Four advocates have been recognised for their leadership in revolutionising mental health care.
The Australian Mental Health Prize winners were announced today at UNSW Sydney, marking the 10th anniversary of the awards that honour the advocates, clinicians, researchers, peer workers and community leaders who have changed lives and shaped the national conversation.
Presenting the 2025 awards, Emma McBride, federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, said the milestone celebrated both the legacy of the Prize and the leadership of this year's winners.
"The Australian Mental Health Prize shines a light on the people who dedicate their lives to improving mental health in Australia," she said.
"From world-first research and cultural leadership to grassroots community initiatives, the winners of this year's awards are helping to create a fairer, more compassionate system that gives people the support they need, when and where they need it."
The winners of each category are:
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander - Professor Pat Dudgeon, Australia's first Aboriginal psychologist
- Professional - Professor Brian Burdekin AO, human rights and mental health advocate
- Lived Experience - Captain Hugo Toovey, cancer survivor and founder of 25StayAlive
- Community Hero - Mr Keith Donnelly, mental health clinical nurse manager and the founder of Keith's Closet.
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Attila Brungs, said the winners displayed unwavering advocacy that had inspired real change.
"Over the last decade, this prize has honoured the outstanding contributions of individuals who are transforming the Australian mental health sector," he said.
"This year's winners continue this legacy. With their compassion and creativity, they've shaped policy, research and practice, building a stronger and more inclusive society for all. Their impact is truly deserving of this recognition."
Sophie Scott OAM, Chair of the Australian Mental Health Prize Advisory Group, said the awardees demonstrated both hope and practical support ways to understand and respond to mental health.
"The Prize showcases Australians who are shaping the future of mental health, from policy and cultural reform to lived experience and grassroots care."
Professor Pat Dudgeon - Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Australia's first Aboriginal psychologist, Professor Pat Dudgeon, has been a trailblazer in Indigenous mental health and suicide prevention. Born and raised in Darwin and descended from the Bardi people of the Kimberley, she has transformed how Australia approaches Indigenous wellbeing by embedding cultural strengths, lived experience and self-determination at the centre of policy, research and practice.
Prof. Dudgeon is the Director of the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention at the University of Western Australia, and a Chief Investigator on the Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing Project.
Accepting the award, Prof. Dudgeon said that healing began when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders led the way.
"It is a great honour to receive the Australian Mental Health Prize. I share it with all those who have worked tirelessly to create culturally strong and community-led approaches to mental health and suicide prevention," she said.
"True progress in Indigenous mental health comes when we listen to our people and trust the wisdom within our communities. Solutions that work are the ones built from culture, connection and self-determination."
Prof. Dudgeon also led the landmark Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Evaluation Project (ATSISPEP), whose 2016 report Solutions That Work reframed national understanding of suicide prevention. A founding chair of the Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association, her work continues to shape research, policy and frontline practice across Australia.
Professor Brian Burdekin AO - Professional
Prof. Burdekin AO is one of Australia's most influential figures in human rights and mental health reform. As the country's first federal Human Rights Commissioner, he led the landmark National Inquiry into Human Rights and Mental Illness (1990-93), which exposed systemic abuse and transformed national policy. The Inquiry's findings became the foundation for modern mental health policy and service delivery in Australia.
Prof. Burdekin also served as Special Adviser to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) and has worked in more than 70 countries to help establish national human rights commissions and strengthen protections for vulnerable groups.
His work across five decades has reframed mental illness as a human-rights issue - shifting the focus from stigma and blame to dignity, access and accountability.
Prof. Burdekin said the challenge was turning awareness into action.
"Australia is one of the wealthiest nations on Earth. We can afford what we choose to afford - and choosing to care for our most vulnerable citizens should be non-negotiable," he said.
"Too many myths persist - that mental illness is rare, untreatable, or dangerous. In reality, one in five Australians will experience it, most recover, and the vast majority are never violent. We need to replace fear with respect and understanding."
Captain Hugo Toovey - Lived Experience
At 33 years old, Army Captain Hugo Toovey has endured more health challenges than most encounter in a lifetime. Diagnosed with testicular and bowel cancer at 21 and 26 respectively, alongside depression and PTSD, he has undergone more than a dozen major surgeries and continues to live with the impacts of chronic illness.
Determined to help others, Mr Toovey founded 25StayAlive , a charity encouraging young adults to take their physical and mental health seriously at a stage of life when it's often overlooked.
"When I went through cancer, I had a team of specialists and treatment plans," he said. "When I struggled with depression and PTSD, it was much harder to find the same kind of support. That's why I'm determined to make mental health part of the conversation."
Mr Toovey said he was honoured to accept the Prize, and that he planned to continue supporting others find holistic support.
"For me, it's about shining a light on the invisible side of illness - the emotional and mental load that often goes untreated - and using my story to help others feel less alone," he said.
Mr Keith Donnelly - Community Hero
Keith Donnelly is a mental health clinical nurse manager and the founder of Keith's Closet , a volunteer-led initiative that restores dignity and self-worth to people experiencing mental illness.
Established in 2019 at the Prince of Wales Hospital, the program transforms unused hospital spaces into boutique-style wardrobes stocked with donated clothing, shoes, toiletries and home essentials.
Over the last six years, Keith's Closet has supported over 6,000 people across New South Wales, including St Vincent's, Lismore, Bankstown and Shellharbour hospitals.
"Clothing might seem small, but it restores dignity, confidence and purpose," he said.
"When people look good, they feed good - and that can change everything."
Mr Donnelly's grassroots leadership has inspired similar initiatives across Australia.
"The service we provide continues to break the stigma associated with mental illness and allows people to share their journey in a safe space," he said.
