A Night of Inspiration: Highlights from the ACA Inaugural Excellence Awards
On June 12 2025, we had the immense pleasure of coming together as a community to celebrate the very best of our profession at the ACA Inaugural Excellence Awards. Held in Adelaide, this special evening brought counsellors, industry partners, leaders and friends together to honour the dedication, innovation and heart that define our field.
Thanks to the support of our awards sponsors, the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors, Supervision Training Services, Focus Insurance, the Institute of Applied Psychology, and James Cook University, we were able to shine a well-deserved spotlight on counsellors whose contributions often happen quietly, behind closed doors, but leave lasting ripples of change.
The atmosphere in the room was filled with warmth, gratitude and pride as we announced the recipients of our very first Counselling Excellence Awards:
Excellence in Research Award
Dr Katrina Andrews
This award celebrates methodological rigor, innovation in research design, and a profound contribution to advancing knowledge and understanding in the field. Through the publication and dissemination of their findings, Dr. Katrina Andrews has enriched the counselling community and helped shape future practice and policy. Dr. Katrina Andrews has been recognised for her significant research advancing knowledge in counselling practice and accessible mental health care for rural and remote Australians.
Dr. Katrina Andrews is an academic, lecturer, HDR supervisor, and researcher in counselling at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She oversees the Bachelor of Counselling at Moreton Bay, supervises Master’s and PhD students, and teaches courses on therapeutic communication, trauma, grief, and CBT. Her extensive publications explore counsellor identity in Australia and outcomes of interventions like somatic techniques, group work, community singing, and cognitive therapy. Recently, she has focused on online group counselling, seeking evidence-based practices for ethical delivery. Passionate about supporting rural and remote Australians, she addresses the need for accessible mental health services, especially amid potential pandemics.Â
Innovation in Counselling Award
Marianne Trinder
This award recognises Marianne Trinder as a trailblazer in the field, as someone who has introduced new and effective counselling techniques or approaches. This award honours the successful implementation of innovative programs or services that have made a measurable difference. Marianne’s creativity and originality in addressing counselling challenges have not only improved client outcomes but also advanced the profession as a whole.
Marianne Trinder is a registered counsellor in private practice with a background in Mindfulness practice. Marianne brings both professional and personal experience to her work and is passionate about providing support for miscarriage, pregnancy loss and pregnancy after loss. Honoured for her groundbreaking Pink Elephants Bereavement Support Program, providing compassionate care for miscarriage and pregnancy loss.
Thank you to the Institute of Applied Psychology for sponsoring this award.
Community Impact Award
Nabeela Ehsan
This award honours Nabeela Ehsan, a counsellor whose work has made a significant and positive difference in the community. This award recognises outstanding collaboration with community organisations or stakeholders, innovative approaches to meeting community needs through counselling, and a demonstrated impact backed by meaningful testimonials and feedback.
Nabeela is dedicated to supporting individuals in diverse communities. At the Islamic College of Brisbane, Nabeela worked in a vibrant, multicultural environment, providing counselling at the Wellbeing Hub. She led initiatives focused on mental health, emotional resilience, and well-being, with a special emphasis on supporting parents and carers through awareness sessions. These sessions integrated Australian cultural norms while respecting diverse family values, fostering understanding and connection.Â
Excellence in Supervision Award
Barbara Matheson
This award honours Barbara Matheson, a supervisor who has provided exceptional guidance and support to counselling students and professionals. Barbara demonstrates a deep commitment to ongoing learning and professional development in supervision, consistently receiving positive feedback from supervisees, and has made a meaningful impact on their professional growth.
Barbara Matheson is the founder of Supervision Training Services and her passion as a professional Supervisor and Trainer is to help the Counsellor to achieve their goals following the guidelines of ACA Code of Conduct and Ethics. She a registered member of ACA since 2003 and a registered supervisor since 2005. Â
Thank you to Supervision Training Services for sponsoring this award.
