Research & Collaborations

Manna Institute is a virtual research institute dedicated to improving mental health and wellbeing in rural, regional and remote Australia. It supports meaningful, translatable place-based research and fosters the development of professional mental health researchers and aligned workforces.

Manna is an initiative of the seven universities of the Regional Universities Network (RUN) – Charles Sturt University, Central Queensland University, Federation University, Southern Cross University, the University of Southern Queensland, the University of Sunshine Coast and lead institution the University of New England. Manna Institute’s work tackles the impacts of the changing environment, systemic and geographic inequities, and challenges of delivering mental health support throughout the vast Australian landscape. Their five mental health research streams focus on child, youth and family; physical activity; ageing and disability; climate change and the environment and distress and suicide prevention. Each stream is a growing collaboration of researchers from universities across Australia, First Nations and Lived Experience representatives, and community and industry partners from partner organisations including Foundation partners Everymind, Lifeline Direct and the Australian National University’s Centre for Mental Health Research.

Manna has established a Higher Degree Research Community of Practice and mentoring program for Early and Mid-Career researchers from across Australia committed to research in regional mental health. This allows for the development of relationships between researchers that overcome geographic isolation. We hold a variety of events aimed at connecting researchers across the research career trajectory.

Manna Institute Research Mentoring program (MIRM) – EOI now open!