Australia's Mental Health Think Tank

Australia’s Mental Health Think Tank aims to stimulate bold thinking around a national response to mental health, initially focused on the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. The Think Tank exists to empower Australians, to create a better mental health system, to embrace hope and to build on strengths.

Australia’s Mental Health Think Tank acknowledges and pays respect to Elders, both past and present and all generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples now and into the future as the Traditional Owners of this land.

2025 Federal Election Submission
Building Mentally Healthy Futures: A Call to Action

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Think Tank Members

Australia’s Mental Health Think Tank is an independent group of world-leading mental health researchers, leaders in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, clinicians, people with lived and living experience, business leaders, carers and policy experts.

Distinguished Professor Maree Teesson
AC, FAHMS, FASSA
Chair, Australia’s Mental Health Think Tank
Director, Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney
Chair, Million Minds Mental Health Research Mission Expert Advisory Panel

Professor Tom Calma
AO, FASSA, FAA
Former Chancellor, University of Canberra
National Coordinator, Tackling Indigenous Smoking
Patron, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia

Professor Patricia Dudgeon
AM, FAHMS, FAPS
Director, Centre for Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention, University of Western Australia
Director, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia

Mr John Brogden
AM
Honorary President, Lifeline International
Patron, Lifeline Australia

Scientia Professor Helen Christensen
AO, FASSA, FAHMS
Board Member, Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales

Professor Ian Hickie
AO, MD, FRANZCP, FASSA, FAHM, FRSN
Co-Director, Health and Policy, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney

Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin
PhD
Director and CEO, Hunter Medical Research Institute
President, Executive Committee, Society for Mental Health Research
NHMRC Leadership Fellow, University of Newcastle

Professor Marc Stears
Pro-Provost, Policy Engagement, University College London
Director, UCL Policy Lab, University College London
Former Director, Sydney Policy Lab, University of Sydney

Professor Patrick McGorry
AO, FAA, FASSA, FAHMS
Executive Director, Orygen Centre for Youth Mental Health
Professor, University of Melbourne
Patron, Headspace

Professor Alison Calear
PhD
Co-Head, Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University
NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow

Professor Philip Batterham
MPH, PhD
Co-Head, Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University

Former Members

Professor John McGrath
AM, MBBS, FAHMS
Former Director, Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research
Alumni, Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland
Niels Bohr Professorship, Aarhus University, Denmark

Professor Harvey Whiteford
MBBS, MPH, FAHMS
Director, Policy and Epidemiology Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, University of Queensland
Professor, Population Mental Health, University of Queensland
Affiliate Professor of Global Health, Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation