Mental Health

I was raised on a farm near the town of Albury on the Murry River. I completed high school at The Scots School Albury before moving to Melbourne to commence my tertiary studies. I commenced the Bachelor of Science at The University of Melbourne in 2014 and had the privilege of residing at Trinity College. I then continued further studies within the university and graduated from the Doctor of Physiotherapy in 2019.

During my career as a physiotherapist, I have worked across the full spectrum of the patient journey. I have held a variety of clinical positions including working at Albury Wodonga Health and further regionally at Echuca Regional Health, as well as private physiotherapy roles in metropolitan Melbourne. I continue to engage in clinical work at Epworth Healthcare.

After completing her 4^th year Psychology thesis in 2006 on the effect of resilience and hope on adolescent academic engagement, Mandy Gibson worked with the Department of Communities Qld, and Child and Youth Mental Health Services (Qld Health). Mandy has over a decade of clinical experience as a Psychologist providing suicide risk assessments to young people following near lethal attempts and treatment to young people experiencing suicidality, complex trauma, self-harm and other mental health issues.

Whilst working and studying concurrently, improving mental health has been the focus of Amy’s career for the past 9 years. This has allowed her to continue developing and refining her research skills and has solidified her belief that marrying the theoretical underpinning and practical skills of research is key to being a successful researcher.

Amy has expertise in research communication and design of study materials that meet the needs of both the consumer and research communities. She currently sits on the ethics committee at the Department of General Practice.

In 2018 I completed my Bachelor of Science (Hons) at The University of Melbourne, were I developed key skills that allowed me to explore the role of neuroinflammation in the Central Nervous System. From here, I commenced the position of a Research Assistant at The University of Melbourne, in the Neuropharmacology Laboratory.

During my time as a Research Assistant, I have participated in a number of different projects, exploring the role of neuroinflammation in many neuropathologies including Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and Traumatic Brain Injury.

In 2016, I completed an undergraduate degree in Science, majoring in Biology and Behavioural Science. During my Behavioural Science major, I had the opportunity to undertake neuropsychology, which sparked my interest in the neurobiological underpinnings of mental health disorders.

Following this, I began my research career as a research assistant at the Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience -Thompson Institute, where I have had the privilege to be been involved in a wide range of projects including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in refugee populations, youth mental health, and clinical trial programs. At the end of 2018, I completed my honours project, which explored amygdala and hippocampal structural alterations as a result of trauma and associated with PTSD.

Megan Smith is completing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education at the University of Melbourne, researching the mental health care pathways that primary schools initiate to support their students. As well as being a qualified Occupational Therapist (OT), with a Bachelor of Science in OT from Curtin University, Megan recently earned a Master of Public Health from the University of Melbourne, and holds a Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Science, also from the University of Melbourne.

Megan has extensive clinical experience as a mental health OT, primarily in adult community mental health services, and chose to complete further training in public health due her desire to improve mental health outcomes at the population level.

Katrina is a Clinical and Counselling Psychologist, member of the Australian Psychological Society and a Fellow of both the APS College of Clinical Psychologists and the APS College of Counselling Psychologists.

Katrina has a special interest in single, cumulative and complex PTSD across the lifespan and the impact of trauma on family, workplaces and wider systems.

Katrina has worked therapeutically and systemically with adults, families, children, adolescents and workplaces for around 20 years and has established two private practice clinics. She has acted as a clinical and project consultant for private, non-government and government organisations.

Katrina is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society for her Master of Psychology work including her thesis; Proposed criteria for Developmental Trauma Disorder, DSM-V: Manifestations and implications for a rural Australian Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.

Tara Lal is a firefighter and peer supporter with Fire and Rescue NSW. She has an honours degree in Physiology as well as a Bachelor of Applied science in Physiotherapy. Tara has managed the psychological well-being program at Fire and Rescue and has collaborated on research projects aimed at building resilience in firefighters and promoting conversations around mental health between managers and employees.

Tara is a Mental Health First Aid instructor and has written a book about her own experiences following the loss of her brother to suicide.

Anna completed a Bachelor of Science in 2014 at The University of Melbourne majoring in neuroscience and anatomy. Upon completion she undertook an honours degree in neuroscience at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health within the Addiction Neuroscience lab. After honours Anna worked for three years as a research assistant at the Florey researching the relationship between food addiction and diet-induced obesity in rodents using electrophysiology.

Anna is currently starting her PhD moving into the area of Methamphetamine addiction at the Florey and the University of Melbourne.