Meet Our Finalists

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  Boorrumpah Goupong Aboriginal Corporation

  Boorrumpah Goupong Aboriginal Corporation was founded to address the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal men through programs that draw on cultural knowledge and community connection. Since 2019, BGAC has created safe, culturally grounded spaces for men to engage in social groups, school programs and camps, promoting physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Collaborating with Elders, health professionals and community partners, BGAC reduces stigma, strengthens identity, and fosters participation. By combining traditional practices with health education and mentoring, BGAC is empowering men to take pride in culture, improve health outcomes, and build stronger communities for future generations. 

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  Kambu Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health

  Kambu Health is a proudly Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation serving Ipswich and the West Moreton region. Guided by cultural authority and self-determination, Kambu delivers holistic, trauma-informed care that meets physical, social, spiritual and emotional needs. Its “no wrong door” approach ensures equitable access for all community members, with a strong focus on child wellbeing and family resilience. By integrating prevention, early intervention and crisis support, Kambu Health empowers individuals to embrace cultural identity as part of their health journey and fosters thriving, connected communities across South East Queensland. 

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  Ngak Min Health

  Ngak Min Health is Queensland’s only accredited health clinic located within a school, dedicated to the wellbeing of First Nations children and young people. Its Social and Emotional Wellbeing Program provides wraparound, culturally safe support embedded in daily school life, breaking down barriers to access and reducing stigma. Students are supported to build resilience, emotional literacy, and strong connections to culture and community, while also improving school engagement and success. By combining health care, education and cultural identity, Ngak Min Health is setting a new benchmark for preventative, inclusive mental health care for First Nations families. 

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Award

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  Dr. Sudipto Roy

  For more than two decades, Dr Sudipto Roy has volunteered over 40 hours a week to support multicultural communities across Queensland, Australia and beyond. Through Life Eternal Trust Australia, Mental Health Foundation Australia and the Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland, he delivers free multilingual programs, counselling sessions, podcasts and support groups. These hybrid online and in-person services reduce isolation, promote inclusion and provide accessible mental health care for thousands of people from CALD backgrounds. Recognised as a community leader and advocate, Dr Roy’s tireless efforts are breaking down barriers, fostering resilience, and improving the lives of diverse communities. 

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  Townsville Medicare Mental Health Centre with Townsville Multicultural Support Group

  Townsville Medicare Mental Health Centre and Townsville Multicultural Support Group have joined forces to improve the mental health and wellbeing of refugees and migrants in North Queensland. Their innovative partnership combines professional mental health care with grassroots cultural support, breaking down barriers of language, stigma and access. With walk-in services, multilingual resources, transport assistance and a dedicated Community Engagement Officer, the collaboration ensures CALD individuals feel welcomed and connected. Together, they provide free, culturally safe care that supports recovery, builds confidence, and strengthens community cohesion, creating a powerful model of inclusive, community-driven mental health support. 

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  Dr Yoon Kwon Choi

  Dr Yoon Kwon Choi is a psychiatry registrar at the Queensland Centre of Excellence for Intellectual Disability and Autism Health, and an associate lecturer at The University of Queensland. Drawing on his own lived experience as a Korean-Australian migrant, Dr Choi provides culturally sensitive, recovery-oriented care in English, Korean and AUSLAN. His clinical work bridges language and cultural gaps for CALD communities, while his advocacy, research and committee roles help shape more inclusive health systems. Through cultural fluency, compassion and leadership, Dr Choi is improving mental health care for Queensland’s multicultural communities and setting new standards for equitable practice.

Early Years Award

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  AEIOU Foundation – Bundaberg Centre

  AEIOU Bundaberg delivers life-changing early intervention for children aged 0–6 with autism and developmental delays. Providing therapy, care, family support and advocacy, the centre supports families from diagnosis through to school transition. Its holistic, evidence-based program builds children’s capacity while empowering parents with tools, emotional support and connections to services. By offering a safe and supportive environment, AEIOU helps families through adversity, strengthens parent–child relationships, and improves long-term outcomes. In regional Queensland, AEIOU Bundaberg is a vital source of hope and inclusion, giving young children the best possible start to life. 

