Award-winning social worker, national advisor, and PhD researcher Michael Elwan is appointed to the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist WA, advancing multicultural mental health leadership.

I’m honoured to share that I’ve recently been appointed as a Digital Health Adviser - Consumer and Carer  with the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) , a role that brings lived experience to the forefront of digital transformation in Australia’s health system. So, what does this role involve? Over the next 12 months, I’ll be participating in a wide range of activities - reviewing communications materials, co-designing digital tools, contributing to strategic conversatio

This week, something happened that still feels surreal to write. I have been appointed to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) Board’s Accreditation Committee ; a role that brings lived experience leadership and cultural safety into the heart of national health governance. Even as I type these words, I pause. Because this isn’t just a professional milestone - it’s a deeply personal one. It’s a reflection of a journey that began not in boardrooms or le

I was recently invited to participate in an on-camera SafeSide interview  with the team at SafeSide Prevention Australia , as part of their commitment to strengthening culturally responsive suicide prevention approaches across Western Australia. This opportunity was more than just an interview; it was a meaningful dialogue about what safety, support, and connection truly mean for people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD)  backgrounds who may be experiencing sui

I’m honoured to share that I’ve been appointed as the Western Australian representative of the Multicultural Mental Health Expert Panel , a national initiative co-led by the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance (NMHCA)   and the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) . This group brings together people with lived experience from across Australia to offer strategic advice on national multicultural mental health policy . The intention is clear: to

Award-winning social worker and PhD researcher Michael Elwan joins the ALIVE National Centre as Writer-in-Residence, bridging lived experience, culture, and mental health research.

Yesterday was a great day. On Tuesday, I stood beside Poster #159 at the National Suicide Prevention Conference 2025 and presented a program I’ve carried in my heart for decades: “Building Bridges: Fostering Intergenerational Dialogue on Mental Health and Suicide in CaLD Families.” I had many conversations, but one stood out. A woman approached me slowly. She didn’t say much at first - just stood with the poster. After a pause, she whispered: “That was my story too. We never

Today , I had the privilege of standing alongside 30 other people with lived and living experience of suicide to co-sign an open letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, calling for urgent suicide prevention funding in Australia . This moment was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when those with firsthand experience speak with clarity, courage, and collective intent. This letter is more than a statement - it is a plea. A plea from those who have los

I am deeply honoured to share that I’ve been appointed to Suicide Prevention Australia’s National Lived Experience Panel . As the national peak body for suicide prevention, Suicide Prevention Australia’s commitment to embedding lived experience leadership is more than symbolic; it’s transformative. It recognises that those who have walked through loss, grief, and survival must have a voice in shaping the future of suicide prevention in Australia. This appointment is profoundl

I’m humbled and honoured to share that I’ve been appointed as an inaugural member of the Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG) , established by the Mental Health Commission of Western Australia . This appointment brings a unique opportunity to represent multicultural perspectives and advocate for culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities within Western Australia’s mental health, alcohol and other drug (AOD), and suicide prevention systems. As someone from an..

Award-winning social worker, national advisor, and PhD researcher Michael Elwan shares his first journal publication on co-creation in mental health services and recovery.

Award-winning social worker, national advisor, and PhD researcher Michael Elwan reflects on graduating from Auspire’s Multicultural Leadership Program in WA and the power of diversity.

Award-winning social worker, national advisor, and PhD researcher Michael Elwan presents at the WA Mental Health Conference 2024 on lived experience leadership and peer workforce futures.

Award-winning social worker, national advisor, and PhD researcher Michael Elwan reflects on his appointment to the ASeTTS Board and his commitment to supporting trauma survivors.

Award-winning social worker, national advisor, and PhD researcher Michael Elwan reflects on suicide prevention and the lived experience workforce after attending the SPA National Lunch Series.

Award-winning social worker, national advisor, and PhD researcher Michael Elwan reflects on advancing the peer workforce at the Equally Well AU Forum and the call for stronger funding and collaboration.

For those who know me, the topic of suicide prevention  is deeply personal. Having lost my mother to suicide, my journey through grief...

Award-winning social worker, national advisor, and PhD researcher Michael Elwan reflects on graduating from the Emerging Leaders in Governance Program and growing as a community leader.

Award-winning social worker, national advisor, and PhD researcher Michael Elwan reflects on graduating from the Kaleidoscope Mentoring Program and supporting skilled migrant mentees.