Role
The Million Minds Mental Health Research Mission EAP was appointed in April 2022 to provide the Minister for Health with advice on the strategic priorities for research investment through this mission. Its role was to define evidence and knowledge gaps that should be addressed through mission research funding to assist in transforming health care and health outcomes for individuals and communities. This role included the definition of key research questions that, if answered, would deliver meaningful change to patients through the translation of research.
EAP members consulted and engaged with other researchers, industry and consumer/patient groups and participated in media and public activities to build awareness of and facilitate interaction with the mission and with other MRFF-funded research.
Further information on the roles and responsibilities of MRFF EAPs can be found in the MRFF Mission Governance resource.
Members
The mission’s inaugural EAP was co-chaired by Professors Shitij Kapur and Helen Milroy and was appointed from October 2018 to October 2020.
The mission’s second EAP was appointed in April 2022 and included eminent researchers and persons with lived experience of mental illness. The government selected panel members with the skills and experience the mission needs to achieve its objectives. The EAP ceased in April 2023. The following information, including declarations of interest, was current until the EAP ceased.
| Member | Background and experience | Declarations of interest |
|---|---|---|
|
Professor Maree Teesson AC (Chair) |
Professor Teesson is Director of the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of Sydney. Professor Teesson was the former National Mental Health Commissioner from 2018 to 2021. |
Director of Climate Schools Pty Ltd. Chair of Australia’s Mental Health Think Tank. |
|
Professor Ian Everall |
Professor Everall is the Executive Director of the WA Health Translational Network, and Medical Advisor – Mental Health Research for the WA Mental Health Commission. |
Nil |
|
Professor Yvonne Cadet-James |
Professor Cadet-James is Research Coordinator of the Apunipima Cape York Health Council. Professor Cadet-James is also Adjunct Professor of the Indigenous Education and Research Centre at James Cook University. Professor Cadet-James is a Gugu Badhun woman from North Queensland. |
Member of Council - National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Chairperson – Principal Committee Indigenous Caucus (PCIC). MRFF and NHMRC funding recipient. |
|
Professor Helen Christensen AO |
Professor Christensen is Professor of Mental Health at the University of New South Wales. Professor Christensen is also the Board Director of the Black Dog Institute. |
Nil |
|
Ms Shannon Calvert |
Ms Calvert is a Lived Experience advisor and Consumer Co-Chair of the National Mental Health Consumer Carer Forum. Ms Calvert is also Executive Committee Member of the Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders. |
Lived Experience Co-Production Co-Lead, Australian Eating Disorder Research and Translation Centre (consortium led by the InsideOut Institute). |
|
Professor Jennifer Hudson |
Professor Hudson is the Director of Research and Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Black Dog Institute. |
Nil |
|
Professor Susan Cotton |
Professor Cotton is Head of Health Services and Outcomes Research at Orygen. |
Nil |
|
Professor Lorna Moxham |
Professor Moxham is Professor of Mental Health Nursing at the University of Wollongong. |
Nil |
|
Related committees and groups
The Million Minds Mental Health Research Mission EAP reported to the Minister for Health.
The Health and Medical Research Office provided secretariat support to the EAP.
