Mental Health Matters Award Nominations

The Mental Health Matters Awards recognise individuals, groups, and organisations that have improved mental health awareness, understanding, and services in NSW over the past year.

Nominations for 2025 are not yet open.

How To Nominate

Know someone doing excellent work in mental health? You can nominate yourself, a program you work for/with, or a program or person you know.

We are here to help and answer any questions you may have about the Awards or the nomination process. Please find below information about the nomination criteria, the award categories available and how to nominate below.

If you have questions please contact us:

email: abby.henze@wayahead.org.au
phone: +61 2 9339 6021

Wayahead Awards 2024

Award Nominations Not Yet Open

To stay informed about when Award nominations will become available, kindly complete the Expression of Interest form using the link below.

Our Nominate Criteria

Please read the following information, before submitting a nomination:

  • Projects, programs or initiatives nominated must be accessible to, and have relevance for, the people of NSW.
  • We do not accept nominations for service in multiple categories, unless different services are offered within the organisation and are relevant to the category.
  • Only one nomination for an organisation or individual will be accepted; nomination submissions will be judged on the quality of nomination, not quantity.
  • Staff and volunteers of Wayahead, and/or any of the sponsors of the Awards (including, but not limited to, ACON) are not eligible for nomination.
  • Previous award winners are not eligible for self-nomination for three years following the receipt of their award.

 
 
To view questions asked about each category award, please view these here or download them using the button below.

Nominate for an Award

When nominations are open, click on your chosen category below to submit your nomination.

Prizes for award winnersJulie Leitch Leadership through Lived Experience Award

This award honours an individual with lived experience of mental ill-health, mental illness, or someone caring for a person with lived experience, who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in advocacy and driving social change for the benefit of those with similar experiences. This recognition can encompass the initiation or coordination of a specific program or a lifelong commitment to this cause.

Prizes for award winnersMental Health Matters Community Initiative Award

This award honours small, grassroots, community-driven groups, projects, or events that primarily aim to enhance the mental health and well-being of marginalised communities, particularly those from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds. These initiatives strive to facilitate access to culturally appropriate information and services. This may encompass ongoing groups dedicated to mental health support or awareness-raising events that have made a positive impact on the local community.

Prizes for award winnersAboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Award

This award celebrates programs, projects, individuals, or initiatives that significantly contribute to enhancing the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal communities.

Prizes for award winnersOutstanding Achievement in Mental Health Promotion Award

This award acknowledges excellence and/or innovation in mental health promotion activities, programs, or initiatives that significantly contribute to heightened awareness, decreased stigma, and improved wellbeing associated with mental health and/or mental ill-health.

Prizes for award winnersMental Health Matters Media and the Arts Award

This award celebrates individuals or organisations that have produced thoughtful, informative, and responsibly reported media and/or artistic projects addressing mental health illness. Eligible projects may include journalism, visual art projects, theatrical productions, or musical endeavours.

Prizes for award winnersWayAhead Workplaces Wellbeing Award

This award acknowledges organisations that have proactively fostered a positive work environment for all employees and have provided support for their mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. The prize for this award includes exclusive access to select features of the Wayahead Workplaces program.

Prizes for award winnersMental Health Matters Youth Award

This award acknowledges outstanding excellence and/or innovation in programs, projects, or initiatives that prioritise prevention and early intervention efforts targeted at young people.

Prizes for award winnersMental Health Matters Rainbow Inclusion Award

This award honours mental health-related programs, projects, or initiatives that demonstrate a dedication to the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ individuals.