Minister's Award

Sponsored by the State Government

Professor Penelope Hasking

The world’s most prolific researcher of non-suicidal self-injury.

An internationally recognised researcher of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide prevention, Professor Hasking has dedicated her career to transforming how mental health is understood, researched, and supported, particularly among Western Australian tertiary students.

In 2024, Professor Hasking led a program designed to identify those at risk of mental health challenges, including suicide, and reduce future risks of suicide among tertiary students. This work resulted in a 41.7 per cent reduction in suicidal behaviours and doubled help-seeking behaviours among students. The program – which uses a predictive screening tool co-designed with lived experience teams – began rolling out to universities across the country soon afterwards. In an effort to expand the program into universities across the continent, as well as industries disproportionately affected by suicide, Professor Hasking established and continues to manage a charity associated with the program, providing suicide prevention services, research, and clinical training.

Professor Hasking’s commitment to forging change at every point in the consumer’s journey, saw her lead the development of a training program to upskill emergency nurses who work with patients engaging in NSSI. To date, the training has been attended by more than 90 per cent of the staff at Royal Perth Hospital; more than 100 students and early-career clinicians; and 384 nurses across 54 countries, via an online offering of the course. With a strong focus on empathy and practical care, the training has been found to improve empathy, reduce stigma, and foster a more person-centered culture among staff working in emergency departments. Professor Hasking’s approach includes co-authoring scientific publications with lived experience collaborators, and embedding co-design at every phase of research, training delivery, and evaluation. By involving nurses in the design and implementation of the training, Professor Hasking ensures it not only supports people who engage in NSSI but also reduces burnout among those staff supporting them.

Learn more about Professor Hasking’s work.

Finalists:

• Brian Gallop
• Karri Ambler
• Prof Penelope Hasking (WINNER)
• Sarah Papaelias
• Dr Tania Botha 

Lived Experience Impact & Inspiration Award

Sponsored by the Mental Health Commission

Michael Elwan – Sharing stories of recovery with community, leaders and policymakers

The impact of Michael’s lived experience is felt across many settings, from service delivery and policy reform to public education and storytelling.

Through his own organisation – Lived Experience Solutions – Michael provides culturally-attuned counselling, mentoring, supervision and consultancy to hundreds of people navigating trauma, grief and cultural stigma. Many of Michael’s clients are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and faith-based communities. He has expanded access for clients who have previously disengaged from traditional support services, and built a pipeline of peer leaders who move systems from tokenism to genuine co creation.

As a state and national advisor with agencies including the WA Mental Health Commission, Suicide Prevention Australia and WA Health, Michael has directly shaped mental health policy and practice to better value cultural identity and peer expertise. Michael’s work proves recovery is possible and that lived experience is a strategic asset, making the mental health system more humane, inclusive and effective.

Learn more about Michael’s work at Lived Experience Solutions.

Finalists:

• Amanda Aiyana
• Elaine Ashurst
• Michael Elwan (WINNER)
• Rachel Burns
• Soa Palelei

Prevention or Promotion Award

Sponsored by MercyCare

Safe Community Living Program by Plan and Grow – Preventing juvenile reoffending with wrap-around supports

Designed to tackle the root causes of reoffending, The Safe Community Living Program recognises that safety, stability, and dignity, are some of the most powerful tools to address criminal behaviours driven by unresolved trauma, unstable housing and unmanaged mental health challenges.

Program participants receive supported accommodation, wrap-around psychosocial supports and recovery-focused case management upon leaving custodial settings. The program prioritises dignity, agency and trauma-informed care, with participants co-designing their support plans, choosing their own routines and setting personal goals. Support from emotional regulation coaching, tenancy assistance and connections to clinical services are provided where needed.

With a 63 per cent reduction in reoffending, participants are also reporting that they feel safer and more confident, have improved mental wellbeing, and have developed stronger coping strategies. The program’s early intervention approach helps to halt mental health deterioration; and reduce reliance on emergency services, custodial interventions and psychiatric admissions. Improving medication adherence and engagement with treatment also decreases the number of acute incidents that participants experience. The Safe Community Living Program is a leading model of preventative mental health practice that replaces punishment with healing, and isolation with inclusion.

Learn more about the Safe Community Living Program by Plan and Grow.

Finalists:

• ForWhen by NGALA
• Safe Community Living Program by Plan and Grow (WINNER)
• Road Trauma Support WA by Injury Matters
• True Sport Mental Health & Wellbeing by SportWest
• WA Cricket

Innovation in Service Delivery Award

Sponsored by Youth Focus

Dual winners:

Deadly Minds Matter by Shooting Stars and Raphael Services by St John of God

1. Deadly Minds Matter by Shooting Stars – Empowering Aboriginal girls and women to connect with culture and keep mentally well

Led by local Aboriginal women, the program addresses the complex interplay of mental health, cultural identity, and intergenerational trauma. Beginning as a sport-based model, it has evolved into a strengths-based wellbeing program delivering tailored, year-level-specific curriculum (for students in Years 3 to 10), fostering emotional regulation and resilience, mental health awareness, and intergenerational dialogue and connection.

The program’s adaptability and place-based approach ensure it is relevant to each community’s unique context and culture. By building the program around Aboriginal voices and lived experience, Deadly Minds Matters is not only improving health and wellbeing, but also building pathways for long-term, systemic change. Deadly Minds Matter is a scalable, replicable model of culturally safe, community-led mental health support.

Learn more about the Deadly Minds Matter program by Shooting Stars.

2. Raphael Services by St John of God – Supporting new dads with the unique emotional challenges of parenthood

Supporting new and expecting fathers, St John of God’s Raphael Services has transformed the scope of perinatal mental healthcare in WA.

Traditionally focused on maternal wellbeing, the program responded to community and clinical feedback to include paternal mental health in its service offering; recognising that fathers also face unique emotional challenges during early parenthood, that can negatively impact mental health and wellbeing. From personalised care plans to specialist counselling, psychiatric support and group therapy, the initiative is delivered both in-person and via Telehealth. Since 2015 it has grown significantly, supporting more than 100 fathers in 2024.

By tailoring the service to men’s experiences, the program helps participants to reduce anxiety, strengthen family bonds and improve partner relationships, while simultaneously reducing pressure on other clinical services by providing an important source of early intervention. Raphael Services is one of the few community-based providers in WA offering structured, evidence-informed mental health support for fathers, from their child’s conception to their fourth birthday.

Learn more about Raphael Services by St John of God.

Finalists:

• Attachment & Biobehavioural Catch-up Program by NGALA, Lifespan Psychology Centre and Pregnancy to Parenthood
• Deadly Minds Matter by Shooting Stars (WINNER)
• Healthy Liyan by Garnduwa Amboorny Wirnan Aboriginal Corporation
• Raphael Services by St John of God (WINNER)
• The Luminos Project by Samaritans WA, Ruah Community Services, The Telethon Kids Institute and University of Western Australia

Mental Health Education Award

Sponsored by Hope Community Services

UWA Guild Student Assist – Making holistic mental health care a part of campus life

For thousands of Western Australian university students, the UWA Guild’s Student Assist team is a vital pillar of support, offering free, confidential support services by qualified social workers and counsellors.

In 2024, the team delivered over 1,750 social work supports and 800 counselling sessions, addressing academic stress, financial hardship, accommodation issues, and mental health challenges. The team’s Food Pantry program also provides emergency relief, helping to tackle food insecurity. Students facing acute challenges receive priority care, with soft handovers and emergency referrals where required.

Beyond crisis responses, the Student Assist team fosters wellbeing and resilience by hosting workshops on stress, mindfulness, and burnout, as well as facilitating peer support groups. Volunteering and donation drives run by the team have contributed to a stronger sense of community on campus, while initiatives like The Living Room and Meditation Centre offer inclusive spaces for reflection and healing. The team’s holistic support is helping thousands of university students to not just survive, but thrive, during their time on campus.

Learn more about the UWA Guild’s Student Assist team.

Finalists:

• Forest Crescent Primary School
• John Tonkin College
• School of Special Educational Needs: Medical and Mental Health
• The Y School
• UWA Guild Student Assist (WINNER)

Mentally Healthy Workplace Award

Sponsored by Edge Employment Solutions

Talison Lithium – Redefining employee health and safety in the mining industry

Recognising that employees in the mining industry report higher levels of psychological distress compared to the general population, Talison Lithium set out to prioritise psychological safety in the workplace.

The company’s pioneering, on-site Wellbeing Team offers confidential, face-to-face support across all departments and rosters. In 2024, the Wellbeing Team delivered a staggering 978 individual counselling sessions, far surpassing usage rates of traditional Employee Assistance Programs. Providing trauma-informed care, crisis support, and tailored interventions, the team has grown from one part-time counsellor to a multi-disciplinary team that now assists employees through leadership transitions, interpersonal conflicts, personal challenges, and return-to-work programs.

