2023 National Allied Health Conference Awards Program

The National Allied Health Conference Awards recognise and honour the outstanding contributions and achievements of Allied Health professionals across career stage. These Awards are presented biennially and to preserve the honour conferred by a National Allied Health Conference Award there shall be only one winner in each individual Award in any given Award year.  The process by which National Allied Health Conference Awards are determined varies by the type of Award and is detailed within each Award description.

Awards will be presented during the Closing Plenary session of the National Allied Health Conference.
Nomination for an Award is made during the Call for Abstracts process for the respective meeting.  

Abstract Awards

Most Distinguished Abstract Award

Winner: Kirby Adams – Allied Health Professional training needs: are we all cut from the same cloth?

The Scientific Committee will select a winner from the abstracts submitted for oral presentation at the Conference.

Reviewers will consider the following when making a decision;
– The concept, methodology and supporting theory are sound.
– The results / findings are informative and comprehensive
– The subject clearly addresses one or more of the conference themes
– The subject is original, contemporary and significant / relevant.

The Award includes $1000 for research related purposes (e.g., attend conference, publication etc) to be used within 18 months (reimbursed from NAHC). This will be provided to the submitting author.

There will be only one recipient of the Award in any given Award year. In the unlikely event that the Scientific Committee is unable to make a determination, the Conference chair shall decide the winner.

Mid-Career Best Abstract Award

Winner: Casey Peiris – Hiding in plain sight: a cross-sectional study of metabolic syndrome and lifestyle risk factors in community rehabilitation 

In 2023 there will be an Award for the Best Abstract delivered by a mid-career researcher (5 – 10 years post-PhD) at the Conference. The applicant must be the first or last author of the abstract and must be the presenting author.

The Scientific Committee will select a winner from the abstracts submitted for oral presentation by early career authors.

Reviewers will consider the following when making a decision;
– The concept, methodology and supporting theory is sound.
– The results / findings are informative and comprehensive
– The subject clearly addresses one or more of the conference themes
– The subject is original, contemporary and significant / relevant.

The Award includes $1000 for research related purposes (e.g., attend conference, publication etc) to be used within 18 months (reimbursed from NAHC). This will be provided to the submitting author.

There will be only one recipient of the Award in any given Award year. In the unlikely event that the Scientific Committee is unable to make a determination, the conference chair shall decide the winner.

To be considered for this Award, during the abstract submission process, please submit additional biographical information and justification as to your mid-career status (maximum 150 words).

Innovation / Early Career Best Abstract Award

Sponsored by East Metropolitan Health Service

Winner: Faye Southcombe – Growing Healthy Kids: Results of a quasi-experimental evaluation of a paediatric weight management service

In 2023 there will be an Award for the Best Abstract delivered by an early career researcher (<5 years post-PhD) or individual without a PhD at the Conference. The applicant must be the first or last author of the abstract and must be the presenting author.

The Scientific Committee will select a winner from the abstracts submitted for oral presentation by early career authors.

Reviewers will consider the following when making a decision;
– The concept, methodology and supporting theory is sound.
– The results / findings are informative and comprehensive
– The subject clearly addresses one or more of the conference themes
– The subject is original, contemporary and significant / relevant.

The Award includes $1000 for research related purposes (e.g., attend conference, publication etc) to be used within 18 months. This will be provided to the submitting author.

There will be only one recipient of the Award in any given Award year. In the unlikely event that the Scientific Committee is unable to make a determination, the conference chair shall decide the winner.

To be considered for this Award, during the abstract submission process, please submit additional biographical information and justification as to your ECR status (maximum 150 words).

Oral Presentation & Poster Awards

Best Oral Presentation Award

Winner: Jennifer Ellick – Reimaging traditional models of care to deliver collaborative, person-centred and high value nutrition care 

Oral presentations at the conference will be assessed by the Scientific Committee, and their nominees. The Judging Committee considers several criteria for the Award, including originality, rigour, relevance to Allied Health policy and practice, the inclusion of relevant groups to the research, and quality of presentation.

There will be only one recipient of the Award in any given Award year. In the unlikely event that the Judging Committee is unable to make a determination, the conference chair shall decide the winner.

The Award includes $1500 for research related purposes (e.g., attend conference, publication etc) to be used within 18 months.

First Time Presenter Award

Winners: Alana Loo and Jo Norfolk – Keeping Our Mob Healthy- A collaborative initiative to improve the relevance of health information and condition self-management resources for Aboriginal families at Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS).

The Best Presentation delivered by a first-time presenter at the National Allied Health Conference. To be eligible, the 2023 National Allied Health Conference must be the first time an individual has presented an oral paper at a Conference. If there are multiple presenters, then all must be first time presenters to be eligible.

The Judging Committee considers several criteria for the Award, including originality, rigour, relevance to Allied Health policy and practice, inclusion of relevant groups to the research, and quality of presentation.

The Judging Committee will judge all first-time oral presentations throughout the Conference, with the winner announced at the end of the Conference.  Award can only be received once by a candidate(s).

The Award includes $1500 for research related purposes (e.g., attend conference, publication etc) to be used within 18 months.  If multiple presenters participate in one presentation the Award will be shared equally by the presenters.

To be considered for this Award, please tick the appropriate box when requested during the abstract submission process.

Best Poster Award

Winner: Kristie Harper – Older women’s view on frailty and an Emergency Department evidence-based frailty intervention team (FIT) program: An evaluation using the RE-AIM framework

The Scientific Committee will select a poster to receive the Best Poster Award. The winning poster will be presented at the end of the conference.

The Judging Committee considers several criteria for the Award, including originality, rigour, relevance to Allied Health policy and practice, the inclusion of relevant groups to the research, and quality of poster presentation.

For 2023, to be eligible for consideration the PowerPoint (1 slide | 16:9 format) posters will need to be uploaded to the conference organisers dropbox by midnight 19 July 2023 AWST.

The Award includes $1000 for research related purposes (e.g., attend conference, publication etc) to be used within 18 months. This will be provided to the submitting author.