Chief Investigators
Our Chief Investigators are experienced leaders in fields that include workforce wellbeing, clinical psychology and social work, health economics, digital technologies and health, and health promotion. They are actively engaged in mental health research and training, and share a vision for discovery and partnerships that contribute to a healthy and prosperous rural and regional Australia. Beneath the canopy of the Manna Institute, our Chief Investigators are committed to dynamic, responsive, productive and sustainable collaboration.
Professor Myfanwy Maple • Director Manna Institute, University of New England
Associate Professor Christian Swann • Deputy Director Manna Institute, Southern Cross University
Professor Chris Doran • Chief Investigator Manna Institute, Central Queensland University
Professor Dixie Statham • Chief Investigator Manna Institute, Federation University
Professor Sonja March • Chief Investigator Manna Institute, University of Southern Queensland
Professor Mathew Summers • Chief Investigator Manna Institute, University Sunshine Coast
Professor Russell Roberts • Chief Investigator Manna Institute, Professor, Charles Sturt University
Professor Myfanwy Maple
Director Manna Institute/Lead CI UNE, Professor, Social Work and Chair of Research, University of New England
Professor of Social Work Myfanwy Maple has spent her career investigating trauma and loss, and giving voice to those experiencing mental ill-health. Her ground-breaking research has informed national policy, professional practices and practical interventions. Serving on a multitude of committees, Professor Maple has advised the NSW Parliament, the National Mental Health Commission and even the Prime Minister’s suicide prevention advisor. A keen cyclist and long-time resident of Armidale, her work has been invaluable to those who have survived suicide attempts, been bereaved by suicide, and the many dedicated people who support them through their darkest hours.
Professor Maple began her career wanting to work with teenagers and young people experiencing difficulties.
“Disruptive behaviours always have a cause, but often adults see the young person rather than the situations they find themselves in as the problem,” Professor Maple says. “Suicide among young people is an intractable challenge, and devastating to family and friends. In regional Australia, the death of a young person reverberates across entire communities.”
The work soon saw Professor Maple enter another world – of systemic disadvantage, poor access to timely and appropriate services, and the trauma that so often accompanies suicidal thinking and behaviours. “I was always interested in understanding these issues directly from the experiences of individuals, but my scope moved quickly from young people and their families into the broader community of people impacted by poor mental health, trauma and suicide,” she says.
It is challenging, often exhausting but always meaningful work that has continued to reveal the great diversity of human experience. A number of the research relationships Professor Maple developed during thousands of interviews endure to this day.
“I remember a mother I interviewed for my PhD back in 2001,” she says. “All the literature spoke to the shame, stigma and long, complicated grief parents bereaved by a child’s suicide experience – which they do. Yet this mother spoke with such pride about her daughter, and told me of the joy she felt in speaking about her for the research.
“It was the most uplifting interview I have ever done and it shifted my thinking in relation to resilience and growth in the face of the greatest adversity. That mother opened my mind to a much broader conceptualisation of suicide and the ways in which suicide bereavement can be experienced.”
Another “very special human”, who has lived with chronic suicide ideation and attempts his whole life, also left a lasting impression. “He gave me a gift – that of seeing through the eyes of someone who struggles to stay alive every day,” Professor Maple says.
“For many, the situations that led to despair can resolve and a period of suicide vulnerability fades into the past. But this man helped me to understand how – for some – suicide becomes a constant companion. I feel honoured and privileged to know him, and deeply believe that the world is a richer place for him still being in it.”
Two decades on, Professor Maple is extremely excited to be leading the Manna Institute as it seeks to address some of the most vexing mental health issues facing rural and regional Australia.
“The one-third of Australians who live beyond the metropolitan cities are often lumped together, but across our beautiful country there are huge variations geographically, economically and socially,” she says. “I am interested in what mental health looks like today across rural Australia but also what it looks like in a rural Australia in flux, where the environment and industries and demographics are changing. What does that mean for people and who will be most vulnerable in future? Their voices need to be front-and-centre.”
Professor Maple would like to see the institute become “the go-to” for comment, input, industry partnerships and research in this field. “So that our regions have an equal voice in the development of policy, the allocation of funding and the development and roll-out of services,” she says. “Only then can we begin to see rural Australia as nuanced, and a place where new researchers can base themselves and develop leadership skills, where we can all realise the benefits of being involved in a much broader community of practice.”
It is brief sufficiently large to engage Professor Maple for many lifetimes. “With each answer we find through research or industry collaboration, there are a million more questions that need answering to advocate for better funding, more support, and a more caring and inclusive community,” Professor Maple says.
“Each one of the people who have shared their experiences with me have shown great bravery in participating in difficult conversations. It is their courage that keeps me committed to the work that I do, to try to make the world a gentler place for people who are struggling.”
