APS College of Counselling Psychologists Doctoral Award

Administration

(a) The APS College Of Counselling Psychologists Doctoral Award is the responsibility of the APS College of Counselling Psychologists, who will also fund the Award.

(b) The APS College of Counselling Psychologists will appoint a selection committee of three people from the National Committee of the College, to be responsible for recommending an appropriate recipient to the Board.

(c) The research supervisor of any candidate is excluded from participating as a member of the selection committee.

(d) The Award will be made annually at the annual general meeting of the APS College of Counselling Psychologists, held at the annual conference of the Society.

(e) The selection committee may invite nominees to prepare their work for submission to the APS Journal of Counselling Psychology.

Eligibility

Candidates must be full-time or part-time students currently enrolled in an APAC-accredited counselling psychology doctoral program either at the time of application or in the year preceding the date of their nomination.

Nomination process

The APS College of Counselling Psychologists will call for nominations annually from program coordinators for counselling psychology doctoral programs conducted throughout Australia. 

Nominations should be submitted to the Chair of the National Committee of the College prior to 31 May each year and include:

(i) the name and address of the nominee

(ii) a copy of the thesis

(iii) the contact details of a proposer and seconder

(iv) the contact details for two referees, each different from the proposer and seconders.

Judging criteria

(a) Each doctoral thesis will be assessed having regard to the following criteria:

(i) originality of contribution to counselling psychology literature - 30%

(ii) degree of relevance to the practice of counselling psychology - 30%

(iii) cogency of the work - 30%

(iv) presentation and adherence to APA referencing requirements - 10%.

(b) Each member of the selection committee will independently rate each entrant on the above criteria and the successful candidate and runner-up will be selected upon the basis of the aggregate of the marks awarded by each member of the selection committee.

(c) In the event that two theses receive the same aggregate of marks, the members of the selection committee will confer and may consider any other aspects in addition to those set out above in order to determine which thesis is best overall.

(d) Following a specific request from a student, members of the selection committee may provide general feedback on a student's thesis, but are not obliged to do so.

Value of the Award

Successful candidates for the APS College Of Counselling Psychologists Doctoral Award will:

(i) have their name published in Psi Counselling News (the APS College of Counselling Psychologists newsletter) and in InPsych;

(ii) be invited to prepare their doctoral thesis as a poster presentation for inclusion in the next APS Annual Conference Program occurring after their receipt of the Award

(iii) receive an award of $250 and a certificate

(iv) be offered one day registration to attend the next APS Annual Conference Program occurring after their receipt of the Award, together with return economy class airfare to the city in which the APS Annual Conference is being held and one night's accommodation to the value determined by the College National Executive.

The runner-up for the APS College Of Counselling Psychologists Doctoral Award will:

(i) have their name published in Psi Counselling News (the APS College of Counselling Psychologists' newsletter) and in InPsych

(ii) receive a certificate.

Closing date and further information

Nominations close 31 July 2012.

Please send nominations to:

College of Counselling Psychologists Doctoral Award
Member Group Administrator (Colleges)
The Australian Psychological Society
PO Box 38
Flinders Lane VIC 8009

For further information please email colleges@psychology.org.au.

Previous winners