This award will acknowledge a student in 2023 / 2024 and whose essay or project enhances and stimulates innovation and quality outcomes in social work.  To be eligible, the essay must have been completed, or the project undertaken, during the period 01 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. 

Who can be nominated? 

An undergraduate, Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work student currently enrolled as a student or have graduated in 2023/2024.  

Nominees must be a current financial student member or new graduate member of the AASW and be of good standing with the AASW.  

Who can nominate a Nominee? 

Only Third-Party nominations will be considered.  This includes academics who have supervised, reviewed or otherwise worked with the Nominee.  Nominators are encouraged to engage with the Nominee directly in the submission process. 

Please ensure you advise the nominee that they have been nominated for an award.

Terms and Conditions 

Nominations will be made through a “call for nominations” announced by the AASW in August 2024.  

 The Award submission must have at its core either: 

• A paper explaining the project, its objectives, parameters, methodology and conclusions, or; 

• An essay. 

Nominations must be submitted through the AASW’s designated submission process. 

The Award Committee will consider all nominations based on the above criteria. 

The submission of the project paper or essay will contribute 100% of the overall score for consideration of this Award. 

The Award Committee will consider nominations that meet all eligibility and requirements. 

The Award Committee reserves the right to reject nominations that do not meet the requirements outlined within this document or are not received by the submission deadline. The AASW will keep confidential their discussions and deliberations on nominees and will not provide feedback regarding their decisions.

Award winners will be announced at the 2024 International Conference Gala Dinner on 21 November 2024 in Melbourne.  Nominees are asked to be present at the awards however all costs associated with this are the nominees to bear. 

Criteria 

 The essay or project paper must unequivocally contribute to high standards in quality outcomes for social work and the potential impact on social work practice beyond the local context.  (Maximum word limit: 2000 words / Worth: 100 percent) 

Additional Required Information  

• Provide a 100-word overview that describes the student, including their qualifications and research interest.  This short profile may be used for promotional purposes or at the Awards presentation.  (Maximum word limit: 100 words)
• When and where was this project or essay undertaken?  (Maximum word limit: 50 words) 
• Provide a colour head and shoulder photograph of the nominee on a blank background.  The image should be high resolution (preferably 300 dpi, no less than 2 Mb image) so that it can be used for print media and other promotions.   

Nomination closing date 

Nominations must be submitted by 5:00pm AEST on Friday 20 September 2024.  Nominations received after the closing date will not be considered.