College Medal
Nominations for 2026 open 15 May to 31 August 2025.
The College Medal recognises a Fellow who makes a significant contribution to medical specialist practice, healthcare and/or health of community through physician activities.
This prestigious prize is awarded annually at the RACP College Ceremony.
Professor Helen Liley | 2025 recipient
Helen has been a neonatologist for 35 years, in the United States, New Zealand, and for the last 25 years in Brisbane Australia. As a clinician scientist, her contributions have been wide-ranging and have included basic biology of lung development, exploration of new innate immune pathways, epidemiologic studies and leadership roles in major national and international clinical trials.
In her role as the Chair of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) Neonatal Life Support Task Force, Helen has used her expertise in the systematic review of all published literature to develop evidence-based resuscitation guidelines used worldwide. She has also made key contributions to the development of guidelines for administration of blood products to babies and children and to other state and national evidence-based guidelines.
Helen has been a strong and effective advocate for improvements in Neonatal Care and the influence of her guidelines and policies has been globally influential. She has been a role model for many, particularly in the field of Neonatal Medicine, and has supported the successful careers of dozens of emerging Clinician Scientists.
See our past College Medal recipients.
Eligibility
To be eligible, a nominee must be an Australian or Aotearoa New Zealand Fellow of an RACP Division, Faculty and/or Chapter.
A nominee must not:
- submit a nomination on their own behalf
- be a current RACP Board member
- be a current RACP staff member
- be a past recipient of the College Medal
Any RACP Fellow or trainee can nominate an eligible Fellow.
Nominate
Read the Terms and Conditions for College meritorious awards and prizes by nomination before submitting a nomination.
Inform the nominee of your intent to submit a nomination.
Email a completed nomination form addressing the selection criteria to foundation@racp.edu.au together with:
- CV of the nominee
- two letters of support
- other relevant supporting documentation (optional)
Note: A nomination is not complete and cannot be progressed unless all required documentation is received.
Download nomination form (DOC)
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Selection criteria
The College Medal selection criteria aligns with our College motto 'hominum servire saluti' — 'to serve the health of our people' — and recognises a Fellow's contribution towards the improvement of the health of the community and/or our members.
The assessment of the nominee's contribution in relation to others is an essential part of the nomination.
In your nomination, detail how the nominee's contributions have meaningfully impacted the College and its activities against all of the selection criteria:
1. Contribution to medical practice, healthcare and/or health of communities
How has the nominee made a significant contribution to medical specialist practice through physician activities?
2. Professional Leadership
How has the nominee displayed outstanding leadership in developing and promoting local, national and/or international initiatives? What has been the significant impact to medicine and/or health of communities?
3. Advocacy
What significant advocacy has the nominee performed on behalf of medical specialists/physicians in policy, research or other areas of importance?
4. Representation
How has the nominee played integral roles in:
- establishing and maintaining relationships and/or collaborations with international or domestic organisations on behalf of the medical profession, in particular medical specialists?
- promoting College members and their interests within Australia and/or Aotearoa New Zealand?
Selection process
The RACP Fellowship Committee reviews all nominations and recommends a deserving recipient to the RACP Board.
The RACP Board reserves the right not to award the College Medal if they feel the recommendation and/or all nominations do not meet the high standards required for this award.
For more information about The College Medal, contact the RACP Foundation.
Related content
Terms and conditions
Past prize recipients
College and Congress prizes