Associate Professor Christian Swann
Associate Professor, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University
Associate Professor Christian Swann from Southern Cross University, has most recently focussed on researching the promotion of mental health through community sports clubs, namely via the program Ahead of the Game. Funded by Movember, it delivers programs to parents, coaches and adolescents that aim to build mental health resilience and wellbeing, reduce stigma and improve help-seeking behaviour. He is now helping to develop mental health guidelines for clubs across Australia.
Working primarily with adolescents, Associate Professor Swann finds the mental health statistics shocking.
“However, most research, guidelines and guidance has targeted elite athletes, who make up only 1-2% of the sporting population,” he said. “I am particularly inspired to try to improve the mental health of the other 98-99% of sports participants.
“Coming from the United Kingdom, I found what is available for the regional, rural and remote sporting clubs in terms of mental health quite eye-opening. It underlined, for me, the importance of research to improve mental health in these areas.”
Through the Manna Institute, Associate Professor Swann is excited about the “huge potential” to build partnerships across a broad geography.
“There are opportunities for the cross-pollination of new ideas, new approaches and building new strengths,” he said. “The quality of the existing partners and scope to bring more partners onboard as the institute develops is one of its strengths. That and the chance to collaborate with different groups, partners and stakeholders. The sheer network will lead to really exciting things over the next few years.”
Building the capacity of mental health researchers in the rural and regional communities they serve promises rich rewards.
“When you consider the SCU footprint, alone, which spreads across northern NSW and into Queensland, this region has a long history of natural disasters,” he said. “Before the 2022 flooding, we were hit by bushfires. It is important that we attract more mental health researchers to the regions to develop research programs and projects that best serve and flow meaningfully into the regions.
“How we go about that is critical because it can open the doors to a diverse range of partners that will benefit the institute.”
Associate Professor Swann has clear ideas on the contribution he would like the institute to make.
“I would like to see an acceleration and boosting of our research capacity - more projects, bigger projects, more people, helping develop the researchers we have, helping develop the students we have and the research culture we have,” he said. “We have the opportunity here to make our communities better places to live.”
Professor Chris Doran
Chief Investigator Manna Institute, Professorial Research Fellow - Health Economics/Research Cluster Lead CReW
School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University
Health Economist Professor Chris Doran has devoted his career to researching the risk factors that underpin and contribute to poor mental health, particularly substance misuse. He has worked with clinicians and policy-makers to develop knowledge and strategies that highlight the economic impact of poor mental health, with the aim of alleviating the burden of harm caused by addictive substances. Professor Doran’s most recent work has focused on the impact of fatal and non-fatal suicide behaviour, and cost-effective strategies to address the mounting toll of poor mental health on society.
As a health economist, Professor Doran aims to influence decision and policy-makers by presenting accessible information.
“Policy-makers understand economics, and breaking down related information is useful in order to argue that preventative interventions are the most effective way to deal with the social impacts of mental ill health,” said Professor Doran.
Professor Doran said working within the Manna Institute represents an exciting opportunity to investigate and apply real-word, preventative solutions to improve mental health outcomes for regional Australia.
“Research is something I am passionate about, and I have been fortunate to work with fantastic researchers and institutions throughout my career. I believe the Manna Institute will create a significant impact through a collaborative approach and focusing efforts on regional Australia where mental health issues and addiction are most prevalent.
“The institute is about collaboration and doing impactful research. It is made up of enthusiastic and committed mental health researchers who work together to make a real difference to mental health and wellbeing outcomes in regional Australia, including rural and remote areas.”
According to Professor Doran, working collaboratively across institutions and with industry partners is something that sets the institute apart.
“The commitment and involvement of partners including Lifeline and Everymind will help to make the research tangible, meaning that we will be able to apply findings and influence decision-making to make a difference to the lives of everyday Australians being impacted by mental ill-health,” he said. “It’s also my hope that the institute will develop and prepare a new generation of researchers to lead conversations and investigations that will ultimately improve outcomes.
“My interactions with Everymind and Lifeline so far stand out to me, with Everymind aiming to change lives through world-leading prevention programs and research, and Lifeline, an organisation that exists so that no Australian has to face their darkest moments alone. Working with these partners underlines the importance of the institute’s work and helps to provide the grassroots, community connections that we need to make a real difference.”
Professor Doran believes the Manna Institute has the potential to establish a legacy of delivering solutions to improve people’s lives through preventative measures and improved support mechanisms that are specific to the needs and issues facing regional and remote Australians.
“Australia is experiencing a mental health crisis and regional Australians are most at risk,” he said. “The obvious strength of this institute is its people and their commitment to improving mental health outcomes for Australians living in rural and remote regions.
