Media Release
November 3, 2004
Contribution rewards
Dr Nadine Pelling, senior lecturer in psychology and counselling with UniSA’s School of Psychology, has received a national award for her contribution to the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and counselling as a whole in Australia.
The prestigious ACA award, presented in Brisbane on October 16, acknowledged the work Dr Pelling had done in both promoting and describing the Australian counselling and psychology industry.
“There were a few different aspects of my work that were recognised through the award,” Dr Pelling said.
“The first was in providing students with detailed information about the different counselling organisations in Australia, promoting all of them in a non-political way.”
Dr Pelling, along with Pamela Brear and Margaret Lau (Doctor of Counselling students), also conducted the first comprehensive national survey of advertised counsellors, providing key insight into the profession’s operations in Australia.
“We surveyed hundreds of counsellors listed in the Australian Yellow Pages, and we covered a broad range of areas from how much money counsellors make, to their education and training background and other professional issues,” Dr Pelling said.
And this research has so many applications it is scheduled to be included in a special issue on Counselling in Australia in the International Journal of Psychology in June next year.
Dr Pelling also conducted a similar survey of the ACA’s membership – giving them a clearer understanding of their constituents and of different trends occurring in counselling. And if she hasn’t been busy enough, the latest edition of Counselling Psychology Quarterly has been edited and introduced by her on the topic of 'counselling psychology across the western world.'
Dr Pelling said she was honoured to receive such recognition through the ACA award and she looks forward to continuing her work in raising the profile and understanding of counselling in Australia.
Dr Pelling has worked at UniSA for a year and a half and has interests in substance use issues, the use of technology, and professional development. Originally from Canada, Nadine has lived and worked in a number of countries.
Media contact
- Emma Masters office 8302 0096 mobile 0403 007 723 email emma.masters@unisa.edu.au