The team’s visible presence on site has fostered trust and reduced stigma. The team also delivers micro-learning sessions and educational workshops on workplace civility, unconscious bias and inclusion, contributing to a cultural shift, where employees increasingly seek help for their wellbeing. Talison Lithium has set a new benchmark for mentally healthy workplaces in high-risk industries.

Learn more about Talison Lithium.

Finalists:

• Avivo
• Life Without Barriers
• My Way Community Alliance
• Strong Minds, Strong Mines
• Talison Lithium (WINNER)
• WA Cricket

Mental Health Employee or Volunteer Excellence Award

Sponsored by Lotterywest

Vernon Dann – A trailblazer in culturally responsive mental health care

Serving as the Aboriginal Mental Health Coordinator at the Kimberley Mental Health and Drug Service since 2005, Vernon is a respected advocate at interagency forums and a driving force behind inclusive, culturally responsive mental healthcare in WA.

Vernon’s impact spans clinical innovations and cultural advocacy – from co-authoring key research on child and adolescent services, to developing cultural governance frameworks and leadership groups. Vernon’s deep community ties and cultural authority have driven initiatives such as a culturally safe eating disorder screening program, and on-country healing experiences aimed at strengthening ‘Liyan’ – a Yawuru word to describe a person’s spirit of wellbeing.

Vernon’s commitment to elevating Aboriginal voices is evident in his work, and he continues to mentor Aboriginal staff through formal qualifications in leadership and mental health. Vernon’s leadership has seen the Aboriginal Mental Health team grow to over 20 staff, while fostering a culture of support, continual training and development, and empowerment.

Finalists:

• Graham Hughes
• Helen Tomlinson
• Jonah Palelei
• Samantha Mills
• Vernon Dann (WINNER)

Diversity & Inclusion Award

Sponsored by Roshana Care Group

Thriving in Motion – Offering transgender youth a safe space to move, belong and thrive

While regular movement is known to improve mood and wellbeing, without dedicated spaces and programs, one of Australia’s most marginalised populations continues to be at higher risk of worsening mental health challenges.

Thriving in Motion’s Youth Moves program creates safe, inclusive exercise spaces tailored to the identities and needs of transgender youth, empowering participants to reclaim movement as a tool for wellbeing, connection, and self-care. In 2024 alone, Youth Moves delivered more than 400 hours of physical education across ten WA communities, supporting 45 transgender young people.

Through trauma-informed design and leadership with lived experience, the program is helping participants to improve their confidence, develop a better understanding of the mental health benefits of movement, and reduce feelings of isolation. A remarkable 86 per cent of past participants report that they now exercise at least twice weekly, and 98 per cent are motivated to continue. Beyond individual impact, the program has built a growing network of inclusive movement spaces across WA, having partnered with seven community organisations and trained 17 professionals in inclusive practice.

Learn more about Thriving in Motion’s Youth Moves program.

Finalists:

• Garnduwa Amboorny Wirnan Aboriginal Corporation
• Hope Affirm Thrive
• Thriving in Motion (WINNER)
• What Were You Wearing Australia
• Wungening Aboriginal Corporation

News & Media Award

Sponsored by the Western Australian Association for Mental Health

Embracing the Mind podcast by Jack Boronovskis and Dr Alix Woolard – Raising awareness and helping parents to heal from birth trauma

In a three-part investigative series in 2024, the Embracing the Mind podcast shone a light on a topic which has historically been under-reported and heavily stigmatised.

With one in three birthing parents experiencing birth trauma, the podcast highlighted the need for greater awareness and mental health support for parents. In the series, mothers who experienced various forms of birth trauma – from still birth to post-partum psychosis – told their stories and shared what they wished they had known before their birthing experiences. Almost 60 per cent of those diagnosed with a birth-related injury, report severe mental health consequences more than a year after birth (including suicidal ideation) leading the series to examine common healthcare failings that can contribute to birth trauma. The combination of host Dr Alix Woolard’s expertise in mental health and trauma, and editor Jack Boronovskis’ experience in editing and storytelling, helped create compelling content that was considerate of lived experience and accurate in its depiction of the mental toll of birth trauma.

Learn more or listen to the Embracing the Mind podcast.

Finalists:

• Embracing the Mind podcast by Jack Boronovskis and Dr Alix Woolard (WINNER)
• Taboo Education by Samantha Waite