“The institute’s legacy will be how its research agenda strengthens the knowledge base around mental health that will ultimately lead to more effective solutions. Along with this, senior researchers will be able to play an important role in developing a new generation of researchers and mental health experts.”
Professor Dixie Statham
Chief Investigator Manna Institute, Professor, Psychology, Federation University
A focus on researching the biopsychosocial factors involved in psychological trauma, substance misuse, depression and suicide has characterised the career of Professor Statham. A clinical psychologist with more than 25 years’ experience, she has seen first-hand the enormous toll that mental illnesses take and the difference that treatment can make.
“Research is fundamental to clinical work because it enables us to explore and deepen our understanding of the complex and multiple factors that cause mental illness, which in turn leads to improvements in evidence-based treatments and interventions,” Professor Statham said. “Being a researcher as well as a clinical practitioner puts me in a perfect position to contribute to progress in mental health from different yet complementary perspectives.”
Through the Manna Institute, she is pleased to be helping create and maintain a community of future researchers and to have active input into their training and mentoring. “I am also excited about being part of a research institute that is virtual, where most of our work and interactions are conducted on digital platforms rather than face-to-face in a bricks and mortar building,” Professor Statham said.
While current psychological and biological treatments available to individuals with mental illness have developed through years of careful, rigorous research, in Australia and internationally, Professor Statham believes there is much more to be done. “These evidence-based treatments have made an enormous difference to individuals’ quality of life, but they are not perfect, and the extent to which individuals benefit varies,” she said. “We need to understand more about the mechanisms that underpin recovery and this can only be achieved through research.”
The Manna Institute’s focus on robust training and development promises to create a reliable pipeline of mental health researchers who will have a substantial impact on future research capacity in regional Australia.
The other key strength of the Institute is its training focus. We have developed a clear program of research training that provides career and leadership development opportunities for early and mid-career researchers. We also have a scholarship program which makes it possible to create opportunities for bringing doctoral students on board. Essentially, we have a robust research development pipeline in place that is quite unique and will have a substantial impact on research capacity in regional Australia.
“As a resident of Ballarat, in western Victoria, I am very aware of the acute and chronic mental health difficulties and the challenges around availability and access to services in my area,” Professor Statham said. “Federation University also has other regional campuses, including the Gippsland campus in eastern Victoria, where there are significant challenges in mental health and wellbeing. Developing strong and enduring relationships and facilitating greater integration with local service providers, industry and communities across regional and rural Victoria is fundamental to improving psychosocial well-being.”
Professor Sonja March
Chief Investigator Manna Institute, Director, Centre for Health Research and Professor, Psychology, University of Southern Queensland
Professor of Psychology Sonja March has spent her career exploring solutions to improve access to evidence-based psychological treatments for children, adolescents and families. Professor March has been particularly interested in developing digital solutions that can increase access to mental health services for vulnerable populations, including children, families and people living in geographically remote areas.
Director of the University of Southern Queensland’s Centre for Health Research, Professor March also heads the ‘Innovative Mental Health Solutions' research program, and her team have developed new digital tools to help promote mental health screening in young children, as well as self-help, stepped-care and therapist-guided interventions for anxiety.
Her world-first research has developed the BRAVE program, an online cognitive-behaviour therapy program for child and adolescent anxiety. With colleagues, she has validated this program across multiple delivery modes, providing innovative solutions for disseminating evidence-based care. The BRAVE Self-Help program has now assisted more than 69,000 young people and parents in coping with anxiety and has been shown to improve outcomes for many families substantially. It has also helped approximately 25,000 families from regional and rural Australia who otherwise might not have access to services.
Professor March is particularly excited to be extending this research through a $5m Medical Research Future Fund grant and is developing a digital mental health platform that allows young people to access tailored and personalised treatments for various mental health problems. “Through 20 years of research, we have learned what works for young people, but we’ve also learned that different young people want different things,” Professor March said.
“Our new platform will allow young people to learn about their difficulties and build a treatment program specifically for them.
“Whether they are from regional or city areas, whether they experience one or several mental health difficulties, our new platform, Momentum, will build a personal program for them and help them access evidence-based treatment, anywhere and anytime.”
This research aims to provide even more options to more than 50 per cent of young people who currently can’t access psychological help.
Through the Manna Institute, Professor March hopes to raise further awareness of the mental health needs of children and adolescents in regional Australia and advocate for the dissemination of accessible services Australia-wide.
“By getting in early, we can help children live healthy lives, develop adaptive coping skills and interrupt mental health problems before they turn into a lifelong trajectory of illness. This is critical for all of our children,” Professor March said.