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  Mind Bubbles

  Mind Bubbles is a play-based, neuroscience-informed program that helps children aged 2–6 develop lifelong emotional skills through movement, connection and regulation. Used in kindergartens across Queensland and accessed globally through an app and podcast, it equips educators and families with practical, trauma-informed tools to support children’s mental wellbeing. By embedding regulation strategies into daily routines, children learn to recognise and manage emotions in playful, proactive ways. With its accessible, evidence-based model, Mind Bubbles is giving children and families the confidence to navigate challenges with resilience and joy. 

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  Motherhood Village Ltd

  Motherhood Village is a Gold Coast-based charity providing free, peer-led mental health support from pregnancy through the early years of parenthood. Founded by mothers with lived experience of perinatal mental ill health, its safe and inclusive groups reduce isolation and build community during one of life’s most vulnerable times. The service offers early intervention for challenges including depression, anxiety, trauma and grief, while connecting families to specialist care when needed. With empathy and cultural responsiveness at its heart, Motherhood Village is creating stronger, healthier families and ensuring no parent has to face the journey alone. 

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  Greg Hart

  Greg Hart is the founder of Your Hart 2 Hart, a social enterprise delivering inclusive and innovative mental health services for people with disability, chronic health conditions, and carers. His programs combine evidence-based allied health with creative, nature-based approaches, including volunteering and cultural connection, to enhance wellbeing and resilience. Certified as a BCorp and recognised by Social Traders, Greg has built an organisation that reinvests in inclusion, sustainability, and awareness. Through his leadership, clients and families feel valued, connected, and empowered, while communities benefit from greater understanding of mental health and the importance of belonging. 

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  Dr Frances Dark

  Dr Frances Dark is a psychiatrist whose four decades of work have transformed access and inclusion in mental health care. She founded Australia’s only Deafness and Mental Health Service, co-developed Queensland’s First Nations Open Disclosure Guide, and pioneered rehabilitation psychiatry initiatives that prioritise recovery and dignity. Her leadership has fostered innovative services, from residential rehabilitation to cognitive remediation therapy, while her advocacy has amplified the voices of marginalised groups. Recognised with an Order of Australia Medal in 2022, Dr Dark continues to shape mental health care nationally, championing compassion, equity, and person-centred practice. 

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  Michael Guillergan

  Michael Guillergan is a support worker at Supported Care whose calm, compassionate approach makes a daily difference in the lives of people living with mental illness. Nominated by his peers, he is recognised for building trust with clients who have experienced trauma, isolation or stigma, and for supporting them to reconnect with community and personal goals. Drawing on lived experience and family inspiration, Michael leads with empathy and patience, fostering dignity and hope. His quiet leadership and commitment to inclusion exemplify the spirit of grassroots care and embody the values of Jeff Cheverton’s legacy. 

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  Professor Jim Lagopoulos

  Professor Jim Lagopoulos, CEO of the Brain & Mind Hub Sunshine Coast, is a leader in precision psychiatry whose work bridges neuroscience and compassionate care. With more than 400 peer-reviewed publications, he has advanced treatments for depression and PTSD through innovative programs such as ketamine therapy and MRI-guided TMS. Jim’s approach combines scientific integrity with a deep commitment to ethical, person-centred care. He is also spearheading the development of a world-class research and clinical facility on the Sunshine Coast, setting new standards for mental health care and ensuring that innovation is accessible, safe, and transformative.

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  Selectability lived experience peer workers – Wadda Mooli Crisis Support Space

  Based in Townsville, the Wadda Mooli Crisis Support Space offers a peer-led alternative to the emergency department for people experiencing emotional distress or crisis. Staffed by lived experience peer workers from selectability, alongside Queensland Health clinicians, the service provides trauma-informed, culturally safe, and person-centred care. Open seven days a week, the space offers dignity, choice and hope, helping people feel understood and supported during their most vulnerable moments. By placing lived experience at the heart of crisis response, Wadda Mooli is transforming community perceptions of care and showing that compassion and connection can lead recovery. 

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  Motherhood Village Ltd

  Motherhood Village is a Gold Coast-based charity providing free, peer-led mental health support for parents from pregnancy through to early parenthood. Founded and led by mothers with lived experience of perinatal mental ill health, its inclusive groups reduce isolation and provide a safe space for connection, hope and recovery. The service offers early intervention for challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma and grief, while connecting families with specialist care when needed. By embedding lived experience at every level, Motherhood Village is creating a supportive community where no parent has to face the journey alone. 

