The 2025 Excellence Awards in Counselling

The ACA’s inaugural Excellence Awards, held during the 2025 National Conference, saw a host of Australia’s best and brightest counsellors, therapists and researchers come out for an Oscars-themed gala dinner. We thank everyone who nominated themselves or others for these awards, and to our volunteers, board and attendees at the gala. A special thanks to our awards sponsors: the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors, Supervision Training Services, Focus Insurance, the Institute of Applied Psychology, and James Cook University.

To kick off the night, Dr Katrina Andrews was the first recipient of the Excellence in Research Award, handed out for innovation and rigour in advancing areas of study in counselling that may be overlooked or newly established. An academic, lecturer and researcher at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Dr Andrews’ work in AI-driven training tools focuses on extending accessibility and engagement in counselling education. Her broader work encompasses teaching and supervision in trauma, grief, counsellor identity in Australia and cognitive therapies. “By returning results to participants and engaging both academic and practitioner audiences, I ensure my research has practical, far-reaching impact,” Dr Andrews said. This award recognises her creativity and thought in extending current counselling research for the benefit of the profession and clients.

Nominated by Beate Steller, the Innovation in Counselling Award 2025 has been awarded to Marianne Trinder, in recognition of her combination of client care, research and data skills, and innovation in counselling outcomes. Ms Trinder’s work in bereavement support for miscarriage and pregnancy loss is informed by lived experience, and has demonstrated innovation across all fields. This is epitomised by her work with the Pink Elephants Support Network (PESN), a national organisation which focuses on supporting people through pregnancy loss and grief. Ms Trinder created, managed and delivered the Pink Elephants Bereavement Support Program (PEBS), a combination of group therapy and psychoeducation to aid those bereaved by loss and miscarriage. From handling grant applications to ensure the program is free of charge, to improving it through qualitative and quantitative data analysis, Ms Trinder has demonstrated excellence in her innovation across multiple fields. “I have witnessed her providing compassionate and insightful support to her clients as they make sense of much loss and change in their lives,” Ms Steller wrote in her nomination for the award.

Nabeela Ehsan is the recipient of ACA’s first Community Impact Award, presented for her incredible impact across multiple workplaces and communities in supporting and fostering better mental health. Ms Ehsan has worked with students, parents and carers, and community members at the Islamic College of Brisbane, 1800Respect, the University of Queensland College, and elsewhere. “My professional journey has been shaped by a commitment to fostering mental health awareness, supporting diverse communities, and empowering individuals to navigate personal challenges, all while ensuring that cultural differences are respected and understood,” Ms Ehsan wrote as part of her submission. Her focus on youth mental health and community wellbeing is evident across multiple awareness and wellbeing campaigns, and should be lauded for its impact.

A great supervisor helps each counsellor to reach their full professional potential. This year, the Excellence in Supervision Award has been given to Barbara Matheson in recognition of her extensive supervision work and the wisdom and help she has offered to each of her supervisees. A practicing counsellor, Ms Matheson is the designer of the STEPPING UP model of supervision training, which has been offered to many in the counselling and allied health industries. Ms Matheson currently delivers six supervision groups across these domains, and has been roundly applauded for her deep expertise and advice to the profession. “I feel fortunate to have a supervisor who can draw upon such depth of knowledge and experience within the counselling field. Barbara's maturity, wisdom, number of years working as a counsellor and her life experience add a further depth to the quality of our service she provides,” Kathy Brennan wrote in support of Ms Matheson’s work.

This year’s Advocacy and Social Justice Award has been awarded to Modiule Lawson in recognition of her extensive work in advocating for and working with the Deaf community across Australia. She is a counsellor and psychotherapist who specialises in trauma-informed therapies for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. As a Deaf woman, Ms Lawson has lived experience of exclusion and inequality, and has advocated for Deaf professionals to be included and acknowledged in the broader professional mental health sector, from advising ACA on policy standards to promoting the importance of Deaf-affirming care for those working with the Deaf community. In her own words, Ms Lawson has “tirelessly worked towards safeguarding the most marginalised community in Australia by pushing for policies and initiatives that prioritise Deaf people’s needs, ensuring they are not excluded from essential mental health support”, and is highly deserving of this award.

