News and events

Personalising psychological interventions for children and young people using modular approaches

Speakers: Dr Sophie Bennett (King's College London)

In February, we welcomed Dr Sophie Bennett, a clinical academic psychologist specialising in child and adolescent mental health at King's College London, to discuss 'personalising psychological interventions for children and young people using modular approaches'. Her current research and clinical work focuses on a range of topics associated with integrated and low intensity mental health interventions, including work on modular interventions, in long term physical health conditions in children and young people, in eating disorders, and persistent physical symptoms.

Nonverbal synchrony in social anxiety disorder

Speakers: Professor Idan M Aderk (University of Haifa, Israel)

Professor Aderka’s talk described a program of research on interpersonal relationships in social anxiety disorder (SAD) with the aim of understanding the processes that interfere with the development of authentic, intimate, and meaningful social connections. Central to this program of research is the examination of nonverbal synchrony. Nonverbal synchrony reflects the way individuals’ movement synchronises during interactions and serves as a form of adaptive communication.

The talk described the innovative measurement of nonverbal synchrony using computer-based video analysis of human interactions, as well as a series of studies that investigate the role of nonverbal synchrony in SAD, potential implications for the diagnosis of SAD, and directions for treatment.

Low-intensity interventions in mental health: Development, challenges and opportunities

Speakers: Emeritus Professor Roz Shafran (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health)

Professor Shafran explored the core principles of low-intensity interventions and their implementation in a UK context. Drawing on examples from paediatric care and eating disorders for young people, the talk focused on the development of such interventions, while also highlighting some of the challenges and opportunities in integrating them into broader mental health services.

World Autism Acceptance Month: Fostering a culture of understanding, inclusion, and belonging

Speakers:

• Associate Professor Iliana Magiati (University Western Australia)
• Dr Emily Hughes (Philosophy)
• Dr Diana Tan (Education)
• Dr Anna Kelly (Psychology)

In April, to mark World Autism Acceptance Month, the Centre spotlighted research that promotes inclusion, understanding, and belonging for Autistic people. Dr Anna Kelly, Lead Clinical Psychologist at the Emotional Health Clinic, shared how the cool kids anxiety program has been adapted for autistic children, supporting both young people and their families. Associate Professor Iliana Magiati (UWA) explored the shift from autism awareness to acceptance, presenting research on camouflaging, burnout and late diagnosis.

Dr Emily Hughes, ARC Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA) fellow in the Department of Philosophy, discussed the complex relationship between loneliness and Autism, and the importance of Autistic lived experience in shaping support. Dr Diana Tan, Macquarie University Research Fellow (MQRF) in the Macquarie School of Education, presented insights from her research on autism stigma in higher education and its impact on wellbeing, with strategies to foster a sense of belonging.

Health economics, Measurement of preferences, and AI-informed mental healthcare

• Associate Professor Jonas Fooken (MUCHE)
• Dr Anam Bilgrami (MUCHE)
• Associate Professor Yuanyuan Gu (MUCHE)
• Professor Sheila Degotardi (Education)
• Associate Professor Alexis Whitton (Black Dog Institute)

We were honoured to host a symposium on 'Health economics, measurement of preferences, and AI-informed mental healthcare' with Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy (MUCHE). The symposium commenced with a presentation from Associate Professor Jonas Fooken on the strong collaborative research potential of health economics with other disciplines. Dr Anam Bilgrami showcased recent advancements in linked administrative data for mental healthcare research, including overviews of two MUCHE projects using these newly linked data.

Associate Professor Yuanyuan Gu described discrete choice experiments (DCEs) as a method to understand choices and preferences, with Professor Sheila Degotardi highlighting policy-relevant insights from an award-winning collaborative DCE project with Yuanyuan on early childhood educator job preferences. Associate Professor Alexis Whitton from the Black Dog Institute presented fascinating research directions on AI-informed mental healthcare, including highlighting recent collaborative work with MUCHE.

Mental health fun run

On Saturday 12 April 2025, the Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre headed the Macquarie University parkrun to raise funds for mental health research.

This fundraising event was conducted in partnership with the Macquarie University Sport and supported by the North Ryde Rotary Club and Rotary Club of Macquarie Park.

The event was a great success, with over 600 runners taking part on the day.

Donations are still welcome.

Help your teen cope with Year 11 and 12 study stress

Facilitator: Professor Viviana Wuthrich

Speakers: Dr Jessica Belcher (Psychology)

Throughout this webinar Jessica drew on current research to explore why students feel stressed, what stress might look like, and when parents need to worry about their teen’s stress. Jessica also provided some helpful tips on what parents can do to help their teen manage stress throughout their final years of high school.

