Researching a better, healthier future for Australians
Research is the first step to new, innovative, and transformative prevention, management and treatments for a wide range of health conditions. At the Matilda Centre, research in mental health and substance use helps develop resources, programs, and support options so people feel empowered and educated about their health.
Research is led by academics, who have spent their lives training across a range of disciplines (such as public health, mental health, psychology and health sciences) to tease out and investigate the issues pressing in Australia.
Our researchers have published 358 papers in peer-reviewed journals across the world since our inception five years ago. This research improves the evidence-base surrounding the nature of mental health and substance use disorders, and the effectiveness of prevention, early intervention and treatment programs.
In addition to these scientific papers, a major focus of our work has been on making evidence-based resources available to the general public, teachers, parents and health care professionals.
To celebrate five years of the Matilda Centre’s establishment at the University of Sydney in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, five academics from the Matilda Centre share more about their passion in research and how working at the Matilda Centre has shaped their career.
Dr Steph Kershaw
Research Fellow
Research areas of expertise: Translational research, epidemiology, policy, and stigma regarding alcohol and other drugs
How long have you been working at the Matilda Centre? Since inception, but have worked with the team since February 2018
How has working at the Matilda Centre shaped your career?
The wonderful thing about the Matilda Centre is that it encourages and supports you to follow your interests and passions. You also get to work with a lot of great people from all different backgrounds and different skills, who are always willing to help talk through your ideas and make your research the best it can be.
The most inspiring thing about working at the Matilda Centre is that you make real world change, directly influencing and improving people’s health and wellbeing.
The Matilda Centre allowed me to weave together all my research interests and bring them into a unique impactful program of work that inspires me to get up every day.
Image: Dr Steph Kershaw presenting on the Illicit Project at the Brain and Mind Early Career Research Showcase in December 2023. Source: Brain and Mind Centre
Dr Louise Birrell
Research Fellow
Research areas of expertise: Youth mental health and substance use prevention
How long have you been working at the Matilda Centre? Since Matilda Centre inception in December 2018 (but working with the team since 2013)
How has working at the Matilda Centre shaped your career?
The Matilda Centre has had a profound impact on my career. The Centre has provided me with access to amazing researchers, collaborators, and opportunities to pursue a career in research, as well as generous colleagues willing to share their successes, failures, and challenges.
One of the biggest influences on my career is the support from my mentors at Matilda, who have always believed in me and shared the highs and lows of establishing a career as an early career researcher. This support pushed me to forge a career in research and do things I did not think was possible of myself.
Image: Professor Katherine Mills (left), Dr Louise Birrell (middle) and Adjunct Associate Professor Corey Tutt (right) at the opening of the Matilda Centre in December 2018.
Professor Tim Slade
Director of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Research areas of expertise: Epidemiology and biostatistics
How long have you been working at the Matilda Centre? Forever!
How has working at the Matilda Centre shaped your career?
I have been on team Matilda since the very beginning. Sure, being in the leadership team means I have been part of driving the culture, vision and success of the Centre.
But, in turn, the Centre has provided me with the academic freedom to explore new areas, establish new collaborations, push the boundaries of our field all with the knowledge that I have full support from everyone around me.
I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
Image: Professor Tim Slade (left) chats to Dr Louise Birrell (right) at the opening of the Matilda Centre in December 2018.
Dr Jack Wilson
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research areas of expertise: Cannabis and opioid use, Treatments for substance use disorders, Drug policy
How long have you been working at the Matilda Centre? Four and a half years
How has working at the Matilda Centre shaped your career?
The support and opportunities offered to me at the Matilda Centre are unparalleled to any other research centre that I have worked at.
Whether it is receiving that daily encouragement from colleagues or being introduced to bigwigs overseas, it equips me with that confidence to pursue research goals that I never would have thought were possible.
Photo: Dr Jack Wilson presenting at the Science Tent at the 2023 Splendour in the Grass in July. Source: Carlotta Schäfer & Luisa Steinkolger
Associate Professor Emma Barrett
NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow and Psychologist
Research areas of expertise: Child and adolescent trauma, prevention and early intervention for mental health and substance use disorders, trauma informed care
How long have you been working at the Matilda Centre? Since inception, but have worked with the team for 16yrs and eight months
How has working at the Matilda Centre shaped your career?
Working alongside incredibly generous, passionate, inspiring researchers at the Matilda Centre has had a huge impact on my career and has kept me motivated and engaged in research for over 16 years!
The Centre promotes a collaborative culture that’s all about taking risks, daring to ask the tricky questions and prioritising meaningful engagement with community to ensure real world impact.
Combined with an ethos of upholding scientific rigour, working at Matilda Centre has enabled me to forge an impactful program of research that is responsive to our rapidly changing world.
Image: Associate Professor Emma Barrett presents with Youth Advisory Board Member Tanya Dearle at the Society for Mental Health Research (SMHR) Conference in November 2023. Source: Amarina Donohoe-Bales
Curious to learn more about what research projects are up to? Follow us on LinkedIn to be in the know on the latest research on mental health and substance use.