معرفی
Distinguished Professor Maree Teesson AC serves as Director of the Matilda Centre and holds an NHMRC Leadership Fellowship at the University of Sydney. She chairs Australia's Mental Health Think Tank and serves on the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Council. Previously serving as National Mental Health Commissioner (2018-2021), Professor Teesson has established herself as a leading figure in mental health and substance use research, with particular expertise in comorbidity between mental health and substance use disorders. Her work bridges clinical practice, policy development, and prevention research.
Professor Teesson's research focuses on the intersection of mental health and substance use disorders, with particular emphasis on comorbidity patterns, prevention strategies, and implementation science. Her work spans adolescent health, addiction medicine, and mental health policy, with strong translational focus on developing evidence-based interventions that can be implemented at scale. She has pioneered school-based prevention programs and digital mental health tools that address multiple risk factors simultaneously, recognizing the interconnected nature of youth mental health challenges. Her research demonstrates how targeted interventions can address both mental health and substance use problems through integrated approaches.
Her recent publications reveal a strong trend toward school-based universal prevention programs, particularly those addressing multiple risk factors simultaneously. The Health4Life and Climate Schools initiatives represent innovative approaches to tackling co-occurring mental health and substance use problems among adolescents. Her work increasingly incorporates digital health solutions and examines the impact of environmental factors like climate change on youth mental health. Methodologically, her research employs sophisticated longitudinal designs, cluster RCTs, and causal mediation analyses to understand intervention mechanisms.
- Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the Australia Day Honours List 2018
- The Westpac/Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence (Innovation) 2015
- Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Outstanding Mentoring of Young Researchers 2014
- Fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences
- Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales
Professor Teesson has secured substantial research funding through NHMRC Leadership Fellowships and major project grants supporting her work on the Matilda Centre's initiatives. Her mentoring impact is recognized through the Eureka Prize, and she has supervised numerous early-career researchers who have gone on to establish their own research programs. She leads large, multidisciplinary teams working across clinical, epidemiological, and implementation science domains, with strong partnerships between academic institutions, government bodies, and community organizations. Her work with the National Mental Health Commission directly informs national policy development.
As Director of the Matilda Centre, Professor Teesson leads one of Australia's premier research hubs focused on mental health and substance use. The Centre brings together over 100 researchers across disciplines to develop evidence-based solutions for prevention and treatment. She also maintains strong affiliations with the Sydney Policy Lab and the Brain and Mind Centre, creating synergies between research, policy, and clinical practice. Her leadership extends to international collaborations addressing youth mental health challenges globally, with particular focus on implementation science and scaling effective interventions.