Mentors, conferences, and a community

Undertaking a PhD is a long, inspiring, sometimes exhausting, but rewarding experience that delves deep into a research topic and can launch a research career. Many people undertake PhDs across Australia, including at The University of Sydney, to expand their horizons and take their passion to a new level. 

At the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, we are proud to be developing the next generation of researchers passionate about generating research to achieve a healthier Australia for all. 

Higher degree by research (HDR) students achieve their research goals through a mix of exposure to research experiences, mentoring, coaching and collaborative learning alongside their own personal PhD project. 

In the five years that the Matilda Centre has been a part of The University of Sydney, we have been proud to see nine students complete their PhD, and a cohort of fifteen students currently working towards their goal. 

To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Matilda Centre in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at The University of Sydney, we spoke with five of our current PhD candidates to learn more about them and why they chose the Matilda Centre to do their research. 

PhD Candidate and Research Assistant 

PhD title: The wellbeing of crisis supporters 

How far are you into your PhD process? I’m a year and a half into my PhD (halfway!). I also work as a Research Assistant at the Matilda Centre.

What is the most fulfilling part of conducting your PhD at the Matilda Centre?

The most fulfilling part of studying a PhD at Matilda is being able to work closely with participants and to hear their stories.

For my PhD, I’m researching crisis supporters (who answer the phones at crisis helplines) and I’m looking to build resources than can help them manage the demands of their job.

The Matilda Centre does very pragmatic, applied research, which allows us to have direct impact on people’s lives. It’s really important for me that my PhD has tangible impacts for the people I’m studying and that they get to benefit from it.

PhD Candidate and Research Assistant 

PhD title: Understanding the relationship between MDMA mental health and addiction and the implications for novel psychedelic treatments

How far are you into your PhD process? I’m 1.5 years into my PhD, but I’ve been working at the Matilda Centre for 4.5 years

What is the most fulfilling part of conducting your PhD at the Matilda Centre? 

Personally, the Matilda Centre is really about the people. Starting off as a research assistant and now shifting gears to my PhD, I couldn’t think of a more fostering environment to ride the research wave.

Being surrounded by world class leaders and high achievers gives you the positive motivation to excel and succeed. Rather than feeling like you are competing with one another – it’s about lifting everyone up.

I find that the Centre is a community driven by a shared purpose and a passion for making a difference.

PhD Candidate and Research Assistant

PhD title: Advancing the prevention and early intervention for co-occurring anxiety and alcohol use disorders

How far are you into your PhD process? Almost 1.5 years into the PhD, but I have been working at the Matilda Centre for four years

What is the most fulfilling part of conducting your PhD at the Matilda Centre?

Above all, the passion and the people are the most fulfilling part of conducting my PhD at Matilda.

Knowing at the core of what we do is to try and make the lives of people with mental health and substance use concerns a little (or a lot!) better is what made me pursue this field of research in the first place.

The passion and drive I see exemplified day in day out by my fellow PhD students and colleagues at the Centre to work towards this goal is unmatched.

PhD Candidate and Research Program Officer  

PhD title: Healthy bodies, healthy minds? The behavioural and social determinants of mental health in Australian adolescents and outcomes of the Health4Life cluster randomised controlled trial

How far are you into your PhD process? Two years and eight months (who’s counting?) but I've worked as a Research Program Officer since before I started by PhD

What is the most fulfilling part of conducting your PhD at the Matilda Centre?

It’s hard to list one thing!

I would say the camaraderie with other students. There is a decent sized group of us and we meet monthly to share knowledge and learn from established researchers and related practitioners. We also went on a writing retreat together this year and it was just such a supportive and encouraging atmosphere.

I have to say - the monthly meetings and training (and the writing retreat!) wouldn’t be possible without the Matilda Executive and Academics’ support, which is another thing that makes the Centre a fulfilling place to do a PhD.  

PhD Candidate and Research Assistant

PhD title: Responding to a changing climate: Measuring and future-proofing against the impacts of environmental disasters on youth mental health

How long are you into your PhD process? Two months, but I have been a research assistant at the Matilda Centre for three years. 

What is the most fulfilling part of conducting your PhD at the Matilda Centre? 

By far the most fulfilling part is getting to work with, and alongside, a community of inspiring, innovative and endlessly supportive researchers at the Matilda Centre.

As part of my PhD, I’m really looking forward to continuing to work with and learn from my amazing PhD supervisors.

I feel incredibly lucky to be part of the Matilda Centre as both a research assistant and student; you couldn’t ask for better friends, mentors and colleagues.

Interested in learning more about the Matilda Centre’s research or conducting a PhD in mental health or substance use? Get in touch!