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SERVICE USER ACADEMIC AWARDS

The Sarah Gordon Award

Every symposium we present a very special award for a very special person.

 

The Sarah Gordon Award for the best presentation by a Service User. Many of you will know personally or know of Dr Sarah Gordon. Sarah was instrumental in starting up this symposium and has been tireless in supporting and promoting it, convening most of the symposiums and contributing significantly in all. For this and many other reasons we have introduced the award.

 

All service user’s presenting (other than keynotes) will be eligible. If a co-produced paper wins, the award will go to the service user(s) authors, allies will need to be happy with rubbing shoulders with the famous as their reward.

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See below for:

Previous winners

Selection criteria

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Winner of the Sarah Gordon Award - Tane Rangihuna at #SUAS2019. 

Previous Winners

2016 – Wanda Bennetts

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2017 – Shannon Calvert

Title: Compassion, Dignity and Respect: How Values Supporting Treatment Interventions Can Promote Recovery

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2018 – Dasha Fedchuk

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2019 – Tane Rangihuna

Title: Ko te manu e kai ana I te mātauranga, nōna te ao | The one who engages in knowledge, opportunities are boundless

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2025 - Betsy Tipping, Jess Goodman, and Candace McCabe

Title: Moving Beyond Tokenism: Working towards change: valuing lived experience in academia

  • The content of the presentation is clearly described and has relevance for service users in academia (including teaching, research, quality improvement or any demonstrable contribution to academia).

  • The presentation demonstrates knowledge of contemporary issues relevant to service users and academia.

  • The presenter clearly demonstrates a logical progression of ideas and articulates key points and engages the audience.

  • The presentation has some clear take home messages for enhancing service user engagement in academia.

  • The presentation includes original and innovative ideas for enhancing service user engagement in academia

  • The presenter keeps to time and responds well to discussion and questions from the audience (where relevant)​

Selection criteria

INDIGENOUS AWARD

iNDIGENOUS AWARD.png

In line with our vision for transforming SUAS as a space that empowers, uplifts and elevates the indigenous lived experience voice in academia and research we have decided to introduce a new award for an Indigenous presenter whose presentation demonstrates an understanding of issues facing indigenous people with lived experience and provides innovative ideas for enhancing Indigenous people’s voices in research, academia or the lived experience workforce.

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See below for:

Previous winners

Selection criteria

Previous Winners

2025 - Huia Monro

Title: Wairua Puruatanga

Winner of the Indigenous Award -Huia Monro at #SUAS2025. 

Selection Criteria

  • At least one of the speakers is Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander or Māori

  • The presentation or research demonstrates value placed on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander or Māori lived experience voices

  • The presentation demonstrates an understanding of issues facing indigenous people with lived experience of mental distress, harm from alcohol and other drugs and addiction.

  • The presentation has some clear take home messages for enhancing Indigenous voices and knowledge systems

  • The presentation includes original and innovative ideas for enhancing Indigenous people’s voices in research, academia or the lived experience workforce.

  • The presentation shows a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion of Indigenous voice, culture and knowledge systems.

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