AuSPEN Early and Mid-career Awards

AuSPEN will offer two awards biennially to recognise outstanding contributions by early and mid-career members in clinical nutrition.

1. AuSPEN Clinical Innovation in Nutrition Research Award (Early Career)

2. AuSPEN Clinical Education & Mentorship Award (Mid-Career)

Award recipients will receive registration to an AuSPEN Annual Scientific Conference, to be used within two years of receiving the award.

Selection Focus

Award recipients will be selected based on demonstrated excellence, impact, and contribution to advancing clinical nutrition practice, education, research, and the broader AuSPEN community

Apply for an AuSPEN award

AuSPEN Clinical Innovation in Nutrition Research Award (Early Career)

Purpose
Recognises an early-career AuSPEN member who has demonstrated exceptional initiative and innovation in clinical nutrition research, including novel models of care, service improvements, or innovative clinical approaches that advance nutrition support practice.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be a current financial AuSPEN member.

  • Be within 10 years of completing their highest relevant qualification (career interruptions will be considered), or be submitting work related to their first peer-reviewed publication.

  • Have undertaken work primarily within clinical nutrition with relevance to nutrition practice.

  • Include a peer-reviewed published paper or published conference abstract demonstrating the innovation, published in the current or previous calendar year.

  • Be the first author, senior author, or clearly demonstrate leadership of a key element of the project or nutrition component of the research.

Application Requirements

Applications must include:

  • Evidence of eligibility, including qualification date and any career interruptions.

  • A published peer-reviewed paper or conference abstract (full text or published abstract) with DOI or link where available.

  • A brief statement describing the applicant’s contribution to the work (up to 100 words).

  • Responses addressing the following selection criteria:
    o Innovation and originality.
    o Evidence base and quality.
    o Clinical impact.
    o Contribution to AuSPEN’s mission.

AuSPEN Clinical Education & Mentorship Award (Mid-Career)

Purpose
Honours a mid-career AuSPEN member who has demonstrated sustained excellence in clinical education, supervision, and mentorship, helping develop the next generation of clinical nutrition professionals and advancing evidence-based nutrition care.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be a current financial AuSPEN member.

  • Typically be 10–20 years post-qualification (career interruptions will be considered).

  • Be actively involved in teaching, clinical supervision, or professional mentoring related to clinical nutrition.

Application Requirements

Applications must include:

  • Evidence of years post-qualification, including any career interruptions.

  • A nominee statement addressing:
    o Clinical supervision, mentorship and/or excellence in teaching and clinical education.
    o Impact on learners and the profession.
    o Leadership and contribution to AuSPEN’s educational mission.

  • Optional supporting documentation such as:
    o Teaching evaluations.
    o Supervisor feedback.
    o Mentoring program descriptions.
    o Educational resources.