The Cherbourg Suicide Prevention Action Network (SPAN) has transformed the R U OK? message into a culturally led, community-driven approach to suicide prevention. Through local leadership, safe spaces, community events and youth engagement, the group has reduced stigma, strengthened help-seeking behaviours and inspired other First Nations communities to follow its model.

Youth 2 Knowledge (Y2K) is improving mental health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people through culturally safe, community-led programs. By combining mentoring, cultural connection, practical life skills and mental health education, the organisation strengthens resilience, identity and belonging while building pathways for healthier futures.

Dr Nga Tran provides culturally safe, trauma-informed psychiatric care for refugees and asylum seekers facing significant barriers to mental health support. Through accessible specialist services, collaboration with interpreters and community organisations, and a commitment to equity, she helps vulnerable people achieve recovery, stability, dignity and inclusion.

Habib Mahomed Jamal has dedicated decades to improving mental health awareness, inclusion and wellbeing across Queensland’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Through faith leadership, multicultural advocacy and community partnerships, he has reduced stigma, strengthened culturally safe support pathways, and fostered greater connection, resilience and understanding across diverse communities.

The Wellness Wednesday initiative at C&K Kirwan Community Kindergarten creates a supportive environment where children and families develop emotional wellbeing, resilience and healthy habits together. Through play-based experiences, mindfulness, movement and family engagement, the program builds emotional literacy, self-regulation, confidence and stronger connections across the kindergarten community.

The Woods Early Education Centre – Creek Kindy connects children, families and nature through a unique creek-based learning program that supports mental wellbeing. By fostering resilience, emotional regulation, confidence and belonging through outdoor exploration and community partnerships, the program helps children build strong foundations for lifelong wellbeing and learning.

Bettina Rowley is an accredited mental health social worker and clinical leader whose work has transformed support for veterans experiencing tinnitus-related psychological distress. Through developing a specialised cognitive behavioural therapy program, advocating for equitable access to care, and mentoring clinicians, she has improved wellbeing, strengthened relationships, and helped veterans reconnect with their communities.

Denise Abreu is a psychologist, educator and advocate whose leadership has advanced inclusive, identity-affirming mental health care across Queensland. Through Haven Psychology, they combine lived experience with professional expertise to improve access, strengthen workforce capability, promote health equity, and create safer, culturally responsive environments for diverse communities.

Dr Leon Stensholm has dedicated more than 14 years to supporting vulnerable young people and families through innovative, connection-focused mental health initiatives. Following personal loss, he founded Lookout07, creating a welcoming youth sanctuary that prioritises belonging before intervention, helping thousands of young people build resilience, confidence, hope and meaningful community connections.

Susan Gilmartin has spent over a decade transforming lives through the leadership of Upbeat Arts. By championing creative excellence, genuine inclusion and community connection, she has helped people living with mental illness build confidence, develop meaningful relationships, achieve personal goals, and experience the wellbeing that comes from belonging and participation.

Susan McHugh is the CEO and co-founder of Compass House, a psychosocial support service built on lived experience, trauma-informed care and participant-led recovery. Through innovative, relationship-based support and strong advocacy for systemic reform, she has demonstrated how community-centred approaches can improve wellbeing, prevent crises, and strengthen long-term recovery outcomes.

Suzanne Dang has drawn on her lived experience of bipolar and schizo-affective disorders to become a respected peer worker, advocate and community leader. Through culturally informed support, public advocacy and mental health peer work, she challenges stigma, promotes recovery, and helps people navigate barriers associated with mental illness and culturally diverse backgrounds.

Tayler Stevenson has transformed access to community-based mental health care through his leadership of Medicare Mental Health Centres across Queensland. By championing culturally responsive, trauma-informed and barrier-free services, he has improved access for priority populations, strengthened community trust, and helped thousands of people access timely mental health support.

Andrew Namestnik has transformed his lived experience of mental illness into a powerful source of hope, advocacy and support for people in crisis. Through compassionate, recovery-oriented practice, he reduces stigma, promotes consumer participation, and helps individuals and families access inclusive mental health care while navigating acute mental health services.

The Eating Disorders Queensland (EDQ) Lived Experience Team is transforming eating disorder recovery through peer-led support, education, advocacy and systems change. Drawing on lived and living experience, the team creates hope, reduces isolation, expands access to specialist services, and ensures consumer voices shape more inclusive, recovery-focused mental health support across Queensland.

Joyce Huang is a visionary educator and wellbeing advocate who developed innovative intergenerational programs connecting young people with retired community members. Inspired by personal grief, she fosters belonging, resilience and connection across generations, creating inclusive environments that strengthen mental wellbeing, reduce isolation, and empower communities to embrace positive change.

