Good Outcomes award winners announced

• 12 winners announced at the Mental Health Good Outcomes Awards

• Excellence and innovation celebrated during Mental Health Week

Mental Health Minister Helen Morton yesterday attended the Mental Health Good Outcomes breakfast event at the University Club of Western Australia, where 12 winners were announced.

West Australians who have dedicated more than 40 years of service to people living with mental illness and those who care for them were among the 2013 winners.

"As the Minister for Mental Health I am proud to be a part of a sector that is committed, passionate, and dedicated to improving the lives of people with mental illness and those who love and care for them," Mrs Morton said.

"The Good Outcomes awards acknowledge the high standard and ongoing commitment demonstrated by those involved in innovative and effective programs, services and partnerships in Western Australia."

The Minister said the calibre of entries posed some challenging decisions for the judges - an excellent challenge to have.

"I congratulate all finalists and winners and commend them for their ongoing commitment to raising the profile of mental health in Western Australia.

"You are shining examples of what can be achieved through hard work and dedication and I congratulate you on your achievements."

Fact File

• The Mental Health Good Outcomes Awards has been celebrating excellence in the field of mental health for 11 years

• Winners were presented with a cash prize of $1,000, a framed certificate and a commissioned art trophy created by consumers at Disability in the Arts, Disadvantage in the Arts (DADAA)

•  list of winners is attached.

Minister's office - 6552 6900

2013 Mental Health Good Outcomes awards winners

West Australian Newspapers Limited Award for consumer involvement and engagement

Amanda Waegeli (Warnbro resident), WA coordinator for the WA Hearing Voices Network at Richmond Fellowship WA.

Amanda is a current voice hearer living in recovery. She has created a volunteer program, programs for groups and individuals and their families and offered training to the mental health sector in working with people who hear voices.

SonShine FM Award for family and carers involvement and engagement (individual and group)

Debra Sobott (Mount Lawley resident), carer representative on the National Consumers and Carers Forum.

Debra has been involved in the mental health sector for approximately 20 years and is the sole support to two family members with mental illness and co-occurring alcohol and drug issues. She shares her knowledge and experience across various mental health sector forums.

Edith Cowan University Award for prevention, promotion and/or early intervention service or program

Joint winners: Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (Claremont) and Regional Men's Mental Health Initiative - Wheatbelt Men's Health (Northam)

The Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (MCB) provides sensitive and dignified facilities and services for the deceased and bereaved. The MCB provides Mental Health First Aid training for all managers, mental health and depression workshops for all employees and has established a wellbeing program focusing on general health and wellbeing.

The Regional Men's Health Initiative presents a variety of community education sessions for men on physical, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing, promoting a community driven approach to resilience. The Initiative encompasses the whole of rural and regional Western Australia providing counselling support and providing critical links to professional services when required.

John Da Silva Award for improved Outcomes in Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing

Alive and Kicking Goals (Broome)

Alive and Kicking Goals is a youth suicide prevention project currently based in the Kimberley. It aims to reduce the high suicide rate amongst Aboriginal youth in and around Broome through the use of football and peer education.

GESB Award for improved outcomes in seniors mental health

Tuart Place (Fremantle)

Tuart Place is a resource service for older people who experienced out-of-home care in Western Australia during childhood. Offering a place of safety, Tuart Place helps participants to rebuild trust in themselves, each other, staff and in an organisation. Once trust is established, participants may choose to engage other services, such as counselling, support groups and social activities.

Dr Mark Rooney Award for improved outcomes in child and youth mental health sponsored by the Commissioner for Children & Young People

Youth Focus (Burswood)

Youth Focus, works with young people aged 12-25 to put a stop to youth suicide and significantly reduce the impact of depression, anxiety and self-harming behaviour.

It offers counselling services with the aim of engaging with young people before the onset of acute mental health issues.

The University of Western Australia, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Award for excellence in rural and remote mental health

Rural Community Support Services (Narrogin).

Rural Community Support Service is a rural primary mental health service which services over 25 shires and communities across the Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions. The service is focused on building resilience, reducing stigma associated with mental health issues and providing effective primary mental health services to geographically isolated communities.

St John of God Health Care mental health employee of the year

Rhonda McCullagh (Tapping resident), Respite Coordinator, Arafmi.

Rhonda is one of the pioneers of the respite program at Arafmi, improving the quality of life and wellbeing of health carers and individuals experiencing mental health difficulties. She strongly believes carers deserve to be supported in their role, recognising the risks they face of developing physical and mental difficulties themselves.

Mental Health Advisory Council for recovery-focused service or program

Assertive Community Team - Rockingham Kwinana Mental Health Service.

The Rockingham Assertive Community Team (ACT) provides evidence based assertive outreach service for consumers of Rockingham Kwinana Mental Health Service. Their service is characterised by flexible, person centred approaches, often through intensive, frequent contact with consumers in their own environment.

WA Equal Opportunity Commissioner Award for human rights, equity and diversity in mental health

Association for services to torture and trauma survivors (Highgate).

ASeTTS clients are survivors of torture and trauma from refugee non English speaking backgrounds, resulting in severe mental health problems. It successfully works with clients from refugee backgrounds premising their work on respect for human rights, cultural competence and providing multiple pathways through which clients can engage with ASeTTS.

McCusker Charitable Foundation Award for excellence

Professor Tony Henderson (Waterford resident), Research Assistant Professor at the School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Western Australia.

Over the past 40 years Professor Henderson has consistently demonstrated a commitment to the promotion of rights for people with a mental illness and their families. He established and coordinated HORIZONS, a contemporary rehabilitation service at Armadale Health Service and was responsible for developing and evaluating the Consumer Rehabilitation Satisfaction Survey for Mental Health Rehabilitation and Recovery Services.