Manna Symposium

Wednesday 4th December - Friday 6th December, 2024

Full Program

Where: View Sydney, 17 Blue St, North Sydney

When: Wednesday 4th December - Friday 6th December

Register here

Accommodation: View Sydney have arranged a special discount for our Manna Symposium delegates - special booking link (special 15% discount off their best available rate)

Parking is limited, we suggest public transport or ubers for our Sydney guests

Welcome Dinner

Wednesday 4th December

Activities kick off on Wednesday evening with a welcome dinner just a 20-minute picturesque stroll from your accommodation, at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, followed by an address from guest speaker, broadcaster and author Indira Naidoo.

Where: The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, 33 Peel St, Kirribilli

When: 5pm drinks on the deck for a 6pm start, concluding at 8:45pm

MC: Professor Chris Armstrong, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research UNE, Chair of Manna Institute Program Leadership Group

Transport: A 20-minute walk from View Sydney, or a bus will depart View Sydney at 5.15pm sharp - returning guests to the Hotel at 9pm mannainstitute@une.edu.au

Program Day 1 - Thursday 5th December

Business Leaders Breakfast

This invitation-only breakfast is a unique opportunity for business and government leaders with interests in rural and regional Australia to connect and learn more about the ground-breaking mental health research initiatives of the Manna Institute. Our work is focused on addressing the pressing mental health challenges faced by rural and regional communities across the country in partnership with community members, service providers and industry.

Please RSVP to mannainstitute@une.edu.au by 22 November 2024 to confirm your attendance.

Where: View Sydney, Lavender Bay Rooms (2-3)

When: 7.30am-8.45am

Chair: TBC

Manna Symposium Welcome to Country

and Official Opening

The symposium will be officially opened by The Honourable Emma McBride MP, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide & Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health.

Where: View Sydney, Bradfield Rooms

When: 9.00am-9.30am

Chair: Professor Chris Armstrong, Manna Institute Chair, Program Leadership Group

National Panel

A panel featuring Georgie Harman, CEO of Beyond Blue, Katie Acheson, CEO of Batyr and Susi Tegen, CEO of the National Rural Health Alliance, who will provide a national perspective on mental health service and advocacy in rural, regional and remote Australia.

Where: View Sydney, Bradfield Rooms

When: 9.30am-10.30am

Chair: Professor Sonja March, UniSQ


Morning tea 10.30-11.00am


Manna Showcase Presentation

Manna Institute is a virtual institute of leading researchers working with industry and community partners to improve mental health and wellbeing in rural, regional and remote Australia. Hear about the five Manna research streams, Manna’s ways of working, the HDR Community of Practice and Manna’s community engagement.

Where: View Sydney, Bradfield Rooms

When: 11.00am-12.15pm

Chair: Associate Professor Sarah Wayland, UNE


Lunch 12.15pm-1.00pm


Afternoon Workshop 1

Centre for Mental Health Research (ANU) - Child mental health in disasters: Developing guidelines and strategy for the workforce with Dr Emily Macleod.

Where: View Sydney, Bradfield Rooms (1)

When: 1.00pm-2:30pm

Chair: Associate Professor Belinda Cash

Afternoon Workshop 2

Everymind Workshop

Where: View Sydney, Bradfield Rooms (2-3)

When: 1.00pm-2.30pm

Chair: Dr Mia Schaumberg, UniSC

Afternoon Workshop 3

Architects of Mental Health workshop 

Where: View Sydney, Lavender Bay Rooms (2-3)and via Zoom

When: 1.00pm-2.30pm

Chair: Associate Professor Sarah Wayland, UNE


Short break

2.30pm-2.40pm


Afternoon Concurrent Sessions

2.40pm-4.00pm

Fostering Meaningful Research

Where: View Sydney, Bradfield Rooms (2-3)

When: 2.40pm-4.00pm

Chair: Alex Potter, HDR student UNE

Translation of Research into Practice

Where: View Sydney, Bradfield Room (1)

When: 2.40pm-4.00pm

Chair: David Duncan, HDR student UniSC

Professional Workforce Development

Where: View Sydney, Lavender Bay Rooms (2-3)

When: 2.40-4.00pm

Chair: Sonia Diab, HDR student CSU


Short break 4.00 -4.15pm


Summary of Concurrent Sessions

Chairs from each concurrent session will provide a brief 5 minute summary of each session.

