Western Australian Multicultural Awards: Michael Elwan Receives Outstanding Individual Achievement Award

I’m honoured to have received the Western Australian Multicultural Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement.

The Western Australian Multicultural Awards recognise individuals who have made significant contributions to multicultural communities and who promote the principles of inclusion and cultural respect across Western Australia.

For me, this recognition reflects a journey shaped by migration, caregiving, and the search for belonging.

Migration and identity

I was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and migrated to Australia in my late twenties.

Migration brings opportunity, but it also brings complex questions of identity, belonging, and responsibility. Many people carry the quiet weight of navigating different cultures, expectations, and family roles.

These experiences shaped my interest in multicultural mental health and community wellbeing.

Multicultural mental health in Australia

Much of my work focuses on the intersection between culture, migration, and mental health.

Through therapy, supervision, training, and advisory roles, I support individuals and organisations navigating the realities of multicultural Australia.

This includes helping people explore identity questions, migration stress, and the emotional pressures that can come with living between cultures.

Continuing the work

Receiving the Western Australian Multicultural Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement reminds me how important it is for mental health systems to recognise the experiences of multicultural communities.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue contributing to conversations that strengthen inclusion, cultural understanding, and community wellbeing across Australia.

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