APS Prize

Eligibility

(a) Nominees need not be members of the Society.

(b) The APS Prize may be awarded to the student who gains first place at the end of either:

(i) an APAC accredited program in psychology of four (4) years' duration leading to a single qualification; or

(ii) an APAC-accredited fourth year program in psychology comprising one (1) year equivalent of study.

(c) When two (2) or more students gain first place based on their results for the fourth year, the relevant academic organisational unit of the tertiary institution is required to select one (1) of these students for the APS Prize based initially on the mark awarded for the fourth year thesis and, if this does not separate the students, then based upon performance in psychology units in their third year.

(d) Only students who have completed all work by the end-of-year examination period and whose results have been ratified by the appropriate tertiary institution Board of Examiners are eligible for consideration for the APS Prize in that year.

Nomination process

(a) It is the Board's responsibility to contact the Heads of Department of each tertiary institution which fulfils the requirements set out in clause 3.1(b), calling for recommendation of candidates for the APS Prize.

(b) In response to a call for recommendation, the Heads of Department shall recommend candidates to the Board.

(c) In cases where there is more than one Department at the same institution, the Head of School should provide confirmation with the recommendation that appropriate intra-departmental consultation and inter-departmental consultation has occurred prior to making the recommendation.

(d) A recommendation from a Head of Department shall include:

(i) the name of recommended candidate for that year;

(ii) the title of the recommend candidate‟s thesis; and

(iii) a copy of the relevant thesis abstract

Administration of Prize

(a) The Board will consider recommendations from the Heads of Department for endorsement.

(b) Upon endorsement by the Board, a letter of congratulations from the President on behalf of the Board will be addressed to each successful candidate, and the list of APS Prize winners and their thesis topics will appear in the next February edition of InPsych.

(c) The prize will normally be confirmed at a presentation night organised by the Head of Department of the tertiary institution in which the student completed the program of study in psychology. A representative from the Branch of the Society closest to the tertiary institution in which the student completed the program of study will be invited to the presentation night to present the APS Prize.

Value of award

(a) Successful candidates for the APS Prize will receive:

(i) a letter from the President that recognises the excellence of their achievements in studying psychology;

(ii) a certificate; and

(iii) an offer of one year of Associate Membership of the Society at no cost provided that the  successful candidate makes an application for membership within twelve (12) months of receiving notice of their Award. Any successful candidate who is an existing Associate Member of the Society will be offered their following years membership at no cost.

(b) Successful candidates will also be encouraged to present a poster on their thesis. If recipients present a poster based on their work at the Society's Annual Conference in the year following the completion of their program of study, their conference registration fee will be paid by the Society.

Application form and closing date

Nominations for 2009 have now closed.  

Please send nominations to:

• The Australian Psychological Society Limited (APS) Prize
  Awards Administrator – Science & Education
  The Australian Psychological Society Ltd
  PO Box 38
  Flinders Lane VIC 8009

Previous winners