2024 Mental Health Matters Winners

Walk On Walk Strong supports LGBTQIA+ people with refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds in Australia through peer-led support groups, co-creating a safer space for sharing experiences, and accessing information.

The project also offers Inclusive Practice training for settlement, health, LGBTIQA+ and interpreter services to enhance understanding and support for LGBTIQA+ individuals, addressing their unique challenges and systemic barriers.

Walk on Walk Strong builds community and connection, creates resources and works one on one to enhance individual support. Governed by a steering committee of people with lived experience, the project aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment.

Since its 2018 inception by the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors and with funding support from WentWest, NSW Health, and the Commonwealth Government, the project has grown significantly with over 60 members.

Jenny Learmont, currently President of Mental Health Carers NSW, has significantly advanced mental health advocacy and support through her extensive volunteer and governance work over a period of more than forty years. As Chair of the Anxiety Disorders Alliance (ADA), she established critical programs and support networks for anxiety disorders, organised community forums, and together with health professionals and consumers and carers, organized three national anxiety conferences. She also worked with various organisations to improve anxiety disorder resources. Jenny’s contributions include being a founding member and Chair of the NSW Consumers Advisory Committee on Mental Health, serving on the Mental Health Review Tribunal and multiple advisory boards, including the board of Mental Health Carers Australia, newly funded as the national mental health carer peak. Jenny’s tireless efforts have greatly enhanced support for mental health carers and consumers.

Much of this work involves connecting or reconnecting youth with their country, community, and culture, giving reason to be their best self. Additionally, the provision of health and wellness information and tools, and learning new creative skills, aid employability and inspire further education opportunities and the confidence to approach them.

The MindED + CultureAWARE High School Program, developed by The Goanna Academy for Aboriginal boarders at Scots College and Pymble Ladies College, addresses the unique wellbeing needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Year 7 to 12. Tailored through consultations with the Heads of Aboriginal Education teachers and yarning circles with students, the program focuses on areas such as homesickness, cultural identity, belonging, racism, mental health, and cultural pride. The Goanna Academy, founded by Greg Inglis, leverages its expertise and cultural insights to design and deliver this program, which includes yarning circles and collaboration with families and teachers to ensure cultural appropriateness. The program aims to enhance students’ social and emotional wellbeing, providing a platform for cultural sharing and personal growth, culminating in a final reflection session to celebrate and consolidate the program’s impact.

The RDA (NSW) Connections program offers equine-facilitated mental health and learning through two main streams:

1. Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL): Enhances personal growth and development through interactive experiences with horses.

2. Equine Facilitated Mental Health (EFMH): Provides therapeutic sessions with horses to support individuals with mental health issues, focusing on self-awareness and behaviour change.

The program includes an accreditation system for coaches to ensure safety and professionalism. Activities with horses help clients improve non-verbal communication, presence, and boundary-setting skills. Additionally, the “Pull Up Your Socks” virtual program addressed stress and burnout across 34 NSW centres, while the “Connections” workshops were held in Central Coast, Griffith, and will continue in Coffs Harbour.

The Sound Mentoring program pairs professional musicians with at-risk youth aged 12-24 to foster their artistic and personal growth. Launched at Auburn Youth Centre and now spanning multiple locations, including rural areas and various Sydney neighbourhoods, the program connects mentors and mentees based on musical interests like singing, songwriting, playing a musical instrument and production. Mentors undergo thorough training and provide weekly 60–90-minute sessions for ten weeks, both in-person and online, to help mentees set and achieve their music goals. The program emphasises empowering mentees, celebrating cultural diversity, and facilitating self-expression through music. Enhancements based on feedback include in-person meetups, group workshops, and performance opportunities. The initiative also integrates with youth centres and the broader music community, encouraging greater engagement and confidence among participants.

The University of Sydney’s Health and Wellbeing Program 2023-26 is a comprehensive, evidence-based initiative designed to enhance both staff and student experiences. Launched with input from academic experts and endorsed by the University Executive, the program addresses mental, physical, social, and emotional factors health through various initiatives. Key components include the implementation of Wellbeing Principles, psychosocial risk reviews, a People Leader Toolkit, and a focus on First Nations staff wellbeing. The program aims to integrate wellbeing practices across the diverse university environment, moving beyond isolated efforts to a strategic, long-term approach that supports a healthier, more effective workplace and enriches the overall staff and student experience.

Mongrels Men Health and Wellbeing Limited is a community-based charity focused on the prevention, reduction and control of mental health illnesses, disorders and suicide impacting Australian men aged 20 – 75. The Mongrels Men Northern Beaches program is designed to get blokes out of bed, off the couch, outdoors, moving, connecting, communicating, and developing social and support networks with other men in their local community. In the past year, Tim has coordinated more than 260 Programs, facilitated over 600 Program Hours, and impacted more than 2,600 men who attended programs on Sydney’s Northern Beaches through his volunteer efforts.

A Good Mind To is a podcast that shares authentic and impactful stories from individuals with lived experience of mental ill-health, focusing on challenging topics like domestic violence, drug use, and suicide. Initially supported by the Australian Government’s Commonwealth Psychosocial Supports Program and Coordinate, the podcast has produced 14 episodes and continued beyond its funding period. It features raw, honest, and sometimes humorous narratives that emphasise resilience and hope. With high ratings from both participants and listeners, it has significantly enhanced the voice and agency of its contributors while providing valuable insights and support to its audience.

TRAK (Tamil Resettlement and Community Konnect) Australia was established in response to the growing mental health challenges and rising suicide rates among Tamil asylum seekers from Sri Lanka. In addition to dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, they grapple with complex psychosocial issues such as financial hardship and homelessness. Many have struggled to access adequate mental health care. TRAK operates the Companion Project which supports isolated individuals, a mentoring program and in 2023 launched a weekly Community Hub supported by over 40 volunteers. The Hub provides multiple services, fostering community connection and enhanced psychosocial wellbeing.

Deni MHAG (Deniliquin Mental Health Awareness Group) a community-led charitable organization has been actively raising awareness of mental illness, reducing stigma, promoting mental health and wellbeing and signposting the way to support for their rural community for the past 21 years. They create space to ‘talk about it’ keeping the conversation active about all things mental health engaging hard to reach groups including farmers, youth, people with a disability and the Indigenous community. Activities include multiple community events, digital awareness campaigns advertising/editorial campaigns and mental health training. Their website provides a one-stop shop for support services and health and wellbeing resources.