Australian of the Year

Michael Elwan works to make mental health care more accessible and culturally responsive, particularly for multicultural communities, carers and families. 

As a teenager in Egypt, he cared for his father, who was blind. He later cared for his mother through years of mental health challenges before she died by suicide. 

Now a Perth-based Accredited Social Worker, Michael founded Lived Experience Solutions. He supports people in English and Arabic, trains practitioners in culturally responsive care, and advises organisations on involving people with lived and living experience in decisions about services. 

His community advocacy brings multicultural perspectives into mental health and suicide prevention. Through his practice, training and advisory work, he advocates for care that respects people’s culture, circumstances and knowledge. 

Michael was named the Australian Association of Social Workers 2025 Social Worker of the Year. He also received the Outstanding Individual Achievement Award at the 2026 WA Multicultural Awards.