Brighter Together: 2025 Gala Award Categories

Celebrating and Recognising the WA Peer Support Group Sector

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2025 Gala Award Categories

The Awards celebrate and recognise WA Support Groups and individuals who have demonstrated excellence and positively impacted the community through their service delivery. Self-nominations are welcome.

Nominations have now closed and we are excited to announce the finalists of each category. The winners will be revealed at the gala on Friday 24 October.

Emerging Impact Award

New peer support groups already making a meaningful mark.

Celebrating a newly established peer support group that has shown early success in connecting people, offering meaningful support, and responding to community needs with energy and purpose.

Open to peer support groups that were established within the past 24 months.

WINNER

  • Bright Side Mamas Incorporated

FINALISTS

  • Geraldton NeuFriends Neurological Peer Support Group
  • The Listening Lounge

Innovation in Action Award

For fresh, creative ideas that are changing peer support.

Recognising a Support Group that has introduced bold, creative, or tech-savvy approaches to peer support—adapting to evolving needs with courage and fresh thinking.

Open to all Alike WA Affiliate and Associate Members.

WINNER

  • The PDC Collective

FINALISTS

  • In Memory of You
  • Parents Beyond Breakup

Digital Connection Award

For using online platforms to support people and build community.

This award celebrates a peer support group that provides safe, consistent, and impactful peer support in the digital space—whether through Facebook groups, forums, Zoom sessions, or other virtual tools. It recognises the power of online platforms to foster connection, reduce isolation, and build community across distance.

Open to all Alike WA Affiliate and Associate Members.

WINNER

  • IDEAL – Inclusive Disabilities: Events, Activities & Listings

FINALISTS

  • CK Kids Connect
  • Solace Grief Support WA

Transformative Impact Award

For turning support into lasting change.

This award celebrates a peer support group that has created significant, measurable impact in the lives of its members or the broader community. It recognises those who have responded to a clear need or gap in support, reducing isolation, improving wellbeing, or shifting systems through the power of lived experience

Open to all Alike WA Affiliate and Associate Members.

WINNER

  • Switched on Seniors

FINALISTS

  • Activate Mental Health
  • MADDA: Mesothelioma and Dust Diseases Australia

Regional Changemakers Award

Going the distance to support regional communities.

Honouring a group operating in regional or remote WA that has made a significant difference in their local community through peer support.

Open to Alike WA Affiliate and Associate Members that operate within regional WA.

WINNER

  • Geraldton NeuFriends Neurological Peer Support Group

FINALISTS

  • Great Southern Adoptee Support Group
  • Kadadjiny Aboriginal Corporation

Capacity Builder Award

For growing a strong, stable, and long-lasting group.

Celebrating a peer support group that has strengthened its internal capacity through leadership, governance, succession planning, or sustainability strategies, to ensure its long-term success.

Open to all Alike WA Affiliate and Associate Members.

WINNER

  • Kings Park ABI Warriors

FINALISTS

  • Activate Mental Health
  • Parents Beyond Breakup

Collaborative Impact Award

For powerful partnerships driving greater impact together.

Recognising a peer support group that has worked in collaboration with other groups, organisations, community leaders, or sectors to broaden its reach, strengthen delivery, and create shared value. Joint applications are accepted.

Open to all Alike WA Affiliate and Associate Members and individuals/entities that have partnered/collaborated with them.

WINNER

  • Parents Beyond Breakup

FINALISTS

  • Blue Dot Army
  • Geraldton NeuFriends Neurological Peer Support Group

Inclusive Practice Award

For groups making peer support welcoming for all.

Honouring a group that actively prioritises inclusion and accessibility, welcoming people of all backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and identities into a safe and respectful space.

Open to all Alike WA Affiliate and Associate Members.

WINNER

  • South West Migrant Women’s Group

FINALISTS

  • Acceptance Perth LGBT Catholics
  • The PDC Collective

Pay it Forward Award

For PIF-funded projects improving mental wellbeing.

For a Pay it Forward project which demonstrated sustainable mental health impact to its members and the wider community.

Open to Alike WA Members that have been funded through the Pay it Forward small grants program.

WINNER

  • In Memory of You

FINALISTS

  • Back on Track Families
  • South West Migrant Women’s Group

Dream it Forward Award

For DIF-funded projects strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing.

Awarded to a Dream it Forward grant recipient whose work supports the cultural, social, and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through community-driven approaches.

Open to groups, organisations, and communities that have been funded through the Dream it Forward small grants program.

WINNER

  • South West Women’s Health and Information Centre

FINALISTS

  • Newton Moore Senior High School
  • Team Connect

Peer Support Champion Award

For sector advocates and changemakers.

Celebrating an individual whose commitment to peer support has uplifted others, grown their community, and inspired leadership from lived experience.

WINNER

  • Crystal Howrie

FINALISTS

  • Amanda Goddard
  • Lauren Cusack
  • Mel Hayward

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