Mental Health Week Awards
The NT Mental Health Week Awards celebrate the individuals, organisations and initiatives making a meaningful difference to mental health and wellbeing across the Northern Territory.
Held as part of NT Mental Health Week, the awards recognise those who demonstrate leadership, innovation, compassion and a commitment to creating mentally healthy communities. From frontline workers and peer advocates to community groups, workplaces and volunteers, the awards shine a light on the efforts happening on the ground within the sector.
There are four award categories:
1. Lived Experience Leadership
2. Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing
3. Innovation in Practice and Workforce Development
4. Integration and Collaborative Practice
Nominations for the 2026 NT Mental Health Week Awards are now open. Nominations close on Friday the 28th of August, 2026.
2025 Mental Health Week Award Winners
Leadership in Lived Experience
Winner: Rosalyn Havard
Residing in Alice Springs, Roz is a dedicated advocate with a commitment to ensuring high-quality service delivery for people impacted by mental illness. Her profound interest lies in mental health policy and legislation, reflecting her dedication to advocating for robust frameworks in the field.
With a background in nursing and having lived in the NT since 2008 Roz has been involved in carer support groups, services and not for profit mental health boards since 2006. Roz has also been the Northern Territory CARER Representative on the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF) funded by the NT Department of Health since 2019.
The NMHCCF concluded in June 2025 with the announcement of the two new national lived experience peaks. During this time, Roz became Deputy Co-Chair, raising the voice of carers from the NT at the national level. Roz advocates for integrating a human rights approach into mental health policy and served on the working group that shaped the themes of lived experience leadership, diversity, unity, and human rights.
Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing
Winner: Mamulbak
Mamulbak is an organisation that embodies strength, culture and community leadership. Based in Nauiyu, Daly River, Mamulbak has created culturally grounded, community-led programs that bring people together for healing, connection and empowerment. Mamulbak has filled a service gap by providing culturally appropriate and accessible Social and emotional wellbeing support in a context where resourcing is scarce.
Through initiatives like the Community peace talks, Nauiyu Men’s Group, Women’s Group, on-Country camps and cultural exchanges, Mamulbak has supported families to reconnect with culture, strengthen relationships, and improve health and wellbeing. The Nauiju Men’s Group “Enough Talk, Time for Action” has been codeveloped and co-evaluated by Flinders University. It has held over 80 meetings and engaged more than 60% of men in the community demonstrating impact across each of the social and emotional wellbeing domains.
Their work has not only created safe spaces for dialogue and healing but has also provided opportunities for leadership, employment, and community pride.
Innovation in Practice and Workforce Development
Winner: Darwin Medicare Mental Health Centre
The Centre introduced integrated Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy programs.
These evidence-based approaches support people with complex trauma, mood disorders, and interpersonal difficulties, helping them build meaningful connections and healthier lives.
Alongside delivering life-changing outcomes for participants, the program has invested strongly in workforce development, training clinicians to a high standard and creating pathways for early-career practitioners by offering co-facilitation opportunities, supervision, and access to national consultation groups. This innovation reduced pressure on acute services, strengthened the sector, and set a new benchmark for excellence in mental health practice.
Integration and Collaborative Practice
Winner: Peer Voices and Research Partnership: Together for Personal Recovery in the Northern Territory (NT Lived Experience Network and Flinders University)
Since 2019, Noelene Armstrong and researchers led by Dr Noemi Tari-Keresztes have worked side by side to introduce and evaluate peer recovery models that amplify lived experience voices, improve personal recovery, and strengthen services across Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs. This collaboration has endured significant challenges, including the absence of sustainable funding, systemic barriers, organisational challenges and personal circumstances.
The allyship created opportunities for mutual learning and genuine co-production between peer workers and researchers. It fostered professional and personal support networks, elevated lived experience voices in academia, and contributed to recognition of lived experience leadership within the NT and beyond.
Together, they have delivered eight peer-led initiatives, co-authored research and reports, and built the foundations for a professional peer workforce. Their collaboration has increased hope, confidence, and connection for Territorians while also influencing policy and practice across mental health,
Alcohol and other drugs, gambling and related challenges.
