Mental Health

The Mental Health Clinical Academic Group (MH CAG) brings together clinicians, peer workers, researchers, consumers, carers, health services, and policy partners from across Sydney Health Partners to improve mental health outcomes through collaborative, translational research.

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About the group

The Mental Health Clinical Academic Group (CAG) aims to strengthen connections between research, practice, and lived experience to address priority challenges in mental health care.

A key focus of the Mental Health CAG is building capacity for research translation and fostering collaborations that accelerate the uptake of evidence into practice, ensuring that research delivers meaningful benefits for people, families, and communities in priority areas.

Objectives

  • Bring together stakeholders (clinicians, peer workers, researchers, consumers, carers, health services, and policy partners) to share knowledge and identify current priorities in the field.
  • Advance lived experience leadership across mental health research and service improvement activities and facilitate engagement with a lived experience advisory group.
  • Strengthen capability in translational research, such as co-production, co-design, consumer engagement and implementation science across the mental health workforce.
  • Recognise and promote projects and innovations in mental health research translation across partner organisations.

Get involved

Interested in finding out more about the Mental Health CAG or joining?

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Join the Mental Health CAG

Be part of a collaborative network driving research that makes a real difference to people experiencing mental ill-health and their supporters.

We welcome clinicians, peer workers, researchers, policy makers, health consumers and carers with an interest in improving mental health care. Whether you’re early in your career or an established leader, your voice adds value.

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Why join

  • Collaborate on high-impact, translational research
  • Access mentoring, training and funding opportunities
  • Influence research priorities and co-design meaningful studies
  • Contribute to better outcomes through evidence-informed policy and practice

News and Stories of Impact

young woman talking about her mental health problems

New Clinical Academic Group Begins Work to Improve Mental Health Outcomes

Sydney Health Partners’ newly established Mental Health Clinical Academic Group (CAG) is inviting clinicians, researchers, health consumers and service providers to help strengthen…

Members of different CAGs at CAG Workshop

Sydney Health Partners Introduces Three New Clinical Academic Groups

Sydney Health Partners (SHP) has established three new Clinical Academic Groups (CAGs) in Emergency Care, Mental Health, and Oral Health to help fast-track…

Leadership Team

Prof. Anthony Harris

Co-Chair
Psychiatrist

Clinical expertise, health system knowledge, evaluation, mentorship, project management

Assoc Prof. Alyssa Milton

Co-Chair
Psychologist

Clinical expertise, implementation, consumer engagement, translation, health system knowledge, evaluation, mentorship, project management,
hybrid trials, co-design

Anne Wand

Psychiatrist

Clinical expertise, implementation, translation, health system knowledge, evaluation, mentorship

Maree Teesson AC

Implementation, translation, health system knowledge, evaluation, mentorship

Nicola Hancock

Occupational Therapist

Clinical expertise, implementation, consumer engagement, health system knowledge, health policy, evaluation,
mentorship

Vlasios Brakoulias

Psychiatrist

Clinical expertise

Nick Glozier

Psychiatrist

Clinical expertise, implementation, translation, health system knowledge, health policy, evaluation, mentorship, clinical
trials

Kate Anderson

Peer Work

Peer workforce expertise, consumer engagement, translation, health system knowledge, mentorship

Mark Montebello

Psychiatrist

Clinical expertise, implementation, translation, health system knowledge, health policy, evaluation, mentorship, service planning and governance

Loyola McClean

Psychiatrist

Consumer engagement, clinical expertise, implementation, translation, health system knowledge, evaluation, mentorship, project management, service improvement, cultural governance and community
partnership

Karen Arblaster

Occupational Therapist

Clinical expertise, implementation, translation, health system knowledge, evaluation, mentorship, project management, research partnerships and governance

Gin Malhi

Psychiatrist

Clinical expertise, implementation, translation, health system knowledge, evaluation, mentorship, research leadership, academic publication and
guideline development

Lil Vrklevski

Clinical Psychologist

Clinical expertise, implementation, translation, health system knowledge, evaluation, mentorship, research leadership

Cate McHugh

Psychiatrist

Clinical expertise, implementation, translation, health system knowledge, evaluation, technology-enabled service innovation and integrated care

Sophie Isobel

Mental Health Nurse

Clinical expertise, implementation, translation, consumer engagement, health system knowledge, evaluation, trauma-informed care and nursing research leadership

Paul Fung

Psychiatrist

Clinical expertise, policy translation, evaluation, health system knowledge, translation and service delivery

Catherine O’Donnell

Peer Work / Lived Experience

Consumer engagement, lived experience leadership, implementation, translation, evaluation, health
system knowledge, mentorship

Gemma Smart

Lived Experience PhD Candidate

Consumer engagement, lived experience leadership, co-production

Lauren Monds

Forensic Psychologist

Clinical expertise, implementation, translation, evaluation, health system knowledge, project management, research collaboration and
substance use and cognition research

How to reach the group

If you’d like further information, please get in touch!

Get in Touch

Help improve mental health outcomes

Join our collaborative network

Join the CAG
young female teenager talking with counselor, teacher sitting in chair in office