NDARC has acknowledged the outstanding work of three staff members via the 2013 NDARC Awards.
Held annually, the NDARC Awards recognise the achievements of staff members across all levels of the organisation. The winner of the first of two research prizes, the Ian Webster Award for Outstanding Research Achievement, was Associate Professor Tim Slade. Dr Slade is an associate investigator with the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use and has led research on the classification and epidemiology of mental disorders.
The Jennifer McLaren Award for Outstanding Research Achievement was presented to Bianca Calabria. Ms Calabria has done extensive research on Indigenous health and alcohol misuse and recently submitted her PhD thesis.
The third award, the Kevin Rozzoli Community Impact Award, was granted to Dr Christina Marel. Dr Marel is a member of the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use and was recognised for her co-ordination of the development and dissemination of information booklets on co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions. Over 100,000 copies of these booklets have been distributed since 2011 and they have been adapted by the Western Health and Social Services Trust in Northern Ireland.
Both the Jennifer McLaren and Ian Webster award winners were determined by 2013 research support scheme points, a measure of research output such as peer reviewed publications and grant applications. Nominees for the Community Impact Award had to show evidence of public health impact (such as a change in practice or in policy) and transfer of research findings for the wider benefit of the community.
NDARC extends warm congratulations to A/Prof Slade, Dr Marel and Ms Calabria.