About us

Founded in 2018, the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use is a multidisciplinary research centre committed to improving the health and wellbeing of people affected by substance use and mental disorders.

Led by Distinguished Professor Maree Teesson AC, the Matilda Centre is built upon 30+ years of collaborative world-leading research into mental health and substance use prevention, treatment, epidemiology and research capacity building. As a leader in the field, Professor Teesson's work has shaped our approach to research, communication and policy on mental health and substance use internationally, and the Matilda Centre aims to build upon that work to develop the next generation of researchers working for a healthier tomorrow for everyone.

We generate innovative and workable solutions to address substance use, mental disorders, and their co-occurrence, which are currently leading global causes of burden and disease.

We work closely with research collaborators, clinicians, educators, policy experts and people with lived experience to share skills, synergise data and harness new technologies to develop and trial innovative programs to prevent and treat substance use and mental disorders.

We are committed to leading research to build the evidence base for a thriving and empowered population across the lifespan. We do this by acting as a focal point and link between researchers, policy leaders, clinicians, youth and people with lived experience to create a healthier tomorrow for everyone.

Strategic Priorities 2025-2029

The Matilda Centre Strategic plan is underpinned by the guiding principles of Culture, Connection, Wellbeing and Leadership to drive the Centre’s strategy and operations across five key strategic pillars.

Visual representation of the Matilda Centre's strategy at a glance.

Download the Strategy at a Glance (docx, 263.5 KB)

Our people

The Matilda Centre is supported by a team of >120 academic and professional research staff, who work tirelessly to support the innovative research on mental health and substance use.

Distinguished Professor Maree Teesson AC, Centre Director
Professor Cath Chapman, Director of Research and Strategy
Professor Katherine Mills, Director of Treatment and Translation
Professor Nicola Newton, Director of Prevention
Professor Tim Slade, Director of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Christine Anderson, Operations Manager

Associate Professor Emma Barrett, Program Lead in Trauma and Crime Research
Dr Marlee Bower, Program Lead in Social Determinants of Mental Health
Dr Louise Birrell, Program Lead of Young People’s Mental Health & Wellbeing
Dr Katrina Champion, Program Lead in Healthy Lifestyles Research
Dr Lauren Gardner, Program Lead of School-Based Health Interventions
Associate Professor Christina Marel, Program Lead in Treatment and Translation in Complex Populations
Associate Professor Louise Mewton, Program Lead in Lifespan and Brain Health Research
Dr Katrina Prior, Program Lead of Maternal and Young Adult Mental Health
Associate Professor Lexine Stapinski, Program Lead in Intervention and Implementation
Associate Professor Emily Stockings, Program Lead in Smoking, Vaping and Mental Health
Associate Professor Matthew Sunderland, Program Lead in Measurement and Methodology
Dr Louise Thornton, Program Lead in Digital Interventions and Engagement

Dr Hollie Byrne
Dr Lily Davidson
Dr Emma Devine
Dr Lyra Egan
Dr Elloyse (Elly) Fitzgeraldson
Dr Lucy Grummitt
Dr Amelia Henry
Dr Steph Kershaw
Dr Ivana Kihas
Dr Cynthia Kroeger
Dr Jessy Lim
Dr Siobhan O'Dean
Dr Bridie Osman
Dr Katrina Prior
Dr Amy-Leigh Rowe
Dr Lucy Watchirs Smith
Dr Scarlett Smout
Dr Kriscia Tapia
Dr Deanna Varley
Dr Fotini Vasilopoulos
Dr Rachel Visontay
Dr Jack Wilson
Ms Jasmin Bartlett – Senior Research Program Administrator
Ms Kate Ross – Program Lead, PREMISE
Ms Felicity Duong – Youth and Lived Experience Partnerships Lead, PREMISE

Zachary Bryant
Amarina Donohoe-Bales
Toni Coote
Eliza-Rose Gordon
Tara Guckel
Logan Harvey
Annabelle Hawkins
Nicholas Hoy
Dr Arvind Kendurkar
Julia Macauley
Erin Madden
Kirsty Rowlinson
Jayden Sercombe
Joel Tibbetts

Contact us

Opening hours
9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday

Phone
+ 61 2 8627 9048

Email
matilda.centre@sydney.edu.au

Mailing address
The Matilda Centre, Level 6,
Jane Foss Russell Building (G02),
The University of Sydney, 2006

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which the Matilda Centre and the University of Sydney stands, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.

The Matilda Centre is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination. The Centre welcomes and celebrates people of all diversities, including ethnicity, faith, lifestyle choice, sexual orientation, and gender identity.