Professor Mathew Summers
Chief Investigator Manna Institute, Discipline Lead, Psychology Professor, Psychology School of Health University of Sunshine Coast
Professor Mathew Summers, a member of the Discipline of Psychology at the University of the Sunshine Coast, is an AHPRA registered and endorsed Clinical Neuropsychologist and Fellow of the APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists.
Mathew leads Aging and Dementia research within the Discipline of Psychology; a core area of need for the Sunshine Coast community. The research centre led by Mathew encompasses four key themes for research activity and engagement with the Sunshine Coast community, and as of December 2019 has attracted in excess of A$8.2 million in research funding and has led to 60 publications:
1.Diagnosis – improving the diagnosis of preclinical dementia in the community
2.Prevention – evidence based studies of methods to improve cognitive function in healthy older adults to prevent age-related cognitive decline (ARCD) and dementia.
3.Intervention – evidence-based studies of non-pharmacological methods to treat dementia, pre-clinical dementia syndromes, and frailty.
Professor Russell Roberts
Chief Investigator Manna Institute, Professor, Management, Charles Sturt University
Professor of Management and Leadership Russell Roberts has spent his career focusing on mental health. Professor Roberts has received state, national and international awards in E-mental health, youth mental health and First Nations workforce development. With a unique career profile as a clinician, researcher and executive director, he is referenced as one of the 50 most influential rural Australians.
Professor Russell Roberts was raised in the country and started his career as a clinical psychologist in regional communities. It was this upbringing that fostered a genuine interest in helping to improve mental health services available to people living in regional and rural Australia.
He has spent his career advocating for people in rural areas to have the same access to mental health services as those in metropolitan locations. He has more than two decades of experience in developing, implementing and consolidating new and innovative health services across a range of complex service environments.
Professor Roberts is currently a Professor of Leadership and Management at Charles Sturt and said rural Australia is a net exporter of doctors and health specialists.
“I would call myself a ruralist,” he said.
“Rural communities have a lot going for them. They provide a great opportunity for connection and being part of a vibrant community.
“But rural people are hard done by. Mental health rates are worse and suicide rates are higher, but we don’t have equitable access to services.”
He is the National Director of Equally Well Australia, which researches and oversees the national implementation of actions of the National Consensus Statement. The organisation has also made impacts in rural communities in providing lessons for leadership in rural, geographically dispersed settings. Through this position, he has also been the Scientific Chair of the Equally Well Symposium.
He has worked as a clinical psychologist in rural New South Wales, South Australia and in Queensland, as the Director of Clinical Psychology Training at Griffith University, Gold Coast campus.
For more than a decade, he was an executive director of mental health services in central/western NSW. As part of this role, he led an organisation of more than 1,000 staff and managed a budget of $110 million to deliver comprehensive services across the spectrum of care. Facilities in this organisation ranged from Australia’s largest integrated mental health hospital to community teams in the country’s most remote locations, such as Bourke, Lightning Ridge and Wilcannia.
“People in rural communities have a right to the same level of service and access to mental health services as a metropolitan cousin,” he said.
“The primary motivation is my longstanding connection and commitment to rural communities and the fundamental right of people living in rural communities to have the same access to quality care and services as those in capital cities.”
Professor Roberts was also the Editor in Chief of the Australian Journal of Rural Health for five years until the beginning of 2022. As an academic researcher, he has been awarded more than $12 million in research grants; published more than 100 journal articles, books and book chapters; and has given 70 conference presentations, and 18 keynote speeches with over 4,800 citations of his research.
The Manna Institute is building place-based research capacity to improve mental health in regional, rural and remote Australia through the Regional Universities Network, of which Charles Sturt University is a part of.
Professor Roberts’ academic background and industry knowledge puts him in the perfect position to contribute to this three-year initiative.
He said the Manna Institute’s contribution to building rural mental health services and funding for research will make meaningful impacts to the industry
“This is why the institute is so important,” he said.
“It’s a government investment into building regional capacity.
“The commitment to building rural mental health research capacity is vital to inform policy and practice to enhance the mental health of rural Australians.”
Professor Roberts intends for the Institute to bring together rural universities to develop critical mass in researching rural mental health, which will help attract government grants to fund research and give early careers and emerging rural researchers the opportunity to grow their career in rural settings.
“The ultimate aim of the Manna Institute is to enhance the social wellbeing of rural people,” he said.
“Healthy, thriving communities foster health, and thriving people.”
Who we are
People and relationships form the sturdy trunk of the Manna Institute. Each RUN partner and its representatives bring individual expertise, knowledge and perspectives to our programs. By combining our complementary strengths, and collaborating closely with industry partners and community members, we build our collective capacity and extend the institute’s reach. We encourage meaningful research and engagement, and translate that research into practical projects embedded in priority communities.