Luke Baker at the 2026 Australian Mental Health Prize awards ceremony where he was named Community Hero. He is pictured with his daughter Charlotte, who nominated him.
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Maja Baska
A phone call from a mate helped save Luke Baker’s life. Now the Moama father-of-five and former Victoria Police officer has received one of Australia’s top mental health honours for making sure others do not suffer in silence.
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Luke was named the Community Hero winner of the 2026 Australian Mental Health Prize on Tuesday, October 6, recognising years of suicide prevention advocacy, fundraising and support for regional communities.
An achievement made all the more powerful by the battle that brought him there.
Luke has spoken openly about childhood trauma, grief, depression, anxiety and harmful alcohol use, which culminated in suicidal thoughts.
At his lowest point, it was not a grand intervention that changed his course, but a friendly face.
“At a critical point, a former colleague noticed that I had withdrawn and called to check in on me,” Luke said.
“He did not need special training or perfect words. He noticed something was different, made the call and stayed connected.”
That conversation ultimately led Luke to contact Lifeline and seek professional help.
It also shaped the work that would eventually earn him national recognition.
Moama’s Luke Baker cycled 3249km in 2024 to raise money and awareness for Lifeline Loddon Mallee as part of Pedalling for Hope.
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“We are very good at telling people who are struggling to reach out, and reaching out is important, but the reality is that when somebody is depressed, overwhelmed or losing hope, they may not be in a position to ask for help,” Luke said.
“That is why I think we also need to get better at reaching in.”
Luke has since thrown himself into suicide prevention and mental health advocacy, particularly for men and regional communities.
His work has included the Murray Primary Health Network suicide prevention working group, helping develop HisStory suicide prevention resources and establishing Mr Perfect BBQs in Maryborough and Bendigo, giving men a place to meet and talk without pressure or judgment.
He also completed the gruelling Pedalling for Hope, cycling 3249km to raise money and awareness for Lifeline Loddon Mallee, with each kilometre representing an Australian life lost to suicide in 2022.
As a member of Lifeline Loddon Mallee’s Disaster Recovery and Critical Incident Response Team, he has also supported communities in the aftermath of traumatic events, including the Harcourt bushfires and the recent death of a 13-year-old in Donald.
Despite the scale of his work, Luke said being crowned the national Community Hero was something he never imagined.
Moama’s Luke Baker is awarded the 2026 Australian Mental Health Prize Community Hero award by Federal Assistant Mental Health Minister Emma McBride.
“You never really know the full impact of mental health advocacy because so much of it happens privately,” he said.
“To have that work recognised nationally through the Australian Mental Health Prize ... I hope it gives me a greater opportunity to continue conversations around connection, suicide prevention and looking out for one another.
“There are easier things to talk about than your own mental health struggles, but if being open helps somebody else feel able to speak about what they are going through, then I think that vulnerability is worthwhile.”
The Australian Mental Health Prize is presented by UNSW Psychiatry and Mental Health, the Black Dog Institute and Neuroscience Research Australia.
If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 131 114, or call 000 if there is an immediate danger.
