Senior Social Work Researcher of the Year
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Senior Social Work Researcher of the Year Award
This award will recognise social work research excellence from an experienced researcher during the period 01 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.
Who can be nominated?
Both academic and practice-based researchers are encouraged to nominate.
An experienced researcher in social work, with a minimum of five years of research experience.
Celebrating exciting and innovative research in social work
Like many, Dr Gerard Jefferies didn’t enter the social work profession seeking personal recognition. But when his peers nominated him for the 2023 AASW Researcher of the Year award, he was deeply honoured. The recognition has since opened doors to share his research, consult with industry, and advance innovative approaches to practice.
Winning the 2023 AASW Researcher of the Year Award has given me great confidence in how my research can benefit both industry and higher education.
– Dr Gerard Jefferies, Social Work Researcher of the Year 2023
“I would strongly encourage people to nominate colleagues that are doing exciting and innovative research and social work.”
This is your opportunity to celebrate the work of yourself and your peers; nominate today for the AASW National Excellence Awards.
Terms and conditions
Nominations will be made through a “call for nominations” announced by the AASW in August 2025.
An expression of interest portfolio should be submitted, and include:
- Two letters of support
- A curriculum vitae
- A statement of claims of no more than 1000 words that addresses the following criteria:
- Impact – demonstrated application of the research to social work education, policy or practice and evidence of dissemination and uptake of the research.
- Significance – demonstrated contribution of rigorous research to advancing knowledge in social work education, policy or practice.
- Leadership – demonstrated record of collaborative, interdisciplinary or community-engaged research as well as the provision of mentoring/capacity-building in social work research.
- Overall contribution and recognition – demonstrated sustained contribution over several years and future potential and any history of awards, honours or invitations, editorial roles etc.
Each award will be assessed by an Award Committee.
Nominations must be submitted through the AASW’s designated submission process.
The Award Committee will consider all nominations based on the criteria.
The Award Committee reserves the right to reject nominations that either:
- Do not meet one of the criteria or;
- Exceed the specified word limit 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.
The submission of the portfolio will contribute 100% of the overall score for consideration of this Award.
Who can nominate a nominee?
Self-nomination and third-party nominations will be considered. We recommend engaging the nominee directly in the process for third-party nominations.
Please ensure you advise the nominee that they have been nominated for an award.
Nomination closing date
Nominations must be submitted by 4:00pm AEST on Friday 26 September 2025. Nominations received after the closing date will not be further considered.
Award winners will be announced at a function on 20 November 2025 in Sydney as part of the Lyra Taylor Social Work Impact Summit.
Nominees are encouraged to attend the event but will be responsible for the purchase of their own tickets and any associated costs.