Two UNSW partnerships focusing on the mental health of rural children and people with intellectual disabilities have received $2.4 million in federal government health funding.

This is the largest amount given to any institution in the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Partnership Projects.

Professor Mark Dadds from UNSW Science will receive $1.3 million over five years for his team’s work with Royal Far West on mental health disorders in rural children.

The team will develop a transportable model of early intervention to improve access and outcomes for rural children with early-onset mental health issues and their families.

Associate Professor Julian Trollor from UNSW Medicine will receive $1.1 million over four years to lead a team working with government departments and other agencies to improve the mental health outcomes of people with intellectual disability.

The team will develop a sound evidence base on the profile of mental illness, service use, pathways to care and mental health policy.

Announcing $7.9 million in funding across 11 project projects, the Minister for Health, Tanya Plibersek said: “The Australian Government is focused on improved patient care, better disease prevention and more cost-effective delivery of resources.

“This aligns with recommendations from the recently released McKeon Review’s call to imbed research into all facets of the health system.”

“I congratulate all the team members on this terrific result,” says the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Les Field. “This builds on UNSW’s 100 per cent success rate in the NHMRC Program Grants announced at the end of last year.” 

Research in both NHMRC Partnership Projects begins later this year.

Media contact: Susi Hamilton, UNSW media, 0422 934 024