Short summary of your poster/research
My research explores how mental health services in Australia can be better integrated through commissioning in primary care. While there is strong policy emphasis on integration, fragmentation persists, particularly at the interfaces between services.
Using a combination of global evidence, stakeholder interviews, and co-design with Primary Health Networks (PHNs), my study identifies practical ways to strengthen how services connect focusing on referral pathways, information sharing, and shared accountability.
A key insight is that integration is not absent, it is often happening informally, with much of the coordination burden falling on frontline healthcare staff who are already under significant pressure, rather than being intentionally designed into systems.
What was a highlight of the conference?
A key highlight was the opportunity to engage with other HDR students and researchers working across diverse disciplines, all contributing to real-world challenges.
Presenting my poster and discussing it with peers and academics was particularly valuable—it provided new perspectives on my research and sparked meaningful conversations about shared challenges in health system implementation, particularly around improving integration across services.
I also found it especially rewarding to learn from keynote speakers that my research aligns with Level 5 industry engagement, which emphasises integrated impact and strong partnership models. This resonated deeply with my research focus on integration, reinforcing the importance of designing connections between systems, sectors, and stakeholders rather than working in silos.
Importantly, events like this reflect the strong support provided by Flinders University in fostering practice-oriented research, enabling HDR students to engage with real-world impact from the early stages of their research journey.
It was also inspiring to see the range of innovative approaches being taken to address complex problems, further highlighting that achieving meaningful integration requires collaboration, interdisciplinary thinking, and shared learning.
What is something fascinating about your research?–
One of the most fascinating aspects of my research comes from a simple but powerful realisation. I often describe a patient’s journey where they move between services, retelling their story again and again, yet never quite experiencing connected care. This made me ask: if all the services exist, why does care still feel so fragmented?
Through my research, I discovered that integration is not actually missing, it is already happening, but in informal and often invisible ways. Much of the coordination is carried out by frontline providers and general practitioners, who go beyond their formal roles to “hold the system together.”
What I find most meaningful is that this shifts the focus of the problem. It is not about creating more services, but about strengthening the connections between them. My research shows that even within complex systems, small but deliberate changes to how services connect through pathways, communication, and shared responsibility can make a real difference to patient experience.
Do you have any advice for fellow HDR students?
My advice to fellow HDR students is to stay connected to the real-world context of your research. For me, this has meant understanding how my work integrates across people, systems, and communities to create meaningful impact.
I would also encourage sharing your research early and often. These experiences help build confidence and bring different perspectives together, strengthening your work through collaboration.
Importantly, opportunities provided by Flinders University, such as conferences and industry engagement, play a vital role in supporting this journey, enabling us to think beyond individual projects and work towards integrated, real-world outcomes from early in our research.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned during my three and a half years at the Caring Futures Institute at Flinders University, being surrounded by inspiring and experienced researchers, is the importance of patience. Research is rarely linear, and growth often comes through reflection, iteration, and learning from challenges. Staying open to feedback and embracing the journey can make the experience both rewarding and transformative.
