David Mander

David Mander serves as an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, with research concentrated on boarding school environments and student psychological wellbeing in Australian contexts.

His expertise spans adolescent mental health transitions, homesickness phenomena, and policy evaluation for remote Indigenous education. Key research areas include:

• Psychological adaptation during primary-to-secondary boarding school transitions
• Coping strategies for homesickness and emotional distress
• Longitudinal analysis of mental health outcomes
• Culturally responsive policy frameworks for First Nations students

Mander's publication trajectory (2017-2023) reveals consistent focus on boarding school dynamics through mixed-methods approaches. His work integrates psychological theory with practical educational interventions, particularly examining sleep patterns, academic resilience, and cultural safety in residential education settings.

Currently active in two major research initiatives:

• 'Falling through the cracks': Supporting young carer wellbeing (Healthway, 2025-2027) as Investigator 04
• Testing for scale up: An Indigenous social and emotional learning program (ARC, 2022-2025) as Investigator 10

These projects address critical gaps in youth mental health support systems and Indigenous educational frameworks.