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  Richmond Fellowship Queensland

  Richmond Fellowship Queensland (RFQ) has embedded lived experience at the heart of its services for more than 50 years. With over 420 staff supporting 11,500 clients annually, RFQ co-designs programs with people who have lived experience of mental illness, ensuring care is authentic and empowering. Initiatives such as The Way Back Support Service and the Recovered Futures Art Exhibition showcase the power of lived experience to inspire hope, reduce stigma and strengthen recovery. RFQ’s commitment to inclusion, evidence-based practice and innovation is transforming mental health support across Queensland, proving that lived experience is central to lasting change.

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  Rachel Hinds

  Rachel Hinds draws on her lived experience as a queer woman and survivor of her brother’s suicide in her role as CEO of Open Doors Youth Service. Her leadership has expanded safe, identity-affirming mental health support for LGBTIQA+ young people across Queensland. Rachel has championed social justice by embedding lived experience in every level of service delivery, dismantling systemic barriers, and amplifying youth voices in policy and advocacy. Her bold, compassionate leadership is transforming how services are designed and delivered, ensuring young people can access care that reflects their identity, fosters resilience, and supports recovery. 

LGBTQIA+ Award

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  Haven Psychology

  Haven Psychology is an inclusive and affirming practice based in Brisbane and Melbourne, with telehealth reaching clients across Australia. Around 60–80% of its clients identify as LGBTQIA+, supported in a welcoming environment with visible pride symbols, trauma-informed care, and a strong focus on intersectionality. Haven also trains other health professionals to deliver affirming care, helping reduce barriers for queer communities nationwide. By combining clinical excellence with cultural safety, Haven Psychology is improving mental health outcomes for LGBTQIA+ people and building a more inclusive health system. 

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  Toni Halloran

  Toni Halloran is a service manager at Supported Care whose lived experience and compassion shape the way she supports people facing exclusion, trauma and complex mental health challenges. She creates safe, respectful spaces where LGBTQIA+ people feel valued, connected and free to be themselves. Toni’s approach goes beyond professional obligation – she builds trust, restores hope, and empowers individuals to rediscover their worth. Her leadership extends to mentoring colleagues, championing inclusive practice, and guiding her organisation to visibly affirm support for LGBTQIA+ communities. Toni’s work is creating lasting change through dignity, belonging and genuine care. 

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  Open Doors Youth Service Inc.

  Open Doors Youth Service (ODYS) is Queensland’s only dedicated service for LGBTQIA+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy young people aged 12–24. For 25 years, ODYS has provided safe, identity-affirming spaces through counselling, case management, psychosocial programs and crisis support. Staffed largely by people with lived experience, the service fosters pride, resilience and connection while addressing systemic barriers such as discrimination and exclusion. With regional outreach, peer-led groupwork and innovative programs designed with young people, ODYS is more than a service–it is a movement leading change for LGBTQIA+ youth mental health across Queensland. 

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  Kids Helpline (yourtown)

  Kids Helpline, delivered by yourtown, is Queensland’s only free, confidential 24/7 counselling service for children and young people aged 5 to 25. For more than 30 years, it has supported thousands of young Queenslanders through phone, webchat and email, helping them navigate challenges such as mental illness, family violence and homelessness. In 2024 alone, counsellors responded to more than 27,000 calls from Queensland, including 1,213 crisis interventions. With strong connections to schools and communities, Kids Helpline provides early intervention, prevention, and crisis support. It remains a trusted, accessible service empowering young people to seek help and build resilience.

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  Richmond Fellowship Queensland

  Richmond Fellowship Queensland (RFQ) is a leading community organisation supporting more than 11,500 clients each year across 20 Queensland locations and nationally via telehealth. With over 50 years of experience, RFQ delivers evidence-based, trauma-informed and culturally safe services including suicide prevention, carer support, NDIS programs, and the iconic Recovered Futures Art Exhibition. Lived experience is embedded in service design and delivery, ensuring authenticity and empowerment at every level. Through strong partnerships with health services, universities and community organisations, RFQ continues to innovate and advocate, creating a world where optimal wellbeing is lived by all. 

