The award

Granted by the Association to a new graduate practicing member in recognition of ongoing, valuable and voluntary service to the Association at either a National or Branch level. The aim is to provide incentive for new graduates to establish and maintain active involvement in Association activities.

Eligibility

The award is open to members who have completed one year or less of employment as a speech pathologist since graduation, at the time of nomination.  Eligible members who have provided dedicated and significantly productive service to the Association will be considered.  Candidates may have contributed by active involvement with one or more of the following; Council, Branch Executive, Branch Portfolios, Task Groups, Conference Planning Committee. In most cases, nominees will have held positions on Committees or Portfolios as students

Consideration should be given to:

• The length of voluntary service the nominee has given to Speech Pathology Australia.
• The degree of responsibility held by the applicant.
• Applicants may also be selected on the basis of the productivity/outcome of the office held.

The prize

The Rookie of the Year Award shall be given in the form of:

• Membership fees for the following year
• A framed certificate

Nominations

Completed hard copies of nominations may be received by National Office at any time.  Nominations will be considered in confidence at a meeting of the Awards Task Group.  Council will consider the recommendation of the task group at the next scheduled council meeting.  Award winners will be announced at the subsequent AGM. Winners will be notified, in confidence, in time for arrangements to be made by the winner where possible to attend the AGM to receive their award.

Nominations must include:

• See the details in Policy 7.7 - Speech Pathology Australia Awards which also includes the nomination form and prescribed points pro forma.
• Written supporting statement giving clear evidence of the nominee’s dedicated and significantly productive service to the Association within the new graduate’s first year of employment and/or in their student years (e.g. offices held and period over which they were held, outcomes achieved by the nominee in portfolio work, Branch management).

The nomination may be supported by inclusion of documents demonstrating the nominee's achievements (e.g. papers written, letters of appreciation).