About MIND the GaP
Each year, almost one in every five Australians experiences a mental health illness. Research indicates that people in regional and remote areas are less likely to seek help for mental illness than their metro counterparts and help may be less available to them. Suicides rates in rural communities are avoidably high.
The Shoalhaven area has a higher burden of health conditions than all other communities within the Illawarra-Shoalhaven catchment area and greater than NSW and national levels.
MIND the GaP is an initiative jointly funded by the Commonwealth Government through the National Stronger Regions Fund ($1.229M) and the University of Wollongong ($1.230M) and will form a Mental Health and Wellbeing focus for researchers and community service providers to collaborate in the development and delivery of new best practice mental health care initiatives delivered on a regional basis
The initiative is led by Shoalhaven City Council and the University of Wollongong, and its consortium of partners including Lifeline South Coast, Lifeline Australia Research Foundation, Coordinaire, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISHLD), and Noah’s Shoalhaven.
MIND the GaP addresses the innovation challenge of improving the mental wellbeing of communities by enhancing community support and preventative mental health care through the translation of research innovations into applied science.
Our People
MIND the GaP Project Manager
- Mr Glenn Williams
Email glenn_williams@uow.edu.au
Committee Members
- Professor Mitch Byrne
Associate Dean Education (intoHealth), UOW
Chair of Committee - Professor Alison Jones
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Health and Communities) and Executive Dean (SMAH) UOW
MIND the GaP - Operations - David Toll
Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, UOW
MIND the GaP - Operations - Mr Luke Molloy
School of Nursing, UOW
MIND the GaP - Education Portfolio - Paula Hakesley
Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
MIND the GaP - Health Portfolio