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  Ngak Min Health

  Ngak Min Health is a unique school-based health clinic in Gordonvale that provides wraparound mental health support through its Social and Emotional Wellbeing Program. Grounded in trauma-informed and culturally safe practice, the program is embedded in students’ daily routines, reducing stigma and increasing access for vulnerable children and young people. By building resilience, emotional literacy and confidence, Ngak Min strengthens both wellbeing and school engagement. Collaborating with families, schools and community services, Ngak Min delivers prevention-focused, person-centred care that is transforming outcomes for First Nations children and redefining how not-for-profit youth mental health services can be delivered. 

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  Motherhood Village Ltd

  Motherhood Village is a Gold Coast-based charity providing free, peer-led mental health support from pregnancy through to early parenthood. Founded by mothers with lived experience of perinatal mental ill health, it delivers inclusive, community-based groups that reduce isolation, foster connection and provide early intervention. With programs co-designed alongside families and health professionals, the service offers tailored support for perinatal depression, anxiety, trauma and grief. Motherhood Village’s peer-led model complements clinical care and ensures parents feel seen, supported and safe. By creating a village of care, the organisation is improving outcomes for families and reshaping perinatal mental health support. 

Schools Award

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  Yarrilee State School

  Yarrilee State School champions a whole-school, trauma-informed approach to mental health and wellbeing. Its dedicated Social Emotional Wellbeing Team delivers programs on leadership, resilience, identity, grief and respectful relationships, supported by calm spaces such as an Emotional Regulation Room and Quiet Room. Staff are trained in evidence-based frameworks including Zones of Regulation and PAUSE, ensuring consistent, compassionate responses. Students are encouraged to seek help early through daily check-ins, peer mentoring and proactive referral pathways. By embedding wellbeing across classrooms, playgrounds and leadership decisions, Yarrilee creates a safe, connected environment where every child is known, valued and supported to thrive. 

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  Toowoomba SHS Support Team

  The Support Team at Toowoomba State High School coordinates whole-school wellbeing initiatives that reach more than 800 students each year. Through Mental Health Week expos, R U OK? Day events and visible wellbeing spaces, the team normalises conversations about mental health and provides clear referral pathways. Working with local health providers, they deliver interactive activities and resources that promote resilience, help-seeking and inclusion. Their tiered case management system ensures early identification and intervention for at-risk students, while cultural programs support refugee, First Nations, LGBTIQA+ and disability cohorts. The result is a safe, inclusive school culture where mental health is everyone’s priority. 

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  Queensland Pathways State College

  Queensland Pathways State College (QPSC) supports young people aged 15–18 who face significant barriers to mainstream education, including trauma, homelessness and mental health challenges. With campuses across Queensland, QPSC provides safe, student-centred learning through a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach. Every student is paired with a Learning and Pathways Mentor for one-on-one coaching around wellbeing, education and career goals, alongside weekly lessons in social, emotional and life skills. Events such as Harmony Day, NAIDOC, Wear it Purple and Mental Health Week foster diversity and inclusion. QPSC is redefining how schools can combine wellbeing, education and agency to create meaningful pathways for students. 

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  Smiling Minds = Thriving Community (Agnes Water State School)

  At Agnes Water State School, wellbeing is embedded across the whole community through the Smiling Mind social-emotional curriculum. Every classroom incorporates mindfulness lessons, guided meditation and kindness activities, while students lead initiatives such as gratitude campaigns and random acts of kindness. Calm classroom spaces, murals with positive affirmations and student-led PULSE events create an environment that reduces stigma and celebrates diversity. Staff are trained in trauma-informed practices, Youth Mental Health First Aid and the Wheel of Wellbeing framework, ensuring consistent, evidence-based care. The program has strengthened connection, resilience and compassion, making wellbeing a shared responsibility for staff, students and families.

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  selectability Ingham

  When severe weather damaged their Ingham hub in early 2025, selectability’s local team ensured continuity of care by relocating services, conducting outreach, and distributing food and hygiene packs. They kept vital programs like the Ingham Clubhouse running, providing structure, connection and recovery for people experiencing mental illness. Through resilience, compassion and innovation, the team maintained support for recipients and staff alike, showing that mental health care does not stop in a crisis. Their community-first mindset, open day initiatives, and local partnerships created hope and stability, demonstrating selectability’s deep commitment to inclusion, recovery and wellbeing in regional Queensland. 

