This category is open to any individual or organisation that through the provision of culturally specific mental health related services, programs, projects or initiatives demonstrates a commitment to improving the lives of Queenslanders who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and living with mental illness, and by promoting social inclusion and participation.

Evaluation criteria:

• Enhances the quality of life, supports and/or services for people who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and live with mental illness.
• Demonstrates effective collaboration and connection with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their family and/or carers and other relevant agencies.
• Delivers culturally focused, best practice services to those who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and live with mental illness.
• Demonstrates qualities of leadership, vision and innovation.

This category is open to any individual or organisation that demonstrates a commitment to improving the life of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Queenslanders living with mental illness. They achieve this through the provision of culturally appropriate mental health related services, programs, projects or initiatives with a focus on social inclusion and participation.

Evaluation criteria:

• Enhances the quality of life, supports and/or services for people from CALD backgrounds who live with mental illness.
• Demonstrates effective collaboration and connection with CALD people living with mental illness and other relevant stakeholders i.e. family, carers, other agencies to minimise isolation and create pathways for community integration.
• Delivers culturally focused services to people from CALD backgrounds who live with mental illness.
• Demonstrates qualities of leadership, vision and innovation.

This category is open to any organisation which focuses on supporting the best start for young Queenslanders (children and/or parents) from conception through to infancy (up to 4 years of age). Programs, workshops, peer supports or services should have a goal of reducing or eliminating the effects of mental illness and a commitment to improving the lives of young people through happier and healthier families.

Evaluation criteria:

• Demonstrates the provision of child and family support including parenting skills.
• Provides interventions prior, during and/or following adversity.
• Enhances the quality of life and wellbeing for young people (up to 4 years) and their families.
• Demonstrates positive introductions for families to access additional supports for overall health and wellness.

This category is open to any individual who has made an outstanding contribution to mental health in Queensland and the promotion of social inclusion and participation through their commitment to improving the life of Queenslanders living with mental illness.

Evaluation criteria:

• Demonstrates respect, compassion and care towards people who live with a mental illness, their families and/or carers.
• Enhances the quality of life and wellbeing of people who live with mental illness.
• Promotes social justice and raises mental health awareness in the community.
• Demonstrates qualities of leadership, vision and innovation.

This category is open to any individual or group who through their lived or living experience with mental illness demonstrates a significant contribution to improving the lives of people with mental illness and their families and/or carers.

Evaluation criteria:

• Enhances the quality of life, supports and/or services for people with a mental illness in Queensland.
• Promotes social justice and raises mental health awareness in the community.
• Promotes and facilitates consumer and/or carer participation in Queensland.
• Demonstrates qualities of leadership, vision and innovation.

This category is open to any individual or organisation that promotes social inclusion and participation through the provision of mental health related services, programs, projects or initiatives demonstrating a commitment to improving the life of Queenslanders who identify as LGBTQIA+ and live with mental illness.

Evaluation criteria:

• Enhances the quality of life, supports and/or services for people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and live with mental illness.
• Demonstrates effective collaboration and connection with people who live with mental illness and other relevant stakeholders i.e. family, carers, other agencies.
• Delivers best practice services to those who identify as LGBTQIA+ and live with mental illness.
• Demonstrates qualities of leadership, vision and innovation.

This category is open to small organisations (with an annual turnover of up to $100K) that deliver mental health– related services, programs, projects, or initiatives. Eligible organisations must demonstrate a strong commitment to improving the quality of life of Queenslanders living with mental illness, as well as promoting social inclusion and community participation.

Evaluation criteria:

• Enhances the quality of life and wellbeing of people who live with mental illness.
• Demonstrates effective collaboration and connection with people who live with mental illness and other relevant stakeholders i.e. family, carers, other agencies.
• Delivers best practice services for people who live with mental illness.
• Demonstrates qualities of leadership, vision and innovation.

This category is open to large organisations (with an annual turnover of $100K or more) that deliver mental health– related services, programs, projects, or initiatives. Eligible organisations must demonstrate a strong commitment to improving the quality of life of Queenslanders living with mental illness, as well as promoting social inclusion and community participation.

Evaluation criteria:

• Enhances the quality of life and wellbeing of people who live with mental illness.
• Demonstrates effective collaboration and connection with people who live with mental illness and other relevant stakeholders i.e. family, carers, other agencies.
• Delivers best practice services for people who live with mental illness.
• Demonstrates qualities of leadership, vision and innovation.

This category is open to any school who demonstrates a whole-of-school approach to promoting the mental health and wellbeing of their students. Schools do this through creating safe, inclusive and supportive environments that nurture students to develop social and emotional capabilities and to promote positive mental health and wellbeing so they become confident and resilient young people.

Evaluation criteria:

• Demonstrates effective whole-school approaches to support the mental health and wellbeing of students, increase help-seeking, value diversity, reduce stigma and provide clear referral pathways. This includes through events, campaigns, programs and the curriculum.
• Implements strategies and processes to support early identification and intervention of students who may be at increased risk of developing social and emotional or mental health concerns.
• Promotes and supports students’ social and emotional development, mental health and wellbeing through all school activities.
• Demonstrates evidence of effectiveness of mental health and wellbeing programs within the school community and provides training to school staff to improve the mental health literacy of all staff and students.

Open to any Queensland-based organisation which has demonstrated excellence in the promotion of positive mental health, mental health outcomes and inclusion of people living with mental illness for the benefit of its communities. This includes innovative programs, practices or initiatives.

Evaluation criteria:

• Enhances the quality of life and wellbeing of people who live with mental illness.
• Promotes social justice and raises mental health awareness in community.
• Delivers best practice programs to promote positive mental health in community.
• Demonstrates qualities of leadership, vision and innovation.

Open to any Queensland-based organisation which has demonstrated excellence in the promotion of positive mental health to its employees, and supports the inclusion and workplace participation of employees living with mental illness. This includes the implementation of innovative work practices, programs or initiatives.

Evaluation criteria:

• Promotes social justice and raises mental health. awareness in the workplace and wider community.
• Delivers best practice programs, services or initiatives to promote positive mental health and social inclusion for the benefit of all employees.
• Demonstrates qualities of leadership, vision and innovation.
• Demonstrates flexible and appropriate workplace conditions to support equitable access and retention of employment for people with a lived experience to enter, remain and return to work.

This Award is presented in recognition of individuals or an organisation making significant contributions to people living with mental illness.

This Award is presented to the highest-scoring finalist across all ten award categories, as determined through the independent judging process.

Winners of the Earle Duus Overarching Award receive a $4,000 cash prize to help continue their important work in the sector.

This Award is named after philanthropist Earle Duus, who was supported by the Queensland Wattle Day League (now Open Minds) as a young man with an acquired brain injury. Earle left a generous bequest to Open Minds which was the catalyst for the Queensland Mental Health Awards.