The AAG Student and Early Career Group (SECG) provides a forum for newcomers to gerontology and associated fields to share their professional and personal experiences and achievements in ageing-related work or study.

A quarter of the AAG’s total membership is made up of student and early career members. Through the SECG, under-graduate and post-graduate students come together with researchers, educators, aged care leaders, geriatricians, nurses, allied health professionals, policy makers, advocates for older people and others with expertise in ageing. Members of the community – older people, family members and other consumers – are active participants in many of our events.

Whatever our role, we share a common interest: to improve knowledge and understanding of the many factors that influence and contribute to the experience of ageing. Connecting with fellow members provides an opportunity to tap into a wealth of experience and knowledge from a variety of settings.

Whether you are a student or in the workforce, we invite you to join this group and make the most of this opportunity to:

SECG member benefits:

  • Network with other like-minded colleagues through online communities and targeted events
  • Optimise your participation in educational, professional development and social events at the local and national level
  • Enhance your national and international connections, to share ideas and achievements
  • Apply for members-only awards and grants offered by the AAG
  • Access discounted AAG membership and registration to AAG conferences and events
  • Connect with mid to late career professionals through informal networks and mentoring programs
  • Gain leadership skills and help shape the future of the AAG.

 

Friends of the SECG

Emerging Researchers in Ageing

New Zealand Association of Gerontology

SECG Blogs

Our blog:

The SECG’s official blog is an open forum, managed by the SECG Communications group.
Other SECG online network groups are available on Facebook and LinkedIn. Access to these online communities is restricted to SECG members.

SECG National Leads
Kate Wang
SECG National President
Dr Kate Wang is a senior lecturer in pharmacy at RMIT and an adjunct senior lecturer at the University of Western Australia. Since 2020, she has been an active volunteer with the A...
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70Wang
Tesfahun Eshetie
SECG National Professional Development and Events Lead
Dr Tesfahun Eshetie is a Research Fellow at the Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA) Research Centre, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, and the Caring Future...
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71Eshetie
Kristina Chelberg
SECG National Communications and Awards Lead
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72Chelberg
Alice Pashley
SECG National Conference Lead - student & early career events
Dr Alice Pashley is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Ageing Research and Translation, University of Canberra, and an Accredited Practising Dietitian with expertise in qualit...
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73Pashley
Ashlyn Sahay
SECG Liaison to the AAG Board
Qld Division Board Representative. Ashlyn brings over 15 years of clinical experience in both private and public hospitals and aged care, coupled with a decade of academic experie...
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79Sahay

The AAG SECG
Helen Barrie National Prize

 

The prize provides an opportunity for eligible AAG student and early career members to be recognised for their outstanding research contributions to ageing research and practice, and provides a forum through which these contributions can be widely disseminated. Three prizes were available in the 2026 round:

  • $1000 – Awardee
  • $500 – Runner up
  • $250 – For The AAG SECG Helen Barrie National Special Prize for research on innovation in aged care reforms and reach*

* This prize was a special category for the 2026 round. This prize was made available by Consultivation.


Click here to view 2025 webinar 

Visit here to download the 2026 guidelines and application form (for information only)

Information regarding the 2027 round will appear here in due course.

For the 2026 round, the AAG SECG Helen Barrie Prize partnered with

Previous recipients

Hide Previous recipients
Last NameFirst NameStateYear AwardedDescription
WheelerMikaelaQLD2026Helen Barrie National Special Prize for innovation in aged care reforms and reach21/05/2026 12:00:00 AMHBNPSPECCACRR
McMullen-RoachSarahSA2026Helen Barrie National Prize for Student and Early Career Members Awardee21/05/2026 12:00:00 AMHelen Barrie National Prize Awardee
HughesGeorginaSA2026Helen Barrie National Prize for Student and Early Career Members Runner Up21/05/2026 12:00:00 AMHelen Barrie National Prize Runner Up
CrossAmandaVIC2025Helen Barrie National Prize for Student and Early Career Members Awardee16/04/2025 12:00:00 AMHelen Barrie National Prize Awardee
VidasDiannaQLD2025Helen Barrie National Prize for Student and Early Career Members Runner Up16/04/2025 12:00:00 AMHelen Barrie National Prize Runner Up
NarulaNehchal KaurVIC2025Helen Barrie National Special Prize for research on Intergenerational Practices17/04/2025 12:00:00 AMHBNPSPECAIIP
MatovicDianaNSW2024Helen Barrie National Prize for Student and Early Career Members Awardee2/02/2024 12:00:00 AMHelen Barrie National Prize Awardee
ManchhaAsmitaVIC2024Helen Barrie National Prize for Student and Early Career Members Runner Up2/02/2024 12:00:00 AMHelen Barrie National Prize Runner Up
GemikonakliGizemNSW2022Helen Barrie National Prize for Student and Early Career Members Awardee24/01/2023 12:00:00 AMHelen Barrie National Prize Awardee
LimMaeNSW2022Helen Barrie National Prize for Student and Early Career Members Runner Up24/01/2023 12:00:00 AMHelen Barrie National Prize Runner Up
WangKateVIC2022Helen Barrie National Special Prize for Research on Deprescribing in Ageing24/01/2023 12:00:00 AMHelen Barrie National Special Prize for Research on Dep
CationsMonicaSA2021Helen Barrie National Prize for Student and Early Career Members Awardee1/08/2021 12:00:00 AMHelen Barrie National Prize Awardee
LudlowKristianaQLD2021Helen Barrie National Prize for Student and Early Career Members Runner Up1/08/2021 12:00:00 AMHelen Barrie National Prize Runner Up
LiauShinVIC2021Helen Barrie National Special Prize for Research on Deprescribing in Ageing1/08/2021 12:00:00 AMHelen Barrie National Special Prize for Research on Dep

Pictured, Sarah McMullen-Roach, Georgina Hughes & Mikaela Wheeler - 2026 awardees

The winners will presented their work at the AAG SECG Helen Barrie Prize Webinar on 30th June 2026.
Follow this link to watch the recording.

2025 Awardees


Pictured, Amanda Cross, Diana Vidas & Nehchal Kaur Narula - 2025 awardees

The winners presented their research work at the AAG SECG Helen Barrie Prize Webinar in May 2025

2024 Awardees


Pictured, Diana Matovic and Asmita Manchha - 2024 awardees

The winners presented their research work at the AAG SECG Helen Barrie Prize Webinar in March 2024

2022 Awardees

Pictured, Gizem Gemikonakli, Mae Lim, Kate Wang - 2022 awardees

The winners presented their research work at the AAG SECG Helen Barrie Prize Webinar in March 2023

2021 Awardees

Pictured, Dr Monica Cations and Dr Kristiana Ludlow - 2021 awardees

The Inaugural Helen Barrie AAG SECG National Special Prize for research on deprescribing in ageing - Dr Shin Liau 

The winners presented their research work at the AAG SECG Helen Barrie Prize Webinar in March 2022

About Helen

Dr Helen Barrie is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of South Australia, Director of The Australian Alliance of Social Enterprise and Inclusion Stream Leader of the Centre for Markets, Values and Inclusion. As a social gerontologist and geographer, her research has focus on Australia’s changing and ageing population, the implications of this for society and communities, and the interaction between people and the built environment. She has been a passionate member of the AAG since 2006, was integral in developing the student section of the AAG, is a past State and National President of the AAG and was awarded life membership in 2017.

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