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  Kambu Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health

  Kambu Health is a proudly Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation delivering holistic care across Ipswich and the West Moreton region. Its trauma-informed, culturally safe programs integrate prevention, early intervention and community connection to improve the wellbeing of families. Social and Emotional Wellbeing and Alcohol and Other Drug groups, peer programs and Elder gatherings provide safe spaces for healing, resilience and cultural strengthening. By embedding clinical expertise alongside cultural knowledge, Kambu empowers individuals to embrace identity as part of their recovery. With strong advocacy and inclusive engagement, Kambu is fostering resilient families and building thriving, culturally connected communities. 

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  Veteran Outreach Pathways – Friendlies Pharmacy 777 Toowoomba

  Veteran Outreach Pathways (VOP), founded by Friendlies Pharmacy 777, is reshaping how mental health care is delivered to veterans in Toowoomba. VOP provides a safe, stigma-free pathway to connect with GPs, nurse practitioners, mental health professionals and social services. Staffed by people with lived military experience, the program builds trust first, ensuring veterans feel seen and supported. Its trauma-informed, person-centred approach addresses challenges like PTSD, depression and isolation, while also assisting with DVA claims and community connection. By creating a local, accessible and empathetic model of care, VOP is improving outcomes and fostering dignity, fairness and resilience for veterans. 

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  Beyond Restrictions PTY LTD

  Beyond Restrictions is a neuro-affirming, trauma-informed organisation that supports people with disability and mental health challenges across Queensland and NSW. The team provides behaviour support, transitions from hospital and justice settings, and advocacy for NDIS access, often stepping in where others have disengaged. Their work also includes community education on safe relationships, sexuality and parenting, reducing stigma and empowering families with knowledge and tools. Founded and led by a practitioner with lived experience, Beyond Restrictions combines compassion with systemic advocacy to ensure dignity, equity and inclusion. Their person-centred approach is changing lives and reshaping community understanding of mental health.

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  MLEA

  MLEA is an allied health organisation that has created a workplace culture built on inclusivity, flexibility, and care. Staff are welcomed into a supportive environment that prioritises psychological safety, kindness, and open communication. With training in trauma-informed care, cultural responsiveness and mental health first aid, MLEA ensures every team member feels equipped and supported. Flexible arrangements, wellbeing days and tailored return-to-work plans empower staff with lived experience to remain and thrive in employment. By embedding best practice in supervision, counselling and mental health literacy, MLEA is setting the standard for workplaces where people feel safe, valued and able to flourish. 

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  Neurokindred

  Neurokindred is a neurodivergent-led social enterprise reshaping what inclusive, mentally healthy workplaces look like. Every staff member has lived experience of mental illness or neurodivergence, with roles designed flexibly around individual strengths, preferences and capacity. Supports such as peer mentoring, text-based counselling, and reflective supervision are embedded into the workday, ensuring staff can participate safely and sustainably. More than 50% of income is reinvested into staff wellbeing and free mental health programs, which employees also access. Neurokindred demonstrates how leadership grounded in lived experience can build communities of care, creating a model of employment that is adaptive, supportive and empowering. 

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  Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology – VITAL Wellness Program

  Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology (SNP) supports over 3,300 staff across 520 sites through its VITAL Wellness Program, an evidence-based initiative addressing mental, physical and emotional health. Now in its third year, VITAL has reduced requests for mental health support and improved wellbeing outcomes by embedding lasting cultural change. Built on five pillars—mind, exercise, sleep, diet and living well—the program offers counselling, financial literacy sessions, fitness activities and mental health first aid training. With flexible access for regional and shift workers, SNP ensures every employee can benefit. VITAL reflects visionary leadership, proving workplace wellbeing can be inclusive, data-driven and transformative. 

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  Sugar Research Australia

  Sugar Research Australia (SRA) is fostering a culture of inclusion and wellbeing across its sites from Brisbane to regional Queensland. Led by Head of Partnerships Bronwyn Venus, SRA’s Mental Health and Wellness Team has embedded mental health awareness into daily practice through initiatives like wellbeing check-ins, flexible work options, and “Lunch and Learn” sessions. Staff are encouraged to share lived experience, building empathy and reducing stigma. Leaders champion psychological safety and design roles to support staff returning to or managing work alongside health challenges. With creativity, connection and compassion, SRA is creating a workplace where people feel safe, supported and able to thrive.