Outstanding contributions made to the Western Australian mental health sector will be celebrated at the WA Mental Health Awards Ceremony on Thursday, 25 November.
The awards, which are hosted by the Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) with support of the WA Mental Health Commission, recognise exceptional commitments to mental health in the 2020 calendar year through excellence, innovation and initiative.
WAAMH chief executive officer Taryn Harvey said the awards are an annual highlight for the mental health sector.
“We are excited to once again host the WA Mental Health Awards to celebrate the dedicated work done by individuals and organisations in mental health,” Ms Harvey said.
“The mental health sector is full of innovative, passionate and dedicated people and organisations, who are often quiet achievers, and we feel that it’s important to shine a light on their hard work.”
This year’s awards comprise nine categories, including the new addition of the Minister’s Award, presented by the Minister for Mental Health, the Honourable Stephen Dawson MLC.
“We are especially excited to have the new Minister’s Award category, which is for an all-rounder who’s made a phenomenal contribution to the sector and has displayed best practice at every level,” Ms Harvey said.
“It is open to any professional, employee, leader, volunteer, advocate, person with lived experience or perhaps all the above.”
Ms Harvey said mental health was becoming more of a priority in the broader community and across various industries.
“Mental health challenges do not discriminate and can impact anyone at any time in their life,” she said.
“That’s why mental health needs to be on everyone’s agenda – both individuals and organisations – and the WA Mental Health Awards recognise great, innovative work being done around mental health in different industries.
“We have finalists from industries such as mining, construction, education, media and of course the mental health sector, and I’m pleased to see so many nominations from organisations outside of the traditional or mainstream mental health space which is reflects that the message around mental health is being received and taken seriously.”
The WA Mental Health Awards Ceremony and cocktail celebration will be held on 25 November at Beaumonde on The Point, East Perth. There are still a handful of tickets left.
More than 160 nominations were received across the nine categories and were judged by a panel that included mental health sector employees, mental health lived experience consumers and carers, and WA Mental Health Commission representatives.
WA Mental Health Awards categories:
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Minister’s Award
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Lotterywest Diversity Award
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Youth Focus Innovation for Change Award
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Lifeline Prevention or Promotion Award
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Commissioner for Children and Young People Mentally Healthy Education Award
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Mental Health News Media Award
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Act Belong Commit Mental Health Employee Excellence or Volunteer Award
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Chamber of Minerals and Energy Mentally Healthy Workplace Award
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Western Australian Mental Health Commission Lived Experience Impact and Inspiration Award
If you are interested in covering the awards for a published article or program to be aired; or would like to line up any interviews, please contact Mollie Tracey on the details below.
