About the Awards

The Mental Health Matters Awards recognise the achievements of individuals and organisations large and small who have worked to improve understanding, awareness, service provision and the general mental health of our communities in NSW over the previous year.

Below are the Award categories for 2019

1. Mental Health Matters Youth Award

Description: Recognising excellence and/or innovation in programs, projects or initiatives that have focused their efforts on prevention and early intervention with young people.

To submit a nomination in this category, address the following criteria to support this nomination (the supporting information cannot exceed 1500 words).

1. Provide a brief description of the program/project - including target group/s an aims
2. How were young people involved in the planning and implementation of this program/project?
3. What were the early intervention/prevention strategies of this project/program?
4. What were the measurable impacts of this project/program? (Include summarised evaluation data such as participation rates, outcomes or feedback, data collected from surveys).

2. Mental Health Matters Community Initiative Award

Description: recognising small, grass-roots, community-run groups, projects or events whose key aims are to improve the mental health and wellbeing of marginalised communities, particularly Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities, and facilitate access to culturally appropriate information and services. This may also include ongoing groups focused on mental health or awareness raising events that have impacted the local community.

To submit a nomination in this category, address the following criteria to support this nomination (The supporting information cannot exceed 1500 words).

1. Provide a brief description of the program, project or initiative. Include information about community involvement in the planning, design, and implementation.
2. What was the aim of this program, project or event?
3. What are some of the key issues around mental health faced by the community which were targeted by this project/program or event, and how were these issues were addressed by the program/project/event?
4. Provide a summary of the evaluation data, outcomes and any formal or informal feedback.

3. Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Award

Description: recognising programs, projects, people or initiatives that aspire to and enhance the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal communities.

To submit a nomination in this category, address the following criteria to support this nomination (The supporting information cannot exceed 1500 words).

1. Please provide a brief summary of the program/project/service (including aims)
2. How were boriginal people involved in the planning and implementation of this project?
3. How does this program/project enhance the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal communities?
4. Provide a summary of the evaluation data, outcomes and any formal or informal feedback.

4. Outstanding Achievement in Mental Health Promotion Award

Description: Recognising excellence and/or innovation in mental health promotion activities  programs or initiatives that contribute to increased awareness, reduced stigma, and enhanced wellbeing related to mental health and/or mental ill-health.

To submit a nomination in this category, address the following criteria to support this nomination (The supporting information cannot exceed 1500 words).

1. Please provide a brief summary of the program/project/service
2. What was aim of this program or project?
3. How did the project or program achieve its aims/ objectives?
4. Provide a summary of the evaluation data, outcomes and any formal or informal feedback.

5. Leadership through Lived Experience Award

Description: Recognising an individual with lived experience of mental ill-health, mental illness, or a carer of someone with lived experience, who has made outstanding contributions to advocacy and social change benefiting people with lived experiences. This can relate to a specific program the person has initiated/coordinated, or a dedication to lifelong work in this area.

To submit a nomination in this category, address the following criteria to support this nomination (the supporting information cannot exceed 1500 words).

1. Provide a brief account of the individual that is being nominated, and the work they’ve done (Include the aims of any project or program they’ve run).
2. How has their work contributed to advocacy and social change for people with lived experience of mental ill-health?
3. What are some of the longer term impacts the individual has had on the lives of people with lived experiences of mental health issues?

6. WayAhead Workplaces Wellbeing Award

Description: Recognising organisations who have actively created a positive work experience for all employees and support employees in their mental health & wellbeing in the workplace. Supported by WayAhead Workplaces.

To submit a nomination in this category address the following criteria to support this nomination (the supporting information cannot exceed 1500 words).

1. Provide a brief description of the workplace wellbeing initiatives undertaken? (Include specific programs, as well as relevant policy changes)
2. What was the aim of this program or project?
3. What key factors led the organisation to develop and implement this program or initiative in the workplace?
4. Provide a summary of the evaluation data, outcomes and any formal or informal feedback.

7. Media Award - National/State-wide

Description: Recognising individuals or organisations who have produced thoughtful, informative and responsibly reported media relating to mental health illness.

Please note: Nominations should be published or broadcast in commercial media (e.g. newspapers, television stations) or public media (e.g. ABC radio, community radio). Nominees wishing to nominate internal organisational or promotional items (e.g. organisational magazines or newsletters or promotional radio spots) should consider submitting in another award category such as the Mental Health Promotion & Wellbeing award.

To submit a nomination in this category, address the following criteria to support this nomination (the supporting information cannot exceed 1500 words).

1. Provide a brief description of the media submission.
2. Provide a summary of the evaluation data, outcomes and any formal or informal feedback.
3. Attach the supporting material for your nomination. (May include (but not limited to) links to written articles, links to reviews of the program/project, links to videos or advertisements)

8. Mental Health Matters Rainbow Inclusion Award - Sponsored by ACON

Description: Recognising mental health programs, projects or initiatives that demonstrate commitment to the mental health and wellbeing of sex, sexuality, and/or gender diverse (LGBTIQA+) people.