Indigenous Counselling Award
Michael Torres
This award recognises an individual who either identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander or works closely within Indigenous communities. This award celebrates a strong commitment to delivering culturally sensitive counselling services, advocacy for Indigenous mental health and well-being, and a meaningful, positive impact on the lives of Indigenous individuals and communities.Â
Michael Torres is a proud Indigenous man of the Jabirr Jabirr clan, whose ancestral country is located near Beagle Bay, north of Broome in Western Australia. With more than four decades of experience working in Aboriginal Affairs, Michael has dedicated his life to strengthening the voices and wellbeing of Aboriginal communities across Northern Australia.Â
Since 2000, his focus has been on addressing family violence through culturally safe support. At the Broome Men’s Outreach Service and later at the Darwin Aboriginal and Islander Women’s Shelter, Michael developed and facilitated pioneering programs including the Indigenous Men’s Service and Darwin Indigenous Men’s Service — providing culturally grounded healing pathways for Indigenous men, brotherboys and sistergirls.Â
Advocacy and Social Justice Award
Modiule Lawson
This award recognises a counsellor whose advocacy efforts have led to meaningful and lasting change within the community or the profession. The Advocacy and Social Justice recognises an individual who has shown exceptional leadership in raising awareness of critical social justice issues and a strong commitment to equity in counselling. Their collaboration with community organisations and stakeholders exemplifies a powerful dedication to creating a more just and inclusive society for all.Â
Modiule is a Deaf Clinical Counsellor. She possesses extensive multicultural experience working overseas and now in Australia, assisting clients with online therapeutic Counselling. Her clients benefit from her extensive knowledge, skills, and life experience as a Deaf woman. She uses evidence-based theories of counselling and psychotherapy, with a focus on Deaf trauma. Â
Her advocacy extends from Deaf Counsellors to have greater access to professional development, to Deaf Community mental health awareness and safeguards for the Deaf Community. Â
Regional, Rural and Remote Award
Robina Otrupcek
This award honours the resilience and dedication required to overcome challenges in delivering essential counselling in underserved areas. Through their unwavering commitment, this individual has made a significant positive impact on the mental health and well-being of their community, helping to address disparities and bring meaningful support where it is most needed.Â
Robina was born in NSW and was educated in Kyogle, Gordon, Hornsby and Macquarie University. She worked for 35 years for CSIRO during which she volunteered for Suicide Prevention Australia, Lifeline and National Association for Loss and Grief. After Robina retired at aged 57 she worked as a counsellor for medical practices in Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Baradine, for Interrelate, for Bulla Muuji in Collarenebri, Brewarrina and Walgett, then for Victims Services in Bourke, Walgett, Lightning Ridge and Collarenebri. During this time she gave various presentations in South Africa, New Zealand and NSW on Aboriginal Counselling.Â
Robina devoted her life from 2000 to 2025 working out in regional communities as a counsellor learning as she went from the welcoming Elders and the people she worked with so that she could relate to her clients in the way that most suits them. Â
Thank you to James Cook University for sponsoring this award.
Outstanding Student Counsellor Award
Dianne Taylor
This award recognises an emerging professional who has shown exceptional academic achievement and excellence in their counselling coursework. It honours a student who has demonstrated strong counselling skills, professionalism, and a meaningful contribution to their counselling program or community. With great promise and dedication, they show significant potential for future success in the counselling profession.Â
Dianne is a passionate and dedicated Counselling student with a focus on crisis intervention and trauma-informed care. With a background in volunteering with organisation’s such as Marine Rescue, Lifeline, and The CAGE, she has supported individuals in acute distress, including those experiencing suicidal ideation, domestic abuse, and emergency situations. Dianne is committed to providing compassionate, client-centered support to vulnerable individuals, particularly those affected by complex trauma. Her academic achievements and hands-on experience demonstrate her dedication to making a meaningful impact in the field of Counselling, with a long-term goal of supporting individuals, including front-line emergency workers, in their healing journey.Â
Thank you to the Institute of Applied Psychology for sponsoring this award.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr Peter Richard-Herbert
This award is a tribute to an individual whose career has been defined by unwavering dedication to the counselling profession. This esteemed award recognises a legacy of significant contributions to the advancement of counselling theory, practice, or education, as well as influential leadership within the counselling community.
Dr Peter Richard-Herbert is a Doctor of Psychology, counsellor, psychotherapist, psychoanalyst, and ICF registered Coach with over four decades of full-time private practice in counselling and psychology resolving people’s individual, professional and relationship issues. He has attained over 75,000 face-to-face clinical hours in private practice.Â
Dr Richard-Herbert runs a practice in Bowral, Southern Highlands. He is also specialist therapist at Southern Highlands Recovery, an elite residential clinic addressing addiction and trauma. He was also a Senior Lecturer Counselling at The Australian College of Applied Psychology from 2019 to 2024. As an established Clinical Supervisor, Dr Richard-Herbert supervises new and experienced professionals in the Mental Health arena. Â
Thank you to Focus Insurance Brokers for sponsoring this award.
Counsellor of the Year
Michael Torres
This prestigious recognition honours a professional who has demonstrated outstanding excellence in client care and outcomes, a deep commitment to ongoing learning and professional development, and a meaningful contribution to the counselling field through leadership or mentorship. Above all, this award celebrates an individual whose positive impact is felt not only by their clients, but also by their colleagues and the broader community.  Â
Michael Torres is a seasoned counsellor, program developer and mentor who brings over 40 years of wisdom and lived experience to his practice. Based in the Top End and Kimberley regions, Michael has delivered trauma-informed, culturally responsive counselling across some of Australia’s most remote communities.Â
From individual sessions to group work, from family violence education to cultural healing activities — Michael’s approach is holistic and deeply rooted in community. His two decades at the Darwin Aboriginal and Islander Women’s Shelter reflect a commitment not only to clinical excellence but to relational, long-term impact.Â
Michael’s leadership has shaped innovative programs supporting Indigenous men, brotherboys and sistergirls — creating culturally safe pathways to healing. His work is marked by integrity, humility, and a fierce dedication to those he serves.Â
Thank you to Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors for sponsoring this award.
This inaugural celebration was only the beginning. We look forward to continuing this new tradition of honouring excellence, sharing stories of impact, and championing the vital role counsellors play across Australia.
Congratulations once again to all our deserving winners, nominees and every counsellor who continues to change lives, one conversation at a time.
We can’t wait to see you all at the 2026 Counselling Excellence Awards!