Justin Geange has dedicated more than a decade to mental health advocacy, drawing on his lived experience of mental illness and suicide survival to inspire hope and understanding. Through training, storytelling, poetry and community engagement, he empowers others, challenges stigma, promotes inclusion, and supports thousands of people across Australia.

Naseema Mustapha has transformed more than 30 years of lived experience with complex mental health challenges into a lifelong commitment to advocacy, inclusion and community development. Through multicultural engagement, policy influence, humanitarian leadership and lived experience representation, she strengthens culturally responsive mental health support while empowering communities to thrive.

Samuel Harris has used his lived experience as a veteran navigating injury, isolation and mental health challenges to create innovative peer-led support networks. As founder of Veteran Gaming Australia, he harnesses technology, social connection and lived experience leadership to reduce isolation, strengthen wellbeing, and empower veterans and families nationwide.

Suzanne Dang draws on her lived experience with Bipolar Type 1 to inspire hope, challenge stigma and support recovery. As a peer support worker, advocate, speaker and community role model, she promotes culturally safe mental health care, empowers others through shared experience, and demonstrates that recovery and meaningful participation are possible.

Tracey Tyley is a lived-experience leader and founder of Motherhood Village, created from her own recovery journey with perinatal depression, anxiety and intrusive thoughts. Through free, specialised peer support, advocacy and service innovation, she amplifies mothers’ voices, improves recovery pathways, and is transforming perinatal mental healthcare for families across Queensland.

Beyond Restrictions is improving mental health, wellbeing and human rights outcomes for people living with disability, complex trauma and psychosocial disability through specialist behaviour support and advocacy. By championing LGBTQIA+ inclusion, trauma-informed practice and workforce education, the organisation strengthens community understanding, reduces restrictive practices, and creates safer, more affirming support systems.

Haven Psychology provides identity-affirming, trauma-informed mental health care that enables LGBTQIA+ people to access support without hiding or defending who they are. Through direct clinical care, gender-affirming healthcare pathways, workforce development, professional education and community leadership, the practice is reducing barriers and improving access to inclusive mental healthcare across Queensland.

Mara’s Cafe is a student-led initiative at Brisbane State High School that strengthens inclusion, belonging and wellbeing for LGBTQIA+ students and their allies. Through peer leadership, awareness campaigns, strong referral pathways and community partnerships, the group reduces isolation, encourages help-seeking, and creates a safer, more connected school culture.

CQ Community Suicide Prevention Network Inc. is a volunteer-led network that has strengthened suicide prevention across Central Queensland since 2014. Through free education, training, community awareness campaigns and collaborative initiatives, the network empowers individuals and organisations to create a suicide-safer community while fostering connection, hope, and meaningful community participation.

Eating Disorders Queensland (EDQ) is Queensland’s leading community-based specialist eating disorder organisation, providing prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery support statewide. Through lived-experience leadership, innovative programs, advocacy and strong sector partnerships, EDQ reduces stigma, improves recovery outcomes, and ensures people and families can access support regardless of diagnosis, location or stage of recovery.

Lookout07 is a free youth sanctuary on the Sunshine Coast built on the belief that connection changes lives. Combining counselling, mentoring, recreation, movement and community partnerships, the organisation creates a strong sense of belonging for young people, helping them build confidence, resilience and hope before challenges reach crisis point.

Mind Australia’s Transitional Recovery Program (TRP) bridges the gap between acute mental health care and independent community living. Through residential psychosocial rehabilitation, recovery-oriented support, family engagement and practical skill development, the program empowers people with severe and enduring mental health challenges to build independence, wellbeing and meaningful community connections.

Stride Mental Health is transforming access to community-based mental healthcare across Queensland through an integrated network of headspace centres, Medicare Mental Health Centres, Safe Spaces, suicide prevention programs and psychosocial supports. Guided by lived experience and evidence-informed practice, Stride helps people build hope, independence and lasting recovery while strengthening more connected and inclusive communities.

Upbeat Arts delivers community-based choir and creative writing programs for adults living with mental health conditions, helping participants rebuild connection, confidence, routine and purpose. Through inclusive, recovery-oriented creative programs led by skilled staff and volunteers, the organisation reduces isolation, improves wellbeing, and creates meaningful opportunities for belonging and personal growth.

Carinity Education Rockhampton has embedded mental health and wellbeing across its entire school community through a trauma-informed, wraparound model that supports students, staff and families. As the only school in Central Queensland delivering comprehensive Mental Health First Aid training to students and caregivers, it reduces stigma, strengthens help-seeking and builds safer, more connected communities.

Carinity Education Southside has made wellbeing the foundation of its school culture through a comprehensive network of trained staff, counsellors, chaplains and support services. By embedding emotional literacy, early intervention, inclusion and help-seeking into everyday school life, it creates an environment where every student feels valued, supported and empowered to thrive.

