I am a public health physician with an interest in the mental health of rural and medically underserved communities. My research focusses on the design, implementation and evaluation of mental health and wellbeing services.

The first mental health service I designed and implemented was called MAANASI in rural Karnataka (India). Following my PhD at Monash University which focused on help seeking for mental health problems by Aboriginal men and the service response, I co-designed a model for early detection of mental health problems among Aboriginal men called the Koori Men's Health Day. I also supported the development of JEKKORA - an Aboriginal model of early identification, and support of persons with psychological distress and suicidal ideation in rural communities.

I am also interested in evaluating mental health and suicide prevention services. My current projects focus on ways to improve care for persons with severe mental illness.

The following are my open access publications

Article in The Conversation on poverty and mental illness.

Article on lower income levels and psychological distress in Australia.

Article on the usefulness of care coordination for persons with severe mental illness.

I currently supervise one PhD student whose research is titled, The Spiritual Path: the benefits of spirituality in nature for mental health, wellbeing and recovery

I am available to supervise 3 more doctoral students.

I currently teach Evidence Based Clinical Practice to 3rd year medical students in semester 1 and 2. I also deliver lectures on Indigenous mental health to 4th year medical students.

I am a past Deputy Chair of the Board of Governance of SNAP Gippsland Inc., a Mental Health Community Support Service based in Gippsland, Victoria.