Recipients of the 2018 APS Interest Group Award

Thesis Award

Kate Worsfold Assoc MAPS

Thesis title – Eating disorder mental health literacy: What do we know as health practitioners? A comparative study of psychologists, naturopaths and fitness instructors

Kate’s thesis makes an impressive contribution to theory related to cognitions mental health literacy in the area of eating disorders of psychologists and other health practitioners, and how such factors could inhibit detecting eating disorders in patients. Her thesis explores practitioners’ perceived level of skill in detecting eating disorders compared to their actual ability to detect eating disorders via a vignette case scenario. It also examines practitioners’ clinical practice behaviours including current assessment and early intervention practices, barriers to service provision, and resources needed to improve treatment. The findings may inform further research and practical/training interventions to address mindsets and biases for practitioners, which may improve their ability to detect eating disorders.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Psychology Interest Group Award

Edward (Ned) Dickeson

Thesis title – Wounded healers: Empathy and ethics

Ned’s research investigated rates of childhood adversity in students and practitioners of the therapeutic disciplines and whether childhood adversity would be associated with higher levels of empathy and higher boundary violation propensity. Ned found that childhood adversity was positively associated with a higher degree of empathy, but only among participants with low rates of psychological inflexibility (i.e., higher psychological flexibility). He found that psychological inflexibility, and not childhood adversity, was also associated with boundary violation propensity. This could potentially influence important issues such as selection of candidates into counselling and clinical practice programs, self-care for practitioners and prevention of therapist-patient boundary violations and professional ethics breaches.

Essay Prize

Celia Conolly MAPS

Essay title – The nature of projective identification: A conceptual analysis

Celia’s essay clarifies ‘Projective Identification’, a process describing the ways in which feelings and states of mind are passed between people. Celia engages skilfully with the findings of her literature review and, using conceptual analysis, addresses the ambiguity of definitions and the lack of coherence within its theoretical analysis. She concludes with a brief elaboration of the clinical relevance of this unconscious developmental process. Readers will enjoy the intelligent analysis of Celia’s essay which, being written with the aim of integration, is relevant to those within the psychoanalytic field, while also being applicable for psychologists from other theoretical modalities.

Psychologists for Peace Project Award

Michael Dare

Michael returned to study hoping to make a more meaningful contribution to society after spending nearly a decade working on major construction projects around the world. As an undergraduate, he helped to write a paper on the utility of a two-factor model of impulsivity in adolescent polysubstance use, and in his honours thesis, Michael investigated the role group memberships play in countering the divisive effects of inequality. He plans to do a PhD investigating group memberships in the context of collective adjustment to the challenges of climate change, and hopes that this work will inform efforts to maximise community resilience and preserve important social goods.

Youth for Peace Award

Bishop Druitt College

Project title – The Rainbow Project

The Youth for Peace Award encourages young people to undertake a project that seeks to build peace – at school, in their families or communities, or globally. Students from Bishop Druitt College, completed ‘The Rainbow Project’, an undertaking that raised awareness of the issues faced by LGBTQI students at their school. The group worked to develop an impressive art installation, and organised weekly meetings for students to come together with the aim of building a sense of belonging and community within the school. The group’s work received the support of the school principal, their teachers and the school counsellor, and has led to other school projects promoting human rights and harmony within the school.

Youth for Peace Award – Highly Commended

1st Kiama and 1st Jamberoo Venturer Scouts

Project title: Messengers for Peace

This group of young people sought to reach out to their disadvantaged peers in Peru and support them and their communities remotely through the provision of ‘hygiene bags’ (bags containing a range of hygiene products). The project aimed to build understanding and empathy, breaking stereotypes of other cultures, and helping young people identify with others across borders. The young people engaged with others in the community to communicate and educate them on the needs of the Peruvian community developing empathy amongst others as they sought contributions for inclusion in the hygiene bags.

Elsie Harwood Award

Brianna Morante Assoc MAPS

Thesis title – How do you teach an old dog new tricks? Psychologists’ experiences of working with older adults

Brianna’s research considered the perceptions of psychologists working with older adults. Research tells us that therapy must sometimes be adapted when working with particular groups. This study demonstrates that it is not necessarily about doing things differently (and therefore possibly creating stereotypes about working with older adults), but about meeting the needs of the client who presents for services. Brianna has contributed to the field by highlighting areas to consider changing or adapting when working with older adults, as well as areas that do not require change.

Thesis Award

Dr Catherine Bent

Thesis title – Factors associated with the age of diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders in Australia: Barriers and enablers to early identification

Catherine’s engaging thesis focused on the barriers and diagnostic practices that impact on the early identification of autism in Australia. The research has real implications to the way that professionals identify and assess children from Indigenous and other diverse cultural groups. Her thesis examiners noted, “The findings can inform decision-makers interested in understanding and removing barriers and delays in early identification. The approach taken by [Catherine] can also offer a useful model for researchers and decision-makers in other counties who are seeking the same goals. As such, [Catherine’s] contributions extend well beyond the conventional boundaries of academia.”

Research Award

Dr James Athanasou MAPS

James is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at The University of Sydney. He has been a member of the APS for more than 40 years and a dedicated member of the Rehabilitation Psychology Interest Group (RPIG). James has been investigating rehabilitation outcomes for many years and has been a leading international voice regarding factors influencing return to work following injury. Returning to work following physical injury can be a substantial challenge and has been a neglected area of study. His work has established benchmarks for the vocational potential of injury/disability such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, whiplash and back pain.

Elaine Dignan Award

Dr Amy Bannatyne

A growing body of research has suggested that pregnancy might represent a period of vulnerability for the onset, re-emergence, or exacerbation of disordered eating; however, such symptoms are often undetected and undisclosed in pregnancy. Amy’s research sought to develop a brief screening tool that could be easily implemented by antenatal clinicians. Amy’s research offered preliminary evidence that routine screening for disordered eating might be needed in antenatal care, similar to screening for antenatal depression and anxiety. Such screening could facilitate early identification and management, contributing to a positive pregnancy experience and potentially mitigating associated morbidity and costs for mothers, infants, families and society.