This year’s recipient of the Counsellor of the Year Award – which honours outstanding excellence in client care and outcomes, commitment to professional development, and an overall positive impact on clients, colleagues and the community – is Rayma Torresan. Training as a counsellor later in life after a career in music and hospitality, Rayma began her career as a child and adolescent family therapist at an Aboriginal medical service in Griffith, NSW. “I did my degree and then I don’t think I’ve ever stopped learning since then,” she told ACA, working across EMDR, trauma therapy and internal family systems. 10 years ago, she entered private practice where she largely works with clients living with complex trauma. “Trauma work and understanding the neurobiology of your brain and understanding how to process the root cause, for me, I just started seeing my clients transform. No one is really untouched by trauma – to me, there wasn’t really a person on the planet that hadn’t been affected by something that caused their symptoms and the issues in their life. The outcomes I got from doing that kind of therapy was a game changer for me.”

Two and a half years ago, she launched an online trauma program alongside her work with the Department of Communities and Justice, focusing on mothers with complex trauma and addiction issues. Previous work with children in foster care informed a broader understanding of how intergenerational trauma affects families. “When these women came to me and I heard their stories … I ended up getting huge outcomes. I realised in two and a half years I hadn’t [had a child removed from their parents]. For these women, I was a bridge between them and DCJ,” Rayma said.

Rehabilitating her clients – who she says had previously had poor experiences with therapy and justice – meant working across a breadth of substance issues, domestic and family violence, and attachment problems, and spread to partnering with the local women’s refuge to work on domestic violence education.

“I found a lot of these women had come from terrible attachment systems in childhood, and so using drugs was just a way to cope and help them function – a flow-on effect from when they were young” she said. The program grew from one day a fortnight to a waitlist for the weekly program. “These women don’t have a lot of resources, but they really took to what I was doing. It’s amazing to see that intergenerational trauma can be broken.” Rayma partners with local drug and alcohol therapists and rehab facilities such as Calvary to ensure mothers aren’t separated from their children while in treatment.

Rayma stressed doing her own internal work is crucial to her work with clients being successful. “You can’t take your clients past where you are personally. My first job is to be authentic and connected with myself, but also meeting these women where they are. A big part of what I’ve done is when they come in, I first just want to get to know them. I am myself, and they build rapport very quickly with me. I’m very flexible – I have a snacks room, a playroom for the kids, sometimes I’m holding a baby because mum’s walked in very overwhelmed. It’s being as relational as I can … You can’t fake that with this demographic,” she said.

Her ability to build trust with clients, including Aboriginal women and culturally diverse communities, has been instrumental in helping families heal, engage in therapy, and achieve meaningful outcomes. Rayma’s innovative and relational practice has not only improved the wellbeing of countless families, but also addressed service gaps in child protection, breaking cycles of trauma and supporting parents to safely care for their children.

The winner of ACA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr Jessica Leong, draws on four decades of professional experience, mentorship, leadership and research. She has trained and mentored over 4000 counsellors, led the Transactional Analysis Association in Singapore for more than 20 years, and held key leadership roles in multiple counselling and training organisations.

Speaking to ACA, Dr Leong said early experiences of familial dysfunction unconsciously motivated her to become a counsellor. She pursued a Master of Arts in Counselling, followed by a PhD in psychology, as well as a Master of Science in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy. Her core practice principles include respect for a client’s right to choose and change (with responsibility and accountability), compassion and empathy over narratives of past, present and future, care for her own and client’s wellbeing, acceptance without prejudice or judgment and a collaborative stance.

Both in and out of the therapy room, Dr Leong said it is important to remain flexible and conscious of different ways of working with clients.

“As a counsellor I have learned not all techniques or strategies will work in different settings. What works in employee counselling or private practice might not work in school counselling or hospital settings,” she said. “In private practice I can apply Transactional Analysis and explore childhood trauma but in school settings after family trauma, the same approach will not work as the youth might not have the language and emotional literacy for deep reflection of the past. I might use expressive art therapy or brief solution focused counselling.”

Dr Leong believes supervision must be contractual and mutually agreed upon. Particularly for cross-cultural situations, “I must be aware of supervisees’ and clients’ worldview, beliefs and existential meaning of parenting, discipline, ageism, death and bereavement. The issues of power, unconscious microaggression and privileges must be drawn to awareness by the supervisor,” she said.

Jessica’s work has impacted countless clients, students, and colleagues, shaping the next generation of practitioners while advancing counselling theory and practice across diverse settings—from hospitals and schools to government and corporate organisations. Her career is a testament to compassion, integrity, and a lifelong commitment to the wellbeing of others.

This year’s winner of the Excellence in Counselling Research Award is Dr Hine Moana for her outstanding contribution to research, practice, and advocacy in the field of alcohol and other drugs. Her work explores the complex intersection of substance use, trauma, culture, and systemic inequity, challenging us to move beyond individualised, deficit-based perspectives. Instead, she powerfully situates these issues within the broader social, historical, and cultural contexts that shape Aboriginal health and wellbeing.

Amanda Westphal has won this year’s Innovation in Counselling Award for her innovation in counselling through the development of the PMDD Reset Method. This groundbreaking model reimagines how support is delivered to women living with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, a condition that affects thousands across Australia and is often underserved by traditional mental health approaches. Amanda’s work challenges the limitations of static therapy models by introducing a cycle-informed approach that adapts in real time. By aligning therapeutic strategies with each phase of the menstrual cycle, her model provides the right support at the right time, prioritising safety during high-risk periods and expanding therapeutic work when women are best able to engage.

This year, Tony Vallance has won the Community Impact Award for his outstanding contribution to community impact. Through his work with Building Better Brains, Tony has made a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of children, families, educators, and communities. His approach extends far beyond individual counselling, focusing on strengthening entire systems to build long-term resilience and wellbeing. Tony has supported hundreds of neurodivergent young people to improve emotional regulation, connection, and confidence, while helping families reduce stress and navigate complex support systems with greater ease. His innovative programs, including Dad’s Chat and ADHD Unplugged, are equipping parents, educators, and communities with practical, neuroscience-informed tools that foster understanding, connection, and positive change. These programs continue to expand across communities, reflecting both their impact and growing demand.

Over many years in child, family, and trauma-informed practice, Theresa has demonstrated exceptional skill, integrity, and leadership as a counselling supervisor. Her approach combines strong clinical expertise with a genuine commitment to developing others—supporting practitioners to grow in confidence, capability, and ethical practice. Theresa’s supervision style is both supportive and challenging. She creates safe, reflective spaces where supervisees can explore complexity, while also strengthening accountability, clinical reasoning, and professional boundaries.

Samone is often the first point of care for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence—offering not only counselling, but safety, advocacy, and practical support during times of crisis. Her calm presence, empathy, and integrity make her a trusted and vital figure within the community. What truly sets Samone apart is her deep commitment to listening to and amplifying community voices. Drawing on her background in Social and Emotional Wellbeing, she created and trademarked a community-led domestic and family violence awareness campaign through the Tennant Creek Women’s Refuge. This initiative ensures that local experiences and perspectives are heard, fostering greater awareness, engagement, and meaningful change.