Where: View Sydney, Bradfield Rooms (2-3)

When: 4.15pm- 4.30pm

Chair: Professor Myf Maple

Keynote presentation

Dr Jaelea Skehan OAM, Director Everymind

Where: View Sydney, Bradfield Rooms

When:4.30pm-5.00pm (20 minute keynote, 10 min Q&A)

Chair: Professor Myf Maple

Close Day 1

Where: View Sydney, Bradfield Rooms

When:5.00pm-5.15pm

Chair: Professor Myf Maple

Networking drinks and canapes outside the Bradfield Rooms in garden area or foyer

5.15pm-6.15pm

Program Day 2 - Friday 6th December

Day two begins with a special opportunity for our emerging Manna researchers so they can enjoy a special invitation-only breakfast with inspiring mental health researcher and author Tara Lal.

Please direct enquiries to mannainstitute@une.edu.au

Where: View Sydney, Lavender Bay Rooms (2-3)

When: 7.30am-8.45am

Chair: Dr Vicki Pascoe

Welcome Day 2

Manna Institute First Nations Advisory Group Launch

Presented by Kisani Upward, Manna’s First Nations Advisory Group Chair

Where: View Sydney, Bradfield Rooms

When: 9.00am-10.00am

Chair: Dr Vicki Pascoe

Manna Institute Independent External Evaluation

Presented by Dr Kurtis Budden, Research Impact Team, Hunter Medical Research Institute

Where: View Sydney, Bradfield Rooms

When: 10.00am-10.30am

Chair: Professor Chris Doran


Morning Tea Break

10.30am-10.45am


Keynote

Guest speaker: Hon. Rose Jackson MLC, Minister for Water, Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Youth, and Minister for the North Coast

Where: View Sydney, Bradfield Rooms

When: 10.45am-10.55am

Chair: Dr Anna Brooks, Chief Research Officer, LifeLine Australia

State perspective panel

"What are the pressing mental health priorities and challenges in NSW and QLD, and what do they need Manna researchers to understand? How do they envision Manna researchers collaborating with them, and what solutions or insights do they believe researchers should be focusing on?"

Mr Matt Trindall Director, Aboriginal Mental Health, Mental Health Branch, NSW Health

Mr Luke Slone Deputy Secretary, Rural and Regional Health, NSW Health

Mr Luke Lindsay, General Manager with UnitingCare Queensland, responsible for Queensland’s Statewide Lifeline, Wellbeing and Community Services, including Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, CEO Lifeline Direct

Mr Ivan Frkovic QLD Mental Health Commissioner

Mr Jonathan Holt, General Manager, Mental Health Services, Hunter New England LHD

Where: View Sydney, Bradfield Rooms

When: 10.55am -11.30am

Chair: Dr Anna Brooks, Chief Research Officer, LifeLine Australia

Concurrent Sessions 11.35am - 12.30pm

Seedling Session

Come along to engage in generative discussion and offer spontaneous collaboration around these budding research projects!

Where: View Sydney, Lavender Bay Rooms 2-3

When: 11.35am-12.30pm

Chair: Dr Dan Wadsworth, UniSC

Concurrent Session 2

Bradfield Rooms

Where: View Sydney, Bradfield Rooms

When: 11.35am-12.30pm

Chair: A/Professor Christain Swann, Southern Cross University

Symposium wrap-up and summary

Where: View Sydney, Bradfield Rooms

When:12.30pm-12.55pm

Chair: Professor Myf Maple, Director Manna Institute


Symposium close - Lunch

1.00pm-1.30pm


Manna Symposium committee

  • Chair, Professor Dixie Statham

    Federation University

  • Professor Russell Roberts, Mentor

    Charles Sturt University

  • Associate Professor Belinda Cash, Scientific Committee

    Charles Sturt University

  • Dr Dan Wadsworth, Scientific Committee

    University of Sunshine Coast

  • Dr Govind Krishnamoorthy, Scientific Committee

    University of Southern Queensland

  • Sonia Diab, Manna HDR student and Program sub-committee lead

    Charles Sturt University

  • Dr Vicki Pascoe, Postgraduate Research Fellow and First Nations representative

    Central Queensland University

  • Dr Jasleen Chhabra, Postgraduate Research Fellow

    University of Melbourne

  • Dr Marg Rogers, Postdoctoral Research Fellow

    University of New England

  • Kate McCubbery, Manna HDR student

    Southern Cross University

  • Rebecca Terlich, Manna HDR student

    University of Southern Queensland

  • David Duncan, Manna HDR student

    University of Sunshine Coast

  • Alex Potter, Manna HDR student

    University of New England

  • Dr Dylan Poulus, Postgraduate Research Fellow

    Southern Cross University