Melinda Goodyear

Melinda Goodyear is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Rural Health, Monash University. Her expertise lies in family resilience and mental health, particularly in families affected by parental mental illness or substance abuse. She leads the 'Developing an Australian-First Recovery Model' project, focusing on integrating family-focused practices into mental health services. Dr. Goodyear holds a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience and a Master’s in Behavioral Science, with research spanning mental health interventions, child support systems, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Education: PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience (aetiology of refractive errors), Master’s in Behavioral Science (Multiple Sclerosis drug efficacy). She previously worked as a Research Fellow at MUDRIH and at The Bouverie Centre (La Trobe University).

Research interests include intergenerational mental health impacts, family resilience mechanisms, and translating research into clinical practice. She has co-supervised three PhD students and contributed to over 80 publications. Dr. Goodyear’s work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education and good health.

Awards: 2023 Leon Piterman Prize for Social and Educational Research. Projects include co-designing interventions for children of parents with mental illness, such as the 'Village Programme' in Austria, and evaluating mental health workforce practices.

Key collaborations include work with Associate Professors Darryl Maybery and Andrea Reupert, and international partnerships in Tyrol, Austria. Her research emphasizes co-production with families and stakeholders to enhance support systems.