A New Era for Mental Health Care in Australia

Centre director Professor Emma Baker will be involved in a new national research translation centre to improve health outcomes for Australians with mental illness and reduce the individual, social and economic inequalities associated with current care. Launched on 16 March by Minister for Health, Greg Hunt and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman, the centre will establish a national Academy of LIVed-Experience (ALIVE), ensuring members with experience of mental ill health are at the forefront of research to co-design and transform the mental health care system.

The centre will be funded over five years through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Special Initiative in Mental Health grant and will operate as a virtual network across 14 university partners from all states and territories. It will support the move from reform to implementation of change in mental health care in Australia. The centre will be led by Associate Professor Victoria Palmer who leads the University of Melbourne’s Integrated Mental Health Research Program and is internationally recognised for her expertise in primary care mental health research and co-design.