College of Clinical Psychologists (Vic) Significant Contribution Award for Gemma Sharp

Associate Professor Gemma Sharp in clinic

Associate Professor Gemma Sharp, Department of Neuroscience, has been recognised by the College of Clinical Psychologists (Vic) with a Significant Contribution Award. 

A/Prof Sharp's contribution spanned all areas, particularly her work in the field of body image related disorders including eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder. She is particularly well known for leading the development of a world-first set of practice guidelines focused on the psychological evaluation of patients seeking cosmetic procedures with the Australian Psychological Society. These guidelines were first published in 2018 and she is currently leading the update of these guidelines to be released in late 2022/early 2023. A/Prof Sharp was kindly nominated for the award by her post-doc Dr Kathleen de Boer.

Body image issues loom large: Gemma Sharp gives three top KIT tips

Dr Gemma Sharp prepping for the documentary

When a distorted sense of yourself becomes pathological, you could have body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). BDD is getting more common and more extreme. Why?

Dr Gemma Sharp was one of the experts interviewed in Channel 10's recently broadcast (8-9 September 2021) documentary "Mirror, Mirror" by Todd Sampson to answer that question. She also participated in the Facebook Live chat after the screening. See below for some of the questions asked. 

Dr Sharp has also won a grant from the Australian Psychological Society (APS) of Clinical Psychologists 2021 Research Grant Award for futher development of her team's world-first body image chatbot "KIT", which helps people experiencing body image concerns while they are on social media. The grant will be used to improve KIT's conversational abilities, with KIT having spoken with more than 20,000 people already! 

Congratulations to Dr Gemma Sharp on her APS "Rising Star" award!

Dr Gemma Sharp is an APS "Rising Star"

Congratulations to Dr Gemma Sharp, who was awarded a prestigious international Association for Psychological Science (APS) Rising Star for 2021 Award, only one of five Australians and the only Monash University researcher to be recognised in this year's award.

The "Rising Star" award recognises early career researchers who have demonstrated excellence in publications, received significant recognitions, made significant discoveries, generated work with broad impact, and established an independent research career. Dr Sharp's pioneering work in the field of body image, particularly in her leadership of the development of KIT the body image chatbot, was instrumental in her award success.