The GOALED Support Package at Redbank Plains State High School provides personalised, relationship-based support for students in out-of-home care. Through mentoring, wellbeing planning, career development and coordinated partnerships, the program strengthens belonging, resilience and engagement, creating meaningful pathways for vulnerable young people to succeed at school and beyond.

Loreto College Coorparoo has transformed student wellbeing by embedding restorative practice throughout its school culture. Through explicit teaching of communication, empathy, conflict resolution and relationship skills, alongside strong staff capability development, the College has created an inclusive environment where belonging, accountability, help-seeking and meaningful connection support positive mental health outcomes.

Maryvale State School places relationships at the centre of student wellbeing, ensuring every child is known, valued and supported. Through personalised wellbeing plans, strong family partnerships, early intervention strategies and practical community support, the school fosters belonging, resilience, help-seeking and positive mental health as a way of life.

Brisbane State High School’s PERMAH Power-Up has embedded wellbeing into every aspect of school life through a shared framework focused on Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment and Health. By integrating wellbeing into learning, leadership and culture, the initiative strengthens resilience, belonging, help-seeking and lifelong wellbeing for students and staff.

Prenzlau State School has embedded wellbeing into every aspect of school life through a whole-school culture centred on belonging, resilience and connection. By combining restorative practices, The Resilience Project, proactive case management and strong family partnerships, the school ensures every student feels known, valued, supported and empowered to thrive.

Agnes Water State School’s Smiling Minds = Thriving Community initiative has transformed wellbeing through the school-wide implementation of evidence-based mindfulness and social-emotional learning. By fostering resilience, compassion, gratitude and kindness among students, staff and families, the program strengthens mental health literacy, emotional regulation, wellbeing and positive community connection.

Compass House Mental Health Support Services provides trauma-informed psychosocial support for people with complex mental health needs through relationship-based, participant-led care. By prioritising choice, connection and community inclusion, the organisation has achieved exceptional outcomes, reduced reliance on hospital-based care, and demonstrated how innovative regional services can transform mental health recovery.

The QAGOMA Arts and Health Program is redefining the role of the art museum as a space for connection, recovery and wellbeing. Through evidence-informed, co-designed initiatives supporting people affected by dementia, trauma, isolation and workplace stress, the program fosters resilience, belonging, hope and community participation while demonstrating the power of arts-based mental health promotion.

Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland (MHLEPQ) is Queensland’s peak body for people with lived and living experience of mental health challenges. Through systems advocacy, leadership development, policy influence and community engagement, the organisation amplifies consumer voices, promotes human rights, fosters inclusion and empowers people to shape a more responsive and equitable mental health system.

Transform Life’s Complex Care Team supports people experiencing intersecting mental health, disability, trauma, substance use and forensic challenges through a multidisciplinary, person-centred model of care. By refusing to leave people behind because of complexity, the team builds safety, independence, community participation and hope while strengthening mental health capability across the broader community.

ECT and Specialist Services (Mood Disorder Clinic) has fostered a workplace culture where staff feel genuinely supported, valued and safe. Through compassionate leadership, strong advocacy for both employees and consumers, flexible return-to-work practices and continual service improvement, the team has created a positive, collaborative environment that promotes wellbeing, inclusion and high-quality mental healthcare.

Emmaus College has embedded staff wellbeing into its culture through nine years of dedicated wellness initiatives, evidence-based programs and strong leadership. By combining trauma-informed practice, mental health education, recovery-focused supports and community partnerships, the College creates a safe, inclusive environment where staff and students can build resilience, connection and wellbeing.

Queensland Country Bank places employee wellbeing at the centre of its organisational culture through a comprehensive approach that integrates mental health, flexibility, inclusion and workplace support. Through Mental Health First Aid training, wellbeing-focused leadership, generous employee benefits and innovative initiatives such as Sonder, the organisation empowers employees and their families to thrive.

Queensland Health Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing has implemented a statewide framework creating mentally healthy, safe and supportive workplaces across Queensland’s health system. Through innovations including the Workforce Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework, Shatter the Stigma initiative, a dedicated Wellbeing Hub and lived experience workforce supports, the program strengthens staff wellbeing, inclusion, retention and workforce sustainability.

Richmond Fellowship Queensland has embedded employee wellbeing into organisational culture through flexible work practices, lived experience leadership and innovative workforce supports. Through initiatives including Schwartz Rounds, the Musical Care Program and Wellbeing Literacy training, RFQ promotes connection, resilience, inclusion and psychological wellbeing while supporting staff to deliver high-quality mental health services.

Agnes Water State School’s “What Do We Need to THRIVE in Our Workplace?” initiative places staff wellbeing at the heart of school culture. Through mindfulness, flexible work arrangements, gratitude practices, collaborative leadership and personalised wellbeing supports, the program fosters connection, psychological safety, resilience and sustainable workforce wellbeing for educators and school staff.