Dr Pramudie Gunaratne has been a leading voice for mental health reform, amid growing concerns over psychiatrist workforce shortages in the public health system.
One of NSW's most influential advocates for public sector psychiatry, Dr Pramudie Gunaratne, has been awarded the Australian Medical Association's (AMA) 2025 Women in Medical Leadership Award .
Dr Gunaratne, a distinguished psychiatrist from UNSW Medicine & Health, is the Chair of the NSW Branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. She has been a driving force behind efforts to strengthen the public mental health system, raising awareness about workforce shortages and advocating for better patient care.
AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said Dr Gunaratne's leadership has had a profound impact on mental health care across NSW, Australia and globally.
"Dr Gunaratne exemplifies what it means to lead with vision and integrity, bringing clarity and courage to some of the most difficult conversations in health care," Dr McMullen said.
"Her advocacy for mental health reform is not only inspiring - it's reshaping our broader healthcare system for the better, with intellect, compassion and unwavering determination."
Dr Gunaratne said she was grateful for the recognition from the AMA.
"This advocacy has been an absolute team effort with so many dedicated and courageous psychiatrists, patients and families speaking out about a broken mental health system that is failing our communities," she said.
We have much work to do and will continue to fight for tangible results like proportional funding, improved outcomes and destigmatisation of severe and chronic mental health conditions.
Dr Gunaratne is a research fellow at the Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN) at UNSW and co-founder of Seriph Clinics, a specialist private service caring for people with complex neuropsychiatric disorders.
She said one of the most encouraging aspects of her advocacy had been the media and public interest in stories about mental health care.
"I hope this represents a shift in public sentiment, where the stigma around mental illness is reducing and Australians recognise the need to invest in proper care," Dr Gunaratne said.
"Our public mental health system is crumbling. We urgently need to partner with the NSW and federal governments to explore ways to shift the dial on spending so that funding for mental health care is proportional to the need."
Dean of UNSW Medicine & Health, Professor Cheryl Jones, congratulated Dr Gunaratne on the acknowledgement from Australia's peak medical body.
"Dr Gunaratne has been tireless in her efforts to put mental health reform front and centre of policymakers' minds and improve access to mental health services for all Australians," Prof. Jones said. "This award rightly recognises her unwavering commitment and compassion, both towards her colleagues and patients and their families."
The AMA's 2025 Women in Medical Leadership Award was also awarded to general practitioner Dr Kim Loo for her work in climate health. In addition to working with patients in western Sydney, Dr Loo serves on the board of Doctors for the Environment Australia and actively advocates for a sustainable future.
