As the year draws to a close, we reflect on 2020 as a year like no other. Starting with the bushfires of last summer and then straight into a global pandemic. This year has shown how resilient and adaptable Australians are in the face of adversity. The Matilda Centre staff have also shown enormous courage and tenacity, changing and pivoting as required.
I am incredibly proud of what the Matilda Centre has achieved this year. Notable achievements include securing additional funding and grants, including rapid response funding from the Department of Health to enhance online drug and alcohol support, Paul Ramsay Foundation support for COVID responses, BHP Foundation supporting the establishment of Australia’s first national Mental Health Think Tank, help for trauma in the workplace, NHMRC Investigator Grant success, and funding for other new and existing projects.
Matilda staff have had incredible personal and professional achievements in what has been a very challenging year. We have had a big year in both publications and dissemination of our research and resources. These publications highlight innovative ways to make a brighter future and address the global burden of mental disorders and substance use. The Matilda Centre’s reputation as a leader in mental health and substance use research and expertise is growing as is our presence in national discussion among experts and in the media.
Although we may have been physically distant this year, the Matilda Centre has also hosted and been a guest at many online events, webinars, podcasts and forums. The #youthgotthis Youth Mental Health Forum resonated with so many Australians concerned about the mental health and wellbeing of the young people in their lives and was a wonderful community partnership. And the Leaders in Prevention Summit brought together key stakeholders in mental health and substance use prevention to shape a national preventative response.
Finally, back in March we realised that combating this global pandemic would be a marathon, not a sprint. As the Matilda Centre has responded to this national pandemic we have been updating our COVID-19 resources page with our research response as well as information and resources for managing mental health and substance use in challenging times.
Thank you to all our subscribers, members, collaborators, and partners for your support this year. Wishing you all a festive holiday period and bring on 2021!
Maree Teesson
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Despite the many challenges presented by 2020, it has been another successful year for the Prevention and Early Intervention in Mental Illness and Substance Use Centre of Research Excellence (PREMISE). We have trained future leaders though our PhD scholarships, Career Development and Seed Funding support schemes. We have also provided valuable opportunities for collaboration across institutions and involvement of Associate Investigators though the Health Economic Modelling, Data Harmonisation and the Trajectory, Taxonomy and Typology (TTT) groups. Read more about PREMISE's 2020 activities here.
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Family and Friends Support Program
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The NEW expanded Family and Friends Support Program (FFSP) has launched! FFSP is a free online program with access to trusted and reliable information to assist families, friends and health professionals supporting someone who is using alcohol or other drugs. The program was developed by researchers and clinicians at the University of Newcastle and the Matilda Centre, and informed by input from community members across Australia. Access this free online program here or catch up on our recent webinar to learn more!
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The Matilda Centre Year in Review
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2020 grants and achievements
In 2020 the Matilda Centre was awarded over $11M in external grant funding. In addition to this there were a number of Matilda Centre staff achievements. Highlights included 4 academic promotions, research dissemination and features via podcasts, news articles and videos, and 1x PhD and 1x Master conferrals.
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2020 publications
This year Matilda Centre academics, professional staff, and PhD students published a combined total of 71 research articles. A full list of 2020 publications from Scopus can be found here.
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2020 seminars and webinars
This year the Matilda Centre held 5 online seminars which have been viewed 360 times. The Matilda Centre projects Positive Choices and Cracks in the Ice also continued their popular webinar series which drew a total live audience of 1,683 people over 8 webinars. Recordings of these webinars have received 2,307 views. Recordings of the seminars and webinars are available to watch on the Matilda Centre YouTube channel.
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2020 news recap
Catch up on all the news and highlights from 2020 via our news archives. Throughout the year we covered a number of Matilda Centre events and key topics including the Leaders in Prevention Summit, Youth Mental Health Forum, establishment of a COVID-19 Mental Health Think Tank, and a range of researcher and project profiles. You can also find a full list of external media mentions the Matilda Centre projects and Researchers had this year here.
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We currently have three exciting job opportunities:
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Postdoctoral Research Fellow required to conduct a program of research to update the National Comorbidity Guidelines. Applications close 9 January 2021. Click here for more information.
Research Assistant
Passionate research assistant required to support the Strong & Deadly Futures project. Applications close 10 January 2021. Click here for more information.
Post Doctoral Research Associate
Postdoctoral Research Associate required to manage, manipulate and analyse large data sets for research in mental health and substance use in young people. Applications close 10 January 2021. Click here for more information.
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PhD Scholarship Opportunity
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With funding from the Paul Ramsay Foundation, the Matilda Centre is offering two PhD scholarships to carry out innovative research on a large, multi-site cluster randomised controlled trial of the Health4Life Initiative. Health4Life is a web- and app-based preventive intervention that addresses six key risk factors for chronic disease; physical inactivity, sleep, recreational screen time, diet, alcohol use, and smoking among secondary school students. It is currently being trialled in 71 schools across Australia. The successful candidates will have access to a large, longitudinal dataset including >6,600 adolescents with data on a range of physical and mental health outcomes.
The PhD research programs will assist with furthering the Health4Life Initiative by focusing on one or more of the Big 6 health behaviours.
Click here to apply or find out more.
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Seeking feedback from WA and SA
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Cracks in the Ice wants to hear from you!
Researchers from the Matilda Centre are seeking feedback on a recently developed Cracks in the Ice resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. They are looking for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to give their feedback on the resources and website. If you, your mob or community has been impacted by ice, or if you are a health professional in this space, make your voice heard and help make sure this resource meets the needs of the community!
The survey is currently open to people living in Western Australia or South Australia. It will take approximately 15 to 30 minutes, with participants also having the option to provide further detailed feedback in a telephone interview. All participants will go into the draw to win a grocery only voucher valued at $50.
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To access the survey for Western Australia,
click here.
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To access the survey for South Australia,
click here.
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Seeking responses from Australian men
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The Alone Together Study wants to hear from Australian men aged 18+
Researchers at the Matilda Centre are investigating how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives of people across Australia. The Alone Together Study explores how factors like housing, social relationships, loneliness and resilience impact mental health and wellbeing. Since commencing the study, Matilda Centre researchers have heard responses from women but far less from men. Let’s fix this! It is crucial that we hear men’s voices to understand the full effects of COVID-19.
To learn more and access the survey, click here.
Please also pass this survey and information page onto any friends or colleagues.
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Acknowledgement of Country
The Matilda Centre acknowledges the tradition of custodianship and law of the Country on which the University of Sydney campuses stand. We pay our respects to those who have cared and continue to care for Country.
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