Research

• Mental Health Research Fellowship Grants 2007/08
• Mental Health Research Fellowship Grants 2006/07
• Mental Health Research Institute
• Centre for Psychiatric Nursing Research and Practice

Mental Health Research Fellowship Grants Program 2007-08

In 2005 the Mental Health Branch initiated the Research Fellowship Grants Program as part of its commitment to enhancing clinical research in mental health settings in Victoria. The fellowship grants are intended to address unmet needs in terms of mental health research which has direct relevance for service including area mental health services, the psychiatric disability rehabilitation and support services (PDRSS) sector, and consumer and carer groups. The fellowship grants program aims to provide at least four grants up to a maximum of $50,000 each in 2007-08.

Mental Health Research Fellowship Grants Program 2006/07

In late 2005, the Mental Health Branch initiated a Fellowship Grant Scheme as part of its commitment to enhancing research in mental health settings in Victoria. The fellowship grants are intended to address need areas in mental health research that have direct relevance for services, including area mental health services, the Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support services, and consumer and carer groups.

Twenty-seven applications were received in the 2006/07 grants round. The following four applications were successful:

• Dr Revindran Nair (Austin Health) - to evaluate the uptake and ongoing use of treatment/support recommendations by women admitted to a mother-baby unit over a 12-month period and determine their impact on health outcomes;
• Ms Joanne Green (St Luke's Bendigo) - to explore the knowledge, skills and attitudes of consumer consultants and provide information on the stresses associated with the consumer consultant role;
• Ms Wanda Bennetts (North Western Mental Health) - to explore the skills, knowledge, resources and supports needed to undertake the consumer consultant role;
• Mr Bendon O'Hanlon and Ms Mary McCrae (Bouverie Centre) - to explore the barriers and enablers of clinician contact and engagement with mental health services.

Results are expected in approximately twelve months' time.

Mental Health Research Institute

The Mental Health Research Institute became a fully independent, incorporated research organisation in 1987. The institute’s mission is to further knowledge in mental health, behaviour and neuroscience. The institute conducts research into the nature and causes of psychiatric conditions in an attempt to improve its diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

The institute is comprised of the following research units:

• Alzheimer’s Disease Research Group
• Biostatistics and Psychometrics Research Unit
• Brain Dynamics Research Unit
• Cell Biology Research Unit
• Cognitive Neuropsychiatry Research Unit
• Genetics and Family Studies Research Unit
• Neurophysiology and Neurovisual Research Unit
• Psychiatric Indicators Research Unit
• Psychopharmacology and Clinical Research Unit
• Rebecca L Cooper Research Laboratories

The Cunningham Dax Collection of Psychiatric Art is also under the institute’s umbrella. It is one of only a few clinical art collections worldwide and is an important research and community education resource. The gallery is open each Thursday - tel (03) 9342 2394.

The primary aim of the CPNRP is to work with psychiatric nurses, consumers, carers and other members of the multidisciplinary team to bring about the ongoing development and improvement in clinical practice of psychiatric nurses. The CPNRP is a focal body for psychiatric nursing within Victoria, within all domains including practice, research, education and training.

The CPNRP is located at:

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing Research and Practice
Level 1, 723 Swanston St
Carlton VIC 3053
Tel: (03) 8344 0639
Fax: (03) 8344 9392
email: cpnrp@nursing.unimelb.edu.au