The winners of MMHA's inaugural national art competition, I Identify - My Identity, were awarded with their prizes at a special ceremony in Canberra on World Mental Health Day.

The winners were all presented with their prizes in front of a crowd of over 100 people including Senator Brett Mason, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health & Ageing.

The three winners had entered a competition earlier in the year where people were encouraged to illustrate  through a brush-stroke, drawing or photograph how their culture influences their identify.

A panel of judges including Sydney drama and art therapist, Joanna Jaaniste, consumer and artist, Simon Champ, and the Director of the NSW Transcultural Mental Health Centre, Associate Professor Abd Malak AM, had the hard task of picking the three winning entries.

Winner 8 - 12 years Category: Ms Salima YUNESPOUR (11yo)

Salima fled Afghanistan with her family two years ago and now lives in Sydney.

Her piece is quite political and religious as it depicts the ruins of the giant Buddhas that were carved into the mountainside at Bamiyan in Afghanistan.

These were once regarded as Asia's great archaeological treasures, but were destroyed by the Taliban.

Salima’s painting is very dark and also features a young woman on a horse “escaping from a bad situation”.

“Black means sadness. This story is really sad to me. There’s lots of fighting in my country, so I wanted to show the darkness. I have had lots of sadness in my life especially when I lost both my parents and when my country was destroyed,” she said.

Winner 13 - 18 years Category: Ms Liza BRINGI (16yo)

From Sudan who has since resettled with her family in Newcastle.

Liza and her family left Sudan to live for a short while in Egypt before they immigrated to Australia. She now lives in Newcastle in New South Wales.

She says the journey was hard and tiring. “I was happy and upset to leave Sudan. Life was hard.”

Her painting, Life Memories, captures the hardship by depicting Sudanese women working and trying to get by.

“I wanted people to know how people survive in Sudan and how they get their food for their children and families. It’s difficult.”

Liza says she enjoys going to high school in Newcastle and hopes to become an architect and open an art shop when she finishes.

Winner 19+ years Category: Ms Tahmina ALI (24yo)

Tahmina is originally from Bangladesh, but now lives in Canberra with her husband and twin daughters.

She says painting has been her hobby since she was a child. While Tahmina has not been trained professionally, she has been taking art classes with a local artist.

“Painting takes me back to my childhood. I feel like a little girl and very comfortable when I’m painting. It’s my world."

Tahmina’s piece is very colourful and celebrates her Bangladeshi culture.

“Anyone who sees my painting will recognise the Bangladeshi icons. I’ve included symbols of the freedom fighters and other symbols of happiness like musical instruments, waterlilies and traditional dress.

"I deliberately used bright colours and happy images because I want people to see that I am happy with my identity.”