1978, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists College Medallion - awarded by the RANZCP to the best candidate in Australasia in 1977 examinations.
1980, Organon Junior Research Award - awarded by the RANZCP for the best research contribution by a psychiatrist less than 35 years of age.
1987, (Inaugural) Ian Simpson Award, awarded by the RANZCP for the most outstanding contribution to clinical psychiatry in Australasia as assessed through service to patients and the community.
1989, Bayer AG Research Award, International Psychogeriatric Association, equal second prize for best research paper submitted.
1994, Alumni Award, University of New South Wales for services to the community.
1995, Paul Harris Fellow, nominated by Rotary (Sydney) awarded by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, for services to the community.
2000, Officer of the Order of Australia, awarded by the Australian Government "for services to the health and well-being of older people in the community as a leader in dementia care through the Alzheimer's Association, both nationally and internationally, and to medicine through contributions to the specialty of old age psychiatry and academic and research knowledge in psychogeriatrics".
2002, Rotary Club of Sydney Vocational Service Award – for work in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease.  (This is the highest award given by Sydney Rotary, the largest club in Australia).
2002, Novartis Oration, awarded by the Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research (given to a person who is prominent in the Australian and New Zealand psychiatric research community).
2003, Organon Senior Research Award, awarded by the RANZCP  (The Organon Senior Research Award is made annually to the Fellow who, in the opinion of the Prizes and Awards Committee, has made the most significant contribution to psychiatric research in Australia and New Zealand over the preceding two years.)
2009, Distinguished Service to the Field of Psychogeriatrics Award. Awarded by International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA) – ‘recipients of the award demonstrate inspiration, leadership, vision, ethics, innovation, organisational development and motivation in the discipline of psychogeriatrics’.
2011, UNSW Dean of Medicine’s Award for Community Engagement. This is the highest award made by the Faculty of Medicine in recognition of significant achievements, usually over a prolonged period of time, by academic staff in the areas of education, research and community activity. 
2013, Alzheimer’s Australia Lifetime Award. For a lifetime of leadership, clinical excellence and research dedicated to improving the quality of life and care of people living with dementia. 
2014, UNSW Faculty of Medicine Dean’s Award ‘For outstanding contribution to research and teaching in the faculty of medicine’.
2016, The Ryman Prize, an annual NZ$250,000 award for the world’s best discovery, development, advance or achievement that enhances quality of life for older people. The prize is awarded each year by an international jury appointed by The Ryman Foundation. It has been called the “Nobel Prize of Ageing”