TheMHS Mental Health Service Awards of Australia and New Zealand, 2021

People from all parts of mental health services have been recognised for their vital contributions to addressing mental health issues across Australia and New Zealand, in the TheMHS Mental Health Service Awards.

Fourteen Awards across eleven categories have been presented to individuals and organisations at this week’s ‘Hope into Action’ Conference Awards Ceremony, hosted by TheMHS Learning Network and attended online by over 500 mental health professionals on both sides of the Tasman.

The Awards acknowledge and promote: best-practice in the delivery of mental health services; innovation, consumer-focus and lived-experience leadership; excellence in mental health research; as well as media and journalism that helps decrease the stigma which can still be associated with mental distress.

The 2021 Awards include the inaugural ‘Wellbeing in the Workplace’ award, which has been won by Air New Zealand.

This new category recognises strategy, intervention and systems that support organisational and workplace wellbeing. This has never been more relevant, as COVID 19 restrictions and lockdowns have introduced new workplace pressures.

Judges determined that Air New Zealand had made the wellbeing of its workforce a priority and had developed a strategy to attend to real issues, with examples of initiatives and positive uptake at every level - individual, collective and organisational. The Judges also noted the breadth of the programme and opportunities available to staff within it.

An Exceptional Contribution Award was made to Fran Silvestri, President and CEO of the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership, in recognition of highly skilled and creative collaboration, becoming a crucial connector within the mental health community, and making a significant contribution to mental health leadership globally.

Awards Ambassador, Professor Fiona Stanley AC, congratulated Award winners at the ceremony. “In these constantly changing and unpredictable pandemic times, the Awards bring best practice models that help us learn how to improve the mental health system” she said.

The 14 Awards and their recipients are:

TheMHS Awards/TheMHS Learning Network

The Mental Health Service Awards have been recognising excellence, innovation and best practice in mental health in Australia and New Zealand, for over 30 years.

TheMHS Learning Network is an international learning network for improving mental health services in Australia and New Zealand. TheMHS supports the knowledge access and professional development of people and organisations engaged in mental health treatment, promotion and research. TheMHS is a registered charity run by a volunteer board.