Regional and remote communities are often in greater need of mental health support, and the counsellors that serve them are of utmost importance. Robina Otrupcek is the recipient of this year’s Regional, Rural and Remote Award for her work across NSW. Ms Otrupcek delivers weekly counselling services in the Aboriginal communities of Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett and Collenebri, making long journeys to see clients in need. She also counsels Aboriginal women who have experienced family and domestic violence at the Thiyamali Aboriginal Legal Service, and drives hundreds of kilometres each week as part of her commute. Her peer Judy Scolari-Gibson writes: “Her professional ability shines always as she provides a safe and nurturing environment for her clients to achieve their goals. Her delivery of support might be sitting down by the river bank or in a park with lots to open space. Wherever, she is, without this commitment to travelling to these locations so many would not have been able to succeed in their mental health wellbeing journey.”

The Outstanding Student Counsellor Award for 2025 has been awarded to Dianne Taylor, in recognition of her contribution to community, dedication to research, professionalism and ethics and overall excellence in the counselling profession. Ms Taylor’s work include housing advocacy, working with survivors of domestic violence, supporting marine search and rescue (both during emergencies and after) and crisis response at Lifeline. She is a firm believer that age is no barrier to pursuing one’s calling, having chosen to join the counselling industry later in life. “Dianne’s commitment to learning and professional development is exceptional. She is diligent, compassionate, and deeply invested in her clients’ well-being. Her work with Lifeline, her academic achievements, and her voluntary contributions to the community all demonstrate her unwavering dedication to the counselling profession,” Linda Aghan from the Cage Youth Foundation wrote in support of Ms Taylor’s nomination.

This year, our first Lifetime Achievement Award has been given to Dr Peter Richard-Herbert in recognition of a career spanning the 1980s to today that has seen him work across counselling, mediation, academia and complete a doctorate in psychological analysis. A member of a number of mental health associations including the ACA, Dr Richard-Herbert runs a private practice in the Southern Highlands of NSW as well as supervising students and working as a specialist in addiction and trauma. Tom Hutton wrote to nominate Dr Richard-Herbert for this honour, describing his four-decade career in counselling and mental health as “testament to unwavering dedication, groundbreaking contributions, and profound impact on the counselling profession”. His contribution to the counselling field is immense and we congratulate him.

In 2025, the prestigious Counsellor of the Year and Indigenous Counselling Award were both awarded to Michael Torres, in recognition of his widespread impact, keen understanding and engagement with Aboriginal communities and work in domestic violence and Indigenous men’s healing. Mr Torres is an Indigenous man of the Jabbir Jabbir clan in Western Australia, and has worked in WA and the NT for over four decades. He is the founder and counsellor at Darwin Indigenous Men’s Service (DIMS), where he runs the Indigenous Men’s Healing Shed. The Shed’s programs provide a culturally safe place for participants to heal through individual counselling and education, healing activities and programs, and family violence education. His work in developing programs for Aboriginal men that are culturally sound and address their needs and key drivers of family violence, and has successfully advocated for the first federal funding for men’s wellbeing services within DFSV grants.

Mr Torres is an appointed member of the federal government’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee on family, domestic and sexual violence, and works as an advisor to Our Watch on primary prevention for domestic violence alongside numerous other advocacy roles. “Michael’s leadership, advocacy and dedication to culturally appropriate healing services have made a lasting difference in the lives of many. His ability to foster meaningful change and his unwavering support for Indigenous men’s wellbeing make him highly deserving of recognition,” Elizabeth Stubbs, executive manager of corporate services at Yilli Rreung Housing Aboriginal Corporation wrote as part of her nomination of Mr Torres. It is clear from extensive references that Mr Torres excels in numerous aspects of his complex work, and we congratulate him on his long-term service to his communities and clients.