Past Research

Rebecca Blackmore is a PhD student at the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation based at Monash University in Victoria. Rebecca completed her Honours in Psychology at Bond University where her thesis publication was awarded a top four paper award from the National Communication Association in Chicago.

Following the completion of her Honours degree in psychology, Bianca worked as a Mental Health Program Worker. She then gained a full-time Research Assistant position at IMPACT Strategic Research Centre at Deakin University, where she worked on an internationally-funded multi-site randomised controlled trial looking at the efficacy of a novel therapy for schizophrenia.

Anna has worked in mental health research for 8 years, starting at Orygen Youth Health and then the Centre for Mental Health within the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health. Prior to commencing her PhD, she also worked in staff health and wellbeing.

The aim of this study is to look at recovering the neurological deficits that occur in Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in order to reduce symptoms, and in turn, relapse. We know that excessive alcohol use causes changes in the brain, such as cell loss, and compromises cognitive function.

Meghan is a PhD candidate with the Food and Mood Centre, Deakin University. She is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and completed her Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) at Monash University. Prior to commencing her PhD, Meghan practised as a clinical dietitian and interned for various research projects, including the landmark SMILES trial.

Josie is an Occupational Therapist who has lived and worked in the Northern Territory (NT) for 10 years, both in remote mental health clinical practice and research. She is part of the Aboriginal and Islander Mental Health Initiative (AIMhi) research program employed as a project manager.

Dr Nicole Reilly has worked in the field of perinatal mental health for over 15 years. She is dedicated to better understanding the impact of preventive and early intervention programs on mental health outcomes for women and families, to evaluating the value of national health reform at population-based levels, and to supporting the translation of high quality research into the best models of service delivery.

She is an author on over 30 peer-reviewed publications and two book chapters in her chosen field, and is a named investigator on projects totaling over $3 million dollars in competitive national and international research funding.

I am a psychiatric epidemiologist specialising in lifestyle approaches for the prevention of mental illness. My PhD, awarded in 2016, evaluated the mental health outcomes of a secondary school-based nutrition and physical activity intervention for adolescents

I am an Esperance Nyungar woman from rural Western Australia enrolled in second year medicine at the university of Notre Dame in Fremantle.   I have always strived to continue improving Aboriginal health and wellbeing and am now lucky to do so through medicine.

Due to the ongoing impacts of colonisation, Indigenous peoples have an over represented presence within social service fields. However, significant research has indicated that Western social work practice is often unhelpful and can be damaging for Indigenous people, their families and communities. This is being increasingly recognised in the field of social work. Evidence also supports that social work practice by Indigenous people for Indigenous people is healing and beneficial. The lack of choice and control Aboriginal people have over social work is evident in the lack of Aboriginal social workers. Indigenous perspectives and practitioners are required to support the healing of Indigenous communities. Increasing evidence also shows that what works for Aboriginal peoples, also works well for mainstream communities, demonstrating a broader benefit of the increased inclusion of Indigenous peoples in practice.