National Mental Health Advocates Program 2025

The Mental Health Foundation Australia (MHFA) is proud to announce the appointment of 51 distinguished individuals from across all states and territories as Mental Health Advocates of the Year under the Mental Health Advocates Program 2025 - 2028. This prestigious recognition honours exceptional contributions to mental health advocacy, community engagement, and leadership in promoting inclusive wellbeing throughout Australia. Selected from a diverse pool of professionals, youth leaders, carers, and educators, these advocates embody the compassion, dedication, and innovation that define MHFA’s mission.

About the program

VIC - Mental Health Advocates

Smiling bald man with white beard in a circular blue-edged frame, against a gold curtain background

Bruno D'Aprano

Woman in a pink coat holding a small black dog indoors, seated among empty chairs.

Caroline Smith

Portrait of a smiling woman with long gray hair in a black blazer and patterned top, framed by a blue scalloped border

Christina Johns

Smiling woman with long brown hair in a scalloped blue frame on a white background

Clarissa Allerton

Head-and-shoulders portrait of a man in a dark suit, tie, and white shirt inside a blue scalloped circular frame

Dimitrios Karagiannis

Portrait of a smiling woman with curly hair on a white background, framed by a blue scalloped border

Elizabeth Eises

Smiling woman with glasses in a scalloped frame against a teal bokeh background

Georgia Caruana

Portrait of a woman with glasses and dark hair, wearing a lavender hoodie in a car

Jackie Brown

Smiling woman in a purple jacket posed in front of a decorative grid backdrop with glowing script lights

Jasleen Kaur

Close-up portrait of a person with dark hair against a blue background, framed by a scalloped border

Jennifer Rapada

Smiling woman in a white blouse and patterned sash, framed by a blue scalloped border.

Josephine Akyaa Boateng

Headshot of a smiling man in a tan blazer and white shirt inside a blue scalloped border

Karthick Thanigaimani

Smiling person in a white patterned shirt, framed by a blue scalloped border against green foliage.

Kendall Fitzgerald

Smiling person with short gray hair and glasses, in a black jacket, seated indoors by floral decor

Lucy Bire

Close-up portrait of a smiling person with dark hair and makeup, framed by a scalloped blue border

Maria Christofilopoulos

Portrait of a smiling woman in a pink top with large gold earrings, framed by a blue scalloped border

Mumtaz Maqbool

Portrait of a bearded man wearing glasses, framed by a blue scalloped border

Ned Brook

Man speaking at a microphone, wearing glasses and a gray vest, framed in a decorative blue border

Neeraj Nanda

Smiling person with dark hair in a blue scalloped frame on a white background

Nikoletta Apostolidis

Stylized portrait of a woman in a black hijab with soft makeup and a neutral expression

Rokaya Elhouli

Portrait of a smiling person framed by a scalloped blue border, with yellow autumn trees behind them

Ruby Rees

Portrait of a smiling blonde woman outdoors with a blue scalloped border

Sara Hoffmann

Portrait of a woman in a maroon top and black jacket, seated against a leafy indoor background

Malavika Kadwadkar

Smiling woman with curly hair in a blue scalloped frame, wearing a green sweater

Oznur Demirhan

NSW - Mental Health Advocates

Smiling face in a blue scalloped circular frame on a white background

Jenny Smith

Woman in black blazer with medal, standing indoors against a blurred warm-toned background.

Julie Chartlon OAM

Smiling woman in a circular blue border

Katya Numbers

Portrait of a man in a blue checkered shirt, standing outdoors with a tiled roof and greenery behind him

Peter Heggie

Smiling person with bright red hair in a scalloped blue-framed portrait

Sonya Drivas

QLD - Mental Health Advocates

Graduate speaking at podium in cap and gown, framed by a red curtain backdrop.

Emily Jessica Ryan

Portrait of a smiling man in glasses, suit, and tie against a red background

Habib Mahomed Jamal

Close-up portrait of a smiling person with brown hair inside a blue scalloped frame

Samama Alam

Woman speaking with one hand raised, wearing glasses and a dark jacket, against a blurred floral background.

Shona Leppanen-Gibson

SA - Mental Health Advocates

Studio headshot of a man in a patterned shirt inside a blue wavy border

Ateeq Zada

Smiling person wearing glasses and a dark sweater, framed in a scalloped blue-edged circle.

Benjamin Brice

Portrait of a man in a maroon turban and red plaid shirt inside a scalloped blue frame

Daljeet Bakshi

Smiling woman in a lavender top beside a car in a parking lot with trees behind her

Rima Rakshit

Close-up selfie of a person with black glasses and red lipstick in a scalloped blue frame

Sarah De Pasquale

Close-up portrait of a woman with dark curly hair, framed by a blue scalloped border.

Victoria Bagnara

ACT - Mental Health Advocates

Smiling woman in a light purple top seated against a beige wall with colorful pillows

Courtney Chapman

Close-up portrait of a man wearing glasses, framed by a scalloped blue border outdoors.

Peter Curtis

Smiling woman with curly dark hair, wearing a pearl necklace, framed in a scalloped blue border

Sonya Di Mezza

Smiling woman with glasses in a blue patterned top, framed by a scalloped blue border

Tammie Horton

WA - Mental Health Advocates

Black-and-white portrait of a smiling person outdoors in a scalloped blue frame

Alastair Milne

Studio headshot of a man in a dark blazer against a blue background with a scalloped border

Gregory Bayne

Formal portrait of a man in a black tuxedo with bow tie, framed by a blue scalloped border

Ramkrishna Bansal

Blue scalloped circular badge on a white background

Sandra Spadanuda

TAS - Mental Health Advocates

Person in a floral shirt and cap standing outdoors in front of a green hillside and trees.

Phil Essam

NT - Mental Health Advocates

Smiling man in a brown hat taking a selfie in a desert landscape

Joshua Skipp

International - Mental Health Advocates

Smiling woman in a light pink blazer standing before a stone wall with a scalloped blue border

Catherine Maina