation that works to improve gender equality and diversity.

The Generation i youth development and employer of the year award will reward work to educate and support young insurance and finance professionals.

Entries for the awards, run by the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance, close on May 10.