SCPA NSW Annual Awards
The inaugural awards commenced in 2021 as a way for SCPA NSW to recognise the work of school counsellors and school psychologists. 2023 award nominations are now open (closing 17th September). Click here to Nominate.
Award winners will receive:
- $200 prize money
- 12 months free membership with SCPA NSW
- One free membership for a colleague not yet associated with SCPA NSW
- A trophy presented by Murat Dizdar PSM, Secretary of the NSW Department of Education at the 2023 Summit
- Permission to display this achievement on correspondence for a period of 12 months
Nominees must:
- Be currently employed in school counselling/psychology with the NSW Department of Education, Catholic Schools NSW, a school associated with the Association of Independent Schools NSW or another private school in NSW, or TAFE NSW.
- Consent to their nomination to be published on the SCPA NSW website and social media platforms.
- Nominees do not have to be current members of SCPA NSW.
Award candidates can be nominated by a colleague, or can self-nominate. Two referees' contact details will need to be provided, including the candidate's immediate practice or clinical supervisor.
School counsellors and school psychologists can be nominated for an award in one of the three categories described below:
Practitioner of the Year
In addition to the general criteria above, the Practitioner of the Year nomination must address how the nominee:
- Criterion One: Demonstrates admirable professional practice in their role as School Counsellor or School Psychologist.
- Criterion Two: Develops and maintains strong collaborative relationships within school communities, peer networks or multidisciplinary teams to promote positive student wellbeing and mental health outcomes.
Early Career Practitioner of the Year
In addition to the general criteria the Early Career Practitioner of the Year must have less than three years’ experience in school counselling or psychology. he nomination must address how the nominee:
- Criterion One: As an early career applicant, demonstrates strong professional practice in their role as School Counsellor or School Psychologist.
- Criterion Two: Develops collaborative relationships within school communities, peer networks or multidisciplinary teams to promote positive student wellbeing and mental health.
Innovator of the Year
In addition to the general criteria, the Innovator of the Year nomination must address how the nominee:
- Criterion One: Uses evidence-based innovation (practice, technology, resources, programs, processes and/or systems) to enhance student wellbeing and mental health.
- Criterion Two: Develops and/or leads initiatives to share innovative practice with colleagues, networks and/or multidisciplinary teams to promote positive student wellbeing and mental health outcomes.
In line with our value of transparency, submissions will be collated by the SCPA NSW committee and published on the SCPA NSW website and social media platforms for a period of one week. This year, the winners of our annual awards will be chosen by a combination of a general membership vote and selection committee appraisal (given equal weighting). The SCPA NSW membership will be emailed a confidential survey to vote on the final award recipients. Our 2023 Awards Selection Committee consists of past winners and general member volunteers.
Recipients will receive their award at the 2023 Summit.