To submit a nomination in this category, address the following criteria to support this nomination (the supporting information cannot exceed 1500 words).

1. Please provide a brief summary of the program/project/service (including aims)
2. How does the service or program actively identify and support the mental health needs of sex, sexuality, and/or gender diverse people?
3. How were Sex, sexuality, and/or gender diverse people actively involved in the planning and implementation of the project or program?
4. Provide a summary of the evaluation data, outcomes and any formal or informal feedback

 

Know amazing work being done in the ACT? Mental Health Community Coalition ACT run an incredible awards program - information can be found HERE

 

Nominations for 2019 are open

 

Have a look at our 2018 Award winners here.

Have a look at our 2017 Award winners here.

Have a look at our 2016 Award winners here.

Have a look at our 2015 Award winners here.

Have a look at our 2014 Award winners here.

Benefits to Award Winners

Clarence Youth Action is an inclusive and diverse group who meet regularly to make decisions that relate to young people, work on community projects, organise events and participate in forums. They provide a platform that encourages greater participation by young people in a range of community initiatives. Membership benefits young people by giving them the opportunity to develop skills they can use throughout their lives, such as leadership and decision making skills, working collaboratively, developing creative ideas and undertaking projects that benefit young people and the broader community.

Act-Belong-Commit (ABC) is a thriving campaign developed by Curtin University and has been successfully adopted by Anson St School – an educational workplace involved in the Mentally Healthy Orange initiative. The purpose of the ABC project is for communities to be proactive and positive about their approach to mental health and wellbeing. In the school setting, it has been about being active, keeping up connections with others and engaging in activities that provide purpose in life, to protect and enhance the mental health of school community members. Implemented as a whole school initiative, ABC has shown exceptional results including a greater sense of community, giving opportunities for parents to engage meaningfully within the school and addressing the increased prevalence of mental health concerns in young people

The Grow Group Program is a weekly meeting initiative organised by Grow NSW which creates a welcoming space for individuals experiencing mental illness, to support one another through their journeys of recovery and the achievement of personal goals. Complementary to clinical interventions, Grow Groups aim to change thinking and behaviour by offering strategies on how to deal with an emotional crisis, manage feelings, think by reason, take responsibility for one’s actions, but also, realise personal worth and improve relationships. This is delivered through peer support, group discussions, social outings, training interactions and literature readings developed by members. Currently, Grow has achieved astounding results, delivering over 180 Grow Groups and having over 2,500 people attend groups on a regular basis.

Positive Choices is a national drug prevention portal expanding the scope and reach of evidence-based drug prevention across Australian schools. Developed in close consultation and collaboration with teachers, parents and students, this notable portal provides centralised access to a comprehensive range of drug prevention resources, all of which meet the Positive Choices criteria for relevance, quality and evidence basis. Providing users with a wealth of information, these include fact sheets, games, videos and resources that can be used by teachers to develop lesson plans which align with the Australian Curriculum. Overall, this cost-free portal, which has been accessed nationally and internationally by over 63,000 users, has equipped many parents, school leaders and staff to respond more effectively to the prominent issue of substance use.

Awarded accreditation as an Evidence Based Program for the Federal Government’s Institute of Family Studies in 2015, KidsXpress is an innovative, transdisciplinary approach to early intervention trauma therapy. Uniquely combining different forms of expressive therapy including music, art, drama, dance and play, this outreach program has been delivered across 21 schools throughout Inner and Western Sydney, reaching over 350 children in need. Led by expert therapists, this approach to trauma-informed care has created safe and nurturing environments where children can use creative expression as tools to explore and better understand themselves, their past experiences and the complex emotions they’re currently experiencing. Fundamentally, KidsXpress has aimed to equip children with life-long resilience and coping strategies, preventing their current challenges from persisting into adulthood.

In collaboration with Mental Health First Aid Australia, THRI have tailored a training course to educate community-based workers on how to provide initial help to individuals from an Iraqi background experiencing PTSD and depression related crises. Using the highly successful Mental Health First Aid training model, this tailored Mental Health Literacy Course was delivered to 86 participants from several NSW based organisations. Given its adapted approach, the intervention has been highly effective, helping trainees improve their recognition of PTSD, reduce their negative attitudes towards PTSD and depression related problems, change beliefs regarding treatment to align with those of mental health professionals, and improving confidence when helping Iraqi refugees. Additional guidelines have also been developed to further assist work with this cultural group.

Weave Youth & Community Services (Weave) is at the forefront in providing casework, counselling, social activities, creative arts and community development projects to socially excluded young individuals in Sydney, including those from the local Aboriginal Community. In 2016, Weave undertook the “Stories of Lived Experience” project which aimed to improve the outcomes for Indigenous and non-Indigenous service users experiencing severe and persistent mental illness and their carers. Taking the form of a thought-provoking documentary film and photography exhibition, the project uniquely captures individuals’ lived experience of therapeutic relationships and service delivery. These insightful stories essentially helped build an understanding of how the mental health sector can better support the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal communities.