Research Reference Group
MATES Program foundations are built on research performed by a broad, diverse and rich bank of academics. Research has been conducted by AISRAP, Newcastle University, University of Queensland, University of South Australia, University of Central Queensland, Deakin University, University of Melbourne and Murdoch University among many others.
MATES' close collaboration with key researchers has enabled development of extensive, peer-reviewed evaluations from a multitude of sources which support the MATES program logic.
SEE MATES RESEARCHAllison Milner Memorial PhD Scholarship
2024 ROUND APPLICATIONSMembers of the MATES Research Reference Group
Prof. Tony LaMontagne, Chair of the MATES Research Reference Group
Professor Tony LaMontagne’s career has been dedicated to developing the scientific and public understanding of work as a social determinant of health, and translating this research into policy and practice to improve workplace and worker health.
SEE PROFILE QueenslandJorgen Gullestrup
Jorgen is an Allison Milner Memorial Scholarship PhD student researching the topic “Male help-offering in suicide prevention”. He is a plumber by trade and was founding CEO of MATES from 2007-2021.
SEE PROFILE New ZealandDr. Chris Bowden BA Hons I, MA, Ph.D Health
Dr. Chris Bowden is a lecturer in Te Puna Akopai/ School of Education at Te Herenga Waka/Victoria University of Wellington. He teaches in the area of child and adolescent development in the undergraduate programme, and child and adolescent mental health, and counselling and in the Masters of Educational Psychology programme.
SEE PROFILE WESTERN AUSTRALIAProf. Andrew Page
Andrew C Page is Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor in the School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia. He is director of the Western Australia Centre for Mental Health Research and his current research focus is on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of psychological treatments as well as the prediction and prevention of self-harm and suicide.
SEE PROFILEVictoria Ross
Dr Victoria Ross is a senior research fellow at the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (AISRAP). Her key research areas are workplace mental health and suicide prevention, suicide bereavement support, and suicide prevention program evaluation.
SEE PROFILE QUEENSLANDAssociate Professor Jacinta Hawgood
Dr. Jacinta Hawgood is Senior Lecturer and Program Director of Suicidology at the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (AISRAP), where she has worked since 2000. Jacinta has a passion for supporting people in suicidal distress as well as their families, and educating those who work in suicide prevention, from service providers to policy makers.
SEE PROFILE SOUTH AUSTRALIASimon Tyler
Simon Tyler (B. Psych. Sci. (Hons), MS. Psychology) is a PhD Candidate for the University of South Australia’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Research Group (Division of Health Sciences). He is also the recipient of the Inaugural Allison Milner Memorial Fund Scholarship with his work aimed at furthering understanding of the nature and drivers of suicide in the construction industry.
SEE PROFILETania King
Tania King is a social epidemiologist whose work is broadly focussed on understanding the way mental health and suicide is patterned across society. A central focus of this research is examining the role of paid and unpaid work in shaping mental health outcomes, particularly in relation to male-dominated occupational settings.
SEE PROFILE QueenslandChris Doran
Christopher Doran is a Professor of Health Economics at Central Queensland University (since 2015) and is currently leading the research cluster for resilience and wellbeing (CReW). His main area of research is quantitative analysis with a focus on mental health and Indigenous primary health care.
SEE PROFILEFrom our researchers
“I have been involved in research into suicide prevention since 1987, and was Chairman of Suicide Prevention Australia from 1995-2001. My colleagues and I, over the years, have published over 120 suicide prevention research papers in international journals. I was invited to become a Board member of Mates in Construction (Qld), and had the privilege over five years to watch MATES evolve into a carefully developed program that clearly grabbed the attention of workers in the industry keen to support their mates through hard times. We have published research demonstrating how the program works, but also how it prevents suicides — that is ‘outcome research’ (so rare in social sciences). We have demonstrated that MATES saves lives and is implicated in reduction of the male suicide rate in Queensland. Clearly, the MATES program is unique, soundly conceived and effective. It is undoubtedly in the public interest for State Governments to implement policies that provide sustainable levels of funding to promote the reach of this outstanding program. I would urge the WA Government to support MATES in WA and provide sustainable funding that will save lives.”
– Graham Martin OAM, MD, MBBS, FRANZCP, DPM, Professor Emeritus Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, The University of Queensland
“I have undertaken significant research into the impact of the MATES in Construction program and played a role in the program’s ongoing evidence-based improvement processes. The program is clearly making a substantial contribution to changing the culture of the construction industry in relation to mental health and suicide. It is undoubtedly saving many lives and delivering improved wellbeing for workers and their families.”
- Jacinta Hawgood; BSSc, BPsy(Hons), MClinPsy, MAPS , Senior Lecturer | Program Director Suicidology, Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Griffith University.
