Michael Elwan named WA finalist for Australia’s Local Hero 2027

I have been named a Western Australian finalist in the Australia’s Local Hero category of the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards.

My work brings together lived experience leadership, social work and multicultural mental health. Through Lived Experience Solutions (LEXs), I support people and families, provide training and supervision, and work with organisations on how lived experience informs decisions about services.

My work focuses on making mental health support more accessible and culturally responsive, particularly for multicultural communities, carers and families. Across practice, training and advisory roles, I bring attention to the barriers people encounter, whose knowledge informs care, and how people can influence decisions about the support they receive.

Thank you to the people, families and colleagues who have shaped this work. Congratulations to fellow category finalists Adam Desmond, Victoria (Vicky) Pellowe and Dr Dayna Pool, and to all the Western Australian finalists.

In a letter dated 22 October 2026, the Hon. Kate Doust MLC congratulated Michael on his finalist recognition. Her letter acknowledged his work bringing lived experience into service design and decision-making, alongside culturally responsive mental health support for multicultural communities, carers and families.

The Western Australian recipients will be announced on 30 October 2026. The ceremony will also be livestreamed through the Australian of the Year Awards website.

Outcome update

On 30 October 2026, Adam Desmond was named the 2027 Local Hero for Western Australia. Congratulations to Adam and the other Western Australian recipients. Michael remains recognised as a Western Australian finalist in Australia's Local Hero category of the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards.

Read the official announcement from Auspire, the Australia Day Council of Western Australia.

Visit the Australian of the Year Awards website for ceremony and livestream information.

Image: official Western Australian Australia’s Local Hero finalist artwork, supplied by Auspire. Clockwise from top left: Adam Desmond, Michael Elwan, Dr Dayna Pool and Vicky Pellowe.