Manna Institute: Impact

Challenge

Australians living in rural, regional, and remote (RRR) areas face a silent crisis. While mental illness rates mirror those in metropolitan areas, suicide and self-harm rates are significantly higher suggesting engagement in mental health services at later, more severe stages of ill health. Accessing adequate mental health care requires navigating substantial barriers: sparse services, chronic workforce shortages, and vast distances to specialist support. Beyond service delivery challenges, regional and rural voices remain largely absent from research, policy development, and healthcare planning. This absence of place-based, community-informed evidence means national mental health initiatives often fail to address the unique needs of the one-third of Australians living outside major cities, perpetuating mental health inequities.

Solution

In October 2022, the Regional Universities Network (RUN) launched Manna Institute, led by the University of New England—a place-based virtual research network funded through a $3.67 million Commonwealth grant, with total investment exceeding $7.5 million. Manna brings together seven RUN universities, industry partners including Everymind, Lifeline Direct, the ANU Centre for Mental Health Research, and critically, First Nations and Lived Experience representatives embedded in governance and throughout all research stages.

Rather than applying models of mental health developed through the experiences of major cities, Manna works directly alongside rural and regional communities to co-design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based mental health initiatives tailored specifically to regional and rural needs. Our network totals more than 150 regionally based researchers across all Australian states and territories. A comprehensive virtual network delivers research capacity building across career stages, while the HDR Community of Practice provides crucial support and mentoring for emerging researchers who might otherwise work in isolation.

Outcomes/Impact

In less than three years, Manna has transformed regional mental health research capacity and collaboration. The network has grown, with connections between members growing from 272 to 788, and collaborative clusters increasing more than fifteen-fold. This translates to tangible research outputs: 183 peer-reviewed publications, $33.2 million in leveraged competitive grants and fellowships, and 906 individual capacity-building occasions totalling over 13,755 hours of professional development.

Beyond metrics, Manna has secured a voice for regional Australia in national policy conversations. Members contributed to the NSW Regional Health Strategic Plan 2022-2032, the National Mental Health Reform Advisory Committee, and developed international standards for rural mental health research. The Institute has created sustainable career pathways, funding ten PhD positions and providing structured research mentorship that participants describe as "invaluable" and creating "a sense of belonging." With a demonstrated return of $2.29 for every dollar invested, Manna represents both exceptional value and essential infrastructure for addressing mental health inequities affecting millions of Australians.

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