Watch the webinar here.

Mental Health Month Public Lecture

Facilitator: Professor Viviana Wuthrich

Speakers:

• Dr Milena Gandy (Psychology)
• Professor Kerry Sherman (Psychology)

Our 14th annual Mental Health Month Public Lecture discussing advancing mental health care in people living with neurological disorders and the psychological toll of living with Endometriosis.

Watch the Public Lecture here.

Social connections in older adulthood: Barries and facilitators

Chair: Dr Jessamine Chen

Speakers:

• Dr Suraj Samtani (Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, UNSW)
• Dr Diana Matovic (Psychology)

A symposium exploring social connections for healthy brain ageing, and barriers and enablers of social participation in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia and their older adult carers or supporters.

Watch the symposium here.

Older workers and retirement planning

Chair: Professor Viviana Wuthrich

Speakers:

• Professor Joanne Earl (Psychology)
• Associate Professor Carly Johnco (Psychology)
• Professor Simon Willcock AM (MQ Health)

A symposium about older workers and retirement planning featuring presentations on:

• combining career, health and financial plans to optimise retirement
• burnout, mental health, stigma and help-seeking in older and younger doctors
• taking care of your ageing boomer.

Watch the event here.

Dementia and decision-making: Who decides?

An interdisciplinary panel from Law, Medicine and Clinical Psychology.

Chair: Professor Lise Barry

Speakers:

• Professor Margaret Hall (Law)
• Associate Professor Heather Francis (Neuropsychology)
• Professor Clement Loy (Neurology)

A wonderful multidisciplinary symposium on dementia and decision-making. The speakers explained how they approach consumer capability in decision-making for health care, accommodation, family disputes and safety issues.

The impacts of sleep on mental health

Chair: Professor Viviana Wuthrich

Speakers:

• Dr Amelia Scott (eCentreClinic)
• Dr Ella Oar (Psychology)
• Dr Rick Wassing (Woolcock Institute of Medical Research)

A interesting symposium discussing The sleep course: preliminary efficacy of a pragmatic, inclusive digital sleep intervention, using sleep to improve treatment outcomes for anxious youth and sleep fragmentation in insomnia and its detrimental effects on overnight regulation of distress.

Watch the symposium here.

Cool little kids anxiety program

Facilitator: Professor Sandie Wong (Education)

Speaker: Professor Ron Rapee (Psychology)

An insightful webinar discussing the signs of anxiety in pre-schoolers and how best to equip yourself with both knowledge and practical skills for how to help children manage and overcome anxiety.

Watch the webinar here.

North Ryde eFun Run for Youth Mental Health

The 2023 eFun Run was a great success, with more than $13,000 raised.

The eFun Run is organised by the Rotary Club of North Ryde. Proceeds go to:

• Australian Rotary Health, for research into youth mental health and support programs
• Macquarie University Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre
• other worthy Rotary youth projects.

The first North Ryde Fun Run was held in 2014, and then each year until 2019. North Ryde Rotary Club worked in partnership with community members and venue partner Macquarie University Sport and Recreation to hold physical events at the Macquarie University Sports Fields.

In 2021, the club transitioned the Fun Run to a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 and 2022, the eFun Run raised more than $20,000 for youth mental health.

We greatly appreciated the generous support from our members and friends in the past and ask you to encourage your friends, family and colleagues to register, participate in this event in future and help raise funds for this very worthy cause.

September monthly meeting

Professor Patrick Garcia presented ‘Continued workforce participation among older workers: The role of psychological contracts and age metastereotypes’.

Annual public lecture

Professor Bamini Gopinath presented ‘Healthy senses for healthy life.’

Watch the recording

October monthly meeting

Associate Professor Alice Chik presented ‘Migrant grandparents in Australia: English learning and wellbeing’.

This edition of our Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre newsletter includes:

• key research updates
• community engagement activities
• webinar and event highlights
• a call for research participants.

Read the June newsletter

This edition of our Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre newsletter includes:

• 2024 in review facts and figures
• community engagement activities
• webinar and event highlights
• key research updates
• a call for research participants.

Read the December newsletter

This edition of our Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre newsletter includes:

• member awards and recognition
• recent news and events
• key research updates
• a call for participants to trial Ageing Wisely Online.

Read the May newsletter

The inaugural Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre newsletter introduces you to our new research centre. Find out more about:

• our new executive team
• 2023 member awards and recognition
• 2023 events, lectures and conferences
• volunteer research opportunities.

Read the November newsletter