March 2011
The Victorian Women’s Honour Role
Betty Kitchener, co-founder and Director of the MHFA Australia program was one of 20 new recipients inducted into the Victorian Women’s Honour Roll at the National Gallery of Victoria as a part of International Women’s Day activities. The Minister for Women’s Affairs, Ms Wooldridge, congratulated the inductees who came from right across Victoria.
“The Victorian Honour Roll of Women is so important as it acknowledges and celebrates the achievements of inspirational women in Victoria and ensures that the legacy of these women is recorded and passed on to future generations,” Ms Wooldridge said.
More information: www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/women/victorian-womens-honour-roll
December 2010
The Australian Rotary Health Knowledge Dissemination Award for 2010
The MHFA Training and Research Program was presented this award at the Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research (ASPR) 2010 Conference in Sydney.
There is often a gap between knowledge gained through research and the dissemination of that knowledge to clinicians, consumers and carers, and its implementation into policy and practice. This award is for outstanding effort to disseminate knowledge about evidence-based interventions in mental health.
| Below: Terry Grant, Deputy Chair of the Board of ARH presents Betty Kitchener with the Australian Rotary Health Knowledge Dissemination Award. Click photo to enlarge. | |
 |
 |
September 2010
Silver Achievement Award – Mental Health Promotion or Mental Illness Prevention Program or Project category at the TheMHS Conference 2010
The Aboriginal MHFA Program received this Award in recognition of the culturally sensitive adaptation achieved through a process of extensive consultation.
Click photo to enlarge
Above: Members of the Mental Health First Aid Program accepting the award. Left – right: Donna Stanley (Coordinator, 2nd edition Aboriginal MHFA Program); Len Kanowski (former Coordinator, 1st edition Aboriginal MHFA Program); Betty Kitchener (Director, MHFA Training & Research Program).
July 2010
2010 Enterprise and Resourcefulness Award – NSW Aboriginal Health Awards 2010
The Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander MHFA Program received this prestigious award and was a finalist in two other categories – Minister’s Award for Aboriginal Health, and Working Together to Make a Difference. Members of the Greater Western Area Health Service team accepted the award.
Click photo to enlarge
Above: Members of the Greater Western Area Health Service team accepting the award. Left – right: Sandra Bailey (CEO, Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW); Donna Stanley (Aboriginal Clinical Leader, Orange & Regions); Carmen Parter (Director, Centre for Aboriginal Health, NSW Health); Thomas Brideson (state-wide coordinator, Aboriginal Mental Health Workforce Program) and Len Kanowski (Area Coordinator, Aboriginal MHDA).
September 2009
2009 Exceptional Contribution to Mental Health Services Award – TheMHS
At the 19th annual TheMHS conference 1 – 4 September this year in Perth, WA, Betty Kitchener was awarded the Exceptional Contribution to Mental Health Services Award to “honour the outstanding innovation and dedication to mental health services through the creation of the Mental Health First Aid Training program, and through untiring commitment to the development of the program in Australia and globally”.
March 2008
2008 Excellence in Mental Health Education Award - from the National Council for Behavioral Healthcare, USA
Betty Kitchener and Tony Jorm was presented with this award at the NCCBH Annual Conference in Boston on 2 May 2008. This was the first international award that the Mental Health First Aid Australia program has been awarded. The National Council of Community Behavioral Healthcare Council (http://www.thenationalcouncil.org/) is a not for profit association in the USA representing 1,300 organizations providing treatment and rehabilitation to help people recover from mental illnesses and addiction disorders. The National Council members serve nearly six million adults, children, and families in communities across America.
January 2008
Order of Australia Medal
On Australia Day Betty Kitchener was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for her work developing the MHFA Program. For more information, see page 215 of this document.
September 2007
GOLD ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2007 – The Winner of the Mental Health Promotion Mental Illness Prevention Program or Project category at the The MHS Conference
The Mental Health Services Conference is an international mental health educational forum, attracting over 1000 mental health clinicians, managers, consumers, carers, researchers, educators and policy makers, annually. The MHFA Training and Research Program received the Award in recognition of an innovative brief training course to teach members of the public how to provide initial help to someone developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis situation.
Click photo to enlarge
Above: The Hon Brett Mason presented the award to Betty Kitchener and Len Kanowski.
September 2007
Suicide Prevention Australia National ‘LiFe’ Award – Healthy Communities Category
The MHFA Training and Research Program received the award and certificate at the ceremony held in Federation Square, Melbourne from the Hon Brett Mason, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing.
Click photo to enlarge
Above: The Hon Brett Mason presented the award to Betty Kitchener and Prof Tony Jorm, Sept 2007.
September 2006
Public Health Programs Award for Innovation
The MHFA Training and Research Program received this award from VIC Health Minister Bronwyn Pike at Federation Square, Melbourne on 5 September 2006.
More information available at this URL: www.health.vic.gov.au/publichealthawards/
Click photo to enlarge
Above: Dr Claire Kelly & Leanne Northausen 3rd & 4th from left in front row, Prof Tony Jorm front far right holding award
September 2005
Suicide Prevention Australia – 2005 Life Award
Mental Health First Aid was a recipient of a Commended Award and recognised as having made valuable contributions to suicide prevention in Australia at the 2005 Life Awards.
December 2004
ASPR Consumer Researcher Award
In December 2004, Betty was awarded the ASPR Consumer Researcher Award at the National Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research in Fremantle, WA. This award is given for research, “that involves a consumer perspective, presented by someone who has received mental health services and is currently employed as a health professional or researcher”.
July 2004
Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Community Outreach
On 29 July 2004 at the Staff Excellence Awards Ceremony at The Australian National University, Betty Kitchener was the recipient of this award “in recognition of outstanding contribution as ANU staff in volunteering her time, skills and expertise to community outreach”. Betty received a plaque that is on display at the Centre for Mental Health Research.
Above. Prof. Tony Jorm, the Vice Chancellor and Betty Kitchener with her award.
September 2003
The MHFA Program was the winner of Category 5 (Mental Health Promotion or Mental Illness Prevention Program or Project) at the Awards Ceremony at The National Mental Health Services Conference, Canberra, 3 September 2003. Betty received a certificate and $3000.
Above. Betty with the National Mental Health Services Award.