Melbourne-based changemaker Mackenzie Li has been named one of the national winners of the ACT Bright Future Prize 2026 in the 'Your Passion' category, recognised for her vision to empower young people to confidently navigate health and wellbeing systems.
ACT Trustee and Envest for Good Chairman Paul Lynam said Mackenzie was the third Australian Bright Future Prize winner, with previous winners Chloe McCormick (2024) and Kanishk Aggarwal (2025) continuing on to make a huge difference.
Mackenzie's passion for improving youth health literacy is inspiring. Through The Aletheia Project, she's addressing an important challenge with empathy, innovation, and a clear vision for lasting impact. We're proud to support her journey and look forward to seeing the positive difference her work will make for young people across Australia.
As a current Year 11 student with a strong interest in public health, health equity, and youth advocacy, Mackenzie believes improving youth wellbeing goes beyond increasing the availability of services. She is passionate about ensuring young people have the knowledge, confidence, and support to access the help they need, when they need it most. Inspired by witnessing how many young people struggle to navigate health and mental health support, she is committed to empowering her peers to advocate for their own wellbeing.
That belief inspired The Aletheia Project, a health literacy and inclusion initiative designed to bridge the gap between available healthcare services and young people's ability to navigate them with confidence.
Named after the Greek personification of truth, the project seeks to create a future where every young person feels heard, informed, and empowered to take charge of their wellbeing.
Bridging the Gap in Youth Health Literacy
Mackenzie is a current Year 11 student from a diverse cultural background and she says “while support services exist, many young people still struggle to know where to go, how to ask for help or how to advocate for themselves.”
The Aletheia Project addresses these barriers through three connected initiatives:
- Voice Packs – Practical resources tailored to the needs of diverse communities.
- Monthly workshops – Safe opportunities for young people to connect, learn and build confidence.
- Quarterly health roundtables – Bringing together community voices and stakeholders to encourage policy discussion and drive meaningful, system-wide change.
By combining health literacy, community connection, and advocacy, Mackenzie hopes to make navigating health and mental health services less overwhelming, more accessible, and ultimately more equitable for young Australians.
Turning Vision into Action
With support from the ACT Bright Future Prize 2026, Mackenzie will launch a 12-month pilot program in Melbourne, laying the foundation for The Aletheia Project to expand across Australia.
The funding will help transform an inspiring vision into a practical, community-driven initiative that empowers young people to navigate health systems with greater confidence while encouraging broader conversations around youth wellbeing and health equity.
To me, The Aletheia Project has always been about making visible what is often overlooked: the struggles young people carry quietly and the power of being genuinely heard. Winning the Bright Future Prize is incredibly exciting because it transforms an idea into an opportunity for action. This funding will help us pilot the project and move closer to a future where youth wellbeing is recognised not simply as a personal challenge, but as a global health priority worthy of attention, investment and lasting change. To me, this isn't just the beginning of a project—it's the beginning of a lifelong commitment to advocating for young people's wellbeing.
By fostering greater health literacy, meaningful community partnerships and youth advocacy, Mackenzie hopes to help shape a future where every young person feels informed, heard and empowered to access the support they need with confidence.
Launched in 2021, the Bright Future Prize empowers and invests in the next generation of leaders and innovators—exceptional young people committed to driving positive change and inspiring others around the world.
To learn more about ACT, The Ardonagh Group's independent charity, and the impact of the Bright Future Prize, visit ardonaghtrust.org or follow @ArdonaghCT on Instagram and Facebook.
