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.

Dr Louise Birrell is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at Sydney University. Louise has extensive experience designing and testing mental health and substance use prevention programs with adolescents. She is committed to better understanding the impact of common mental health and substance use problems at this critical life stage and passionate about designing innovative prevention strategies to enable young people to overcome mental health problems.

She has authored over 10 peer-reviewed publications, one book chapter and is a named investigator on projects totalling over $9 million dollars in competitive research funding. She regularly presents at national and international conferences in the field of youth mental health.

Dr Prior is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Prevention and Early Intervention in Mental Illness and Substance Use Centre of Research Excellence (PREMISE), at the University of Sydney. Her research focuses on the co-occurrence of mental health and substance use disorders. She has helped design and coordinate two clinical trials of novel interventions for these comorbid disorders; most recently an online early intervention for young people who drink to cope with anxiety.

It is Katrina’s aspiration to become a leading researcher in the development, evaluation and dissemination of innovative prevention and early intervention programs for co-occurring anxiety and alcohol use problems.

Dr Shurong Lu is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Mental Health within The University of Melbourne. Shurong has strong research interests in the development, evaluation and dissemination of evidence-based early intervention approaches, such as Mental Health First Aid training programs.

She is passionate about creating a world where everyone, particularly children, adolescents, and those with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, can receive timely and appreciate support when facing with any mental health challenges.