Four Australians Honoured with 2026 Mental Health Prizes

Sydney, Australia — Four Australians have been recognised for outstanding contributions to mental health research, advocacy and community support, with the 2026 Australian Mental Health Prize winners honoured at a ceremony in Sydney on Tuesday.

The annual awards, now in their 11th year, are presented by Univeristy of New South Wales (UNSW) Psychiatry & Mental Health, the Black Dog Institute and Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) to Australians who have contributed significantly to promoting mental health or preventing and treating mental illness.

This year’s winners are Dr. Elizabeth McEntyre, Michael Elwan, Professor Jayashri Kulkarni AM and Luke Baker, recognised across the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, Lived Experience, Professional and Community Hero categories.

Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride, said the calibre of the nominees reflected the importance of recognising people working to improve mental health across Australia.

“These are people who put others before themselves every single day, supporting individuals at some of the most challenging moments of their lives,” McBride said.

Dr. McEntyre, a Worimi Guringay and Wonnarua Elder, researcher and social worker from Tea Gardens, New South Wales (NSW), received the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander award for her work improving the mental health and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

She has led research and advocacy into inequities affecting Indigenous Australians in the criminal justice and forensic mental health systems and championed culturally responsive models of care developed with communities, including wraparound services for Aboriginal people released from prison.

Luke Baker, a lived experience advocate and Lifeline Loddon Mallee Ambassador from Moama, NSW, was recognised as Community Hero for making conversations about mental health and suicide prevention more accessible, particularly among men in regional communities.

The former police officer has drawn on his own experience of mental illness to create spaces for connection through Mr Perfect BBQs, contribute to suicide prevention strategies and resources and raise awareness and funds through a 3,249-kilometre Pedalling for Hope bike ride.

He also supports communities affected by traumatic events through the Lifeline Loddon Mallee Disaster Recovery and Critical Incident Response Team.

Michael Elwan, a lived experience leader, social worker and therapist from Mandurah, Western Australia, won the Lived Experience category.

Elwan draws on his experiences as a family carer, suicide-bereaved son and migrant to help shape mental health services.

He has led statewide mental health outreach services and contributes to national governance through lived experience advisory roles with organisations including Lifeline Australia and Suicide Prevention Australia.

Through Lived Experience Solutions, which he founded in 2024, he provides therapy, supervision, training and consultancy, bringing together professional practice, systems leadership and multicultural perspectives.

Professor Jayashri Kulkarni AM, a Melbourne psychiatrist and researcher, received the Professional award after more than three decades advancing the understanding and treatment of mental illness, particularly among women.

Professor Kulkarni pioneered research into the role of hormones in mental health and founded the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre and HER Centre Australia.

In 2021, she designed and helped open the Lisa Thurin Women’s Health Centre, described as Australia’s first private women’s mental health hospital.

She has also worked as a public advocate and educator while helping train the next generation of mental health professionals and researchers.

UNSW Provost Professor, Vlado Perkovic, said the winners demonstrated the different ways Australians could contribute to better mental health outcomes.

“Progress in mental health comes in many forms, from advancing our understanding and treatment of mental illness to strengthening systems, raising awareness and ensuring people have the support they need,” Prof Perkovic said.

NeuRA Chief Executive Scientia, Professor Matthew Kiernan AM, said more than 80 nominations had been received for this year’s awards.

“In a strong field of more than 80 nominations, these winners stood out for the dedication they bring to supporting people living with mental health conditions, at all levels of society,” Prof Kiernan said.

Black Dog Institute Executive Director and Chief Scientist, Professor Samuel Harvey, said Australia’s mental health challenge had never been greater, with this year’s nominees demonstrating how evidence and lived experience could be translated into practical action.

“The tireless work of this year’s Australian Mental Health Prize winners show us what progress towards better mental health looks like,” Prof Harvey said.

The awards recognise contributions ranging from mental health research and treatment to advocacy, community support, culturally responsive services and the incorporation of lived experience into decision-making.