Led by the University of New England (UNE), the Institute has been funded by a $3.66 million Commonwealth grant under the new Regional Research Collaboration fund.
UNE Professor of Social Work Myfanwy Maple said the program will provide opportunities to the best minds in mental health and keep vital investment in the regions.
“Ultimately the expected outcome of this powerful regional University collaboration is increased research capacity focused on solutions to the complex socio-environmental mental health challenges for rural, regional and remote Australia,” Professor Maple said.
“Regional Australians experience higher levels of disadvantage and poorer mental health than their metro counterparts due to a variety of factors such as lower income, poor access to healthcare and other vital services.
“Regional University Network (RUN) universities are all embedded within their regional, rural and remote communities and share a common goal of addressing the complex mental health challenges for regional Australia.
“Our partners also share this focus - Everymind, Lifeline Direct, and Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health are all focused on the wellbeing of regional, rural and remote communities through their direct focus on mental health, while ANU Centre for Mental Health are global leaders in community-focused solutions to complex mental health challenges.”
UNE Vice Chancellor and CEO Professor Brigid Heywood said that the consortium is demonstrating the value of regional universities in solving regional problems.
“Each RUN partner in this new Institute model brings their own unique expertise and experience to the table. Regional Universities cover a significant geographic footprint and are best placed to develop community driven solutions to very complex social problems.
“Regional Australia has faced significant challenges over the past three years with drought, bushfires and now the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. There is a lot of vulnerability but also a lot of resilience.
“This project builds on the existing success of RUN and partners who share the collective vision for a healthy and prosperous regional Australia by focusing on the key challenge of mental health and wellbeing for the ongoing resilience of regional Australia.”
Robert Sams, Executive Director of Lifeline Direct, said he welcomes working with the RUN universities and partners to build an evidence base to Lifeline Direct’s work in communities.
“This partnership will help us to continue to build vital local and community led services. I look forward to working with the RUN university partners to build strong evidence around our work and service delivery as we progress,” Mr Sams said.
“We acknowledge that service delivery is necessarily different in regional Australia compared with metro centres, so a different thought process and regional expertise is required to solve regional problems.
“Such a large regional industry and university partnership keeps working in regional mental health really relevant, and some of our team will work with RUN university partners in delivering some of their own research.”
Project partners are the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Emotional Well-being, Mental Health, and Suicide Leadership Body, Everymind, Lifeline Direct; the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health and the ANU Centre for Mental Health Research.
Regional University Partners are Charles Sturt University, Central Queensland University, Federation University, Southern Cross University, University of Southern Queensland, University of Sunshine Coast.
