HDR Community of Practice

Manna Institute is committed to the training and research development of our HDR students. The Manna HDR Community of Practice (HDR CoP) is essentially a collective of individuals supporting each other and learning from one another, sharing their experiences and challenges in a safe space. This is doubly important for Manna’s geographically dispersed researchers. Ownership is encouraged to be shared by member HDR students. The HDR CoP meets weekly for voluntary writing sessions, monthly over Teams for seminars and has the opportunity to meet at Manna face-to-face sessions.

If you are an HDR student researching a topic related to regional mental health we would love to have you join our HDR CoP.

Meet the HDR community!

  • Jesse Baker

    PhD student, University of the Sunshine Coast.

    Research interest: Tech-based solutions to social isolation in older adults.

  • Danna Lee

    PhD student, University of the Sunshine Coast.

    Research interest: Reducing dementia risk among older adults in rural and regional areas of Australia.

  • Alex Potter

    PhD student, Univerity of New England (Manna scholarship)

  • Sonia Diab

    PhD student, Charles Sturt University (Manna scholarship)

  • Rebecca Terlich

    PhD student, University of Southern Queensland (Manna Scholarship).

    Research interest: explore the utility of data analytics for identifying and monitoring children’s risk of mental health concerns and neurodevelopmental disabilities in Australian primary schools.

  • David Duncan

    PhD student, University of Sunshine Coast

  • Darren Wagner

    PhD student, University of New England (Manna Scholarship)

  • Stacey Whitelaw

    PhD student, Federation University

  • Sandra Hyde

    PhD student, Central Queensland University (Manna FN Scholarship).

    Research interest: aims to provide greater support for Indigenous graduate nurses in the workplace, in alignment with Manna’s efforts to build the emerging mental health workforce.

  • Kisani Upward

    PhD student, University of New England.

  • Yumiko Coffey

    PhD student, University of New England.

    Research interest: climate change emotions in children and young people.

  • Kate McCubbery

    PhD student, Southern Cross University (Manna Scholarship).

    Research interest: exploring the impacts of changing environmental conditions on mental health.

  • Phoebe-Jane (Peach) Robb

    PhD student, Charles Sturt University.

    Research interest: Exploring the various factors that contribute to healthy ageing for Australians living in regional and remote Australia.

  • Michael Elwan

    PhD student, Central Queensland University.

    Research interest: include lived experience leadership in mental health, co-creation and suicide prevention.

  • Nicole Snowdon

    PhD student, Charles Sturt University

  • Michelle Gossner

    PhD student, Central Queensland University.

    Research interest: challenges associated with youth educational disengagement in regional communities.

  • Michael Bowles

    PhD student, Central Queensland University.

    Research interest: how workplace suicide impacts an individual and organisations in Australia’s construction and mining industries.

  • Elysia Phillips

    PhD student, University of New England.

    Research interest: Early childhood education sector is in crisis in RRR communities.

  • Annika Luebbe

    PhD student, University of Queensland, Centre for Mental Health Research.

    Research interest: Investigating the strengths that naturally occur in rural populations.

  • Micaela Riethmuller

    PhD student, Curtin University

    Research interest: the wellbeing of farming communities.

  • Ishwar Koirala

    PhD student, Univesity of New England.

    Research interest: Tertiary level international students' mental health and wellbeing in regional and metropolitan Australia.

  • Nikeeta Kumari

    PhD student, University of Southern Queensland.

    Research interest: Intimate relationship issues, suicide, mental health of adults and ageing population.