Michael Elwan Finalist - Mental Health Leadership Award 2025 for Multicultural Mental Health in Australia

Some moments remind us why we do what we do. I am incredibly honoured to have been named a 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱. To stand alongside other incredible leaders advocating for multicultural mental health in Australia is truly humbling.

This recognition is deeply personal. As someone from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) background, my journey has been shaped by lived experience - navigating loss, caregiving, and systemic challenges that often fail to see the strength within our communities.

I know what it’s like to feel unseen, to fight for a voice in spaces where diversity is overlooked, and to turn pain into purpose. This nomination isn’t just about me - it is about every person who has fought to make a difference, every advocate pushing for a more inclusive mental health system, and every lived experience leader challenging the status quo. At Lived Experience Solutions (LEXs), I bring this passion into my work every day - through 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆 - helping individuals and organisations create meaningful change.

Whether it’s supporting someone through trauma, guiding professionals on their career journey, or consulting on how organisations can embed lived experience leadership, my mission remains the same: to ensure no one is left unheard, unseen, or unsupported. To those working tirelessly in the mental health and social impact space - your work matters. Your voice matters. And together, we are creating something powerful.

Based in Perth, WA, LEXs provides telehealth counselling across Australia for individuals, couples, and NDIS participants. Services extend to Social Work supervision, Peer Work supervision, training, and keynote speaking on men’s mental health, CaLD community wellbeing, and culturally responsive suicide prevention; helping people and organisations make mental-health care more compassionate, inclusive, and effective. LEXs provides services across Australia, supporting clients in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and beyond. To learn more about our work across Australia, visit LEXs' services page.