UNSW receives $5m to accelerate psychosis research and care
UNSW Sydney
- Serpentine Foundation has committed $5 million over five years to UNSW to advance research and care for people experiencing psychosis.
- Funding will support the Mindgardens Neuroscience Network and Mindgardens Psychosis Centre.
- The philanthropic gift aims to advance research to translate into better care and health outcomes for people experiencing psychosis.
More than 100,000 Australians are living with psychosis, a serious mental health condition associated with a life expectancy 10 to 20 years shorter than the general population. As Mental Health Month begins, Serpentine Foundation has pledged $5m to advance mental health research and care through the Mindgardens Psychosis Centre. The donation will help more people access specialist care and support to live well.
Serpentine’s $5m philanthropic gift to UNSW Sydney will be invested in the Mindgardens Psychosis Centre, to advance research and its translation into better care and health outcomes for people experiencing psychosis.
UNSW is a member organisation of the Mindgardens Neuroscience Network, alongside South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, and the organisations are collaborators in the Randwick Health and Innovation Precinct. The collaboration brings together researchers, clinicians, educators and people with lived experience to translate research into care that improves the lives of Australians.
On average, it takes 17-years for scientific discoveries to make their way into clinical practice. The Mindgardens Psychosis Centre builds on an established model that integrates specialist clinical care, psychosocial and physical health support, research, workforce education and lived experience leadership, helping remove this gap so people with psychosis benefit sooner from available evidence.
Mindgardens reframes care around a simple but demanding clinical standard: helping people build a life worth living. That means supporting recovery in the real world, not simply managing a diagnosis.
John Grill AO, on behalf of the Serpentine Foundation, and Chair of Mindgardens, shared why the organisation’s mental health research is so important to him.
“More than 100,000 Australians are living with psychosis. I've seen first-hand the positive impact the work of Mindgardens makes to not only people living with psychosis and their families, but also across the wider community and support systems including health and emergency services. This investment is about helping Mindgardens build on an approach that is already making a difference and bringing better care and greater hope to more people.”
Professor Jackie Curtis AM, Executive Director of Mindgardens, said the donation and collaboration would bring research into care sooner and give more people experiencing psychosis the support to build a life worth living.
"Too often, people experiencing psychosis are left to navigate a system that responds to crisis rather than supporting recovery. A life worth living means more than managing symptoms. It means having the chance to be well, to stay connected to the people and things that matter, and to shape your own future. This partnership will bring specialist care, research and the expertise of people with lived experience, their families and carers together to make that possible for more Australians.”
UNSW Sydney Provost Scientia Professor, Vlado Perkovic, said the gift will help transform the model of care designed to help people experiencing psychosis.
“Mindgardens’ integrated proven care model provides people living with psychosis faster access to care that enables more than survival. It gives more people with psychosis the foundation to participate in work, education and community life.”
South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive, Leisa Rathborne, said that this investment recognises the transformative benefits that collaboration between research, practice and industry brings.
“This funding will help reduce the gap between discovery and delivery,” she said.
“The strength of Mindgardens is its unique partnership model. By connecting researchers, healthcare professionals, people with lived experience and industry partners, we can tackle complex mental health challenges together and deliver practical improvements in care. This generous support will help people experiencing psychosis access the latest evidence-based treatments and support, when they need them most.”
UNSW Chief Advancement Officer, Lindsay Robinson, highlighted the important role that philanthropy plays in accelerating transformational research and collaboration.
“This generous gift from the Serpentine Foundation will provide more opportunities for people experiencing psychosis access to transformative care that gives connection, independence, opportunity and hope.
“This partnership is a clear example of how philanthropy is driving positive change through the University, delivering real-world outcomes for current and future generations.”
Contact details:
UNSW Media
Emma Brown
+61 400 922 986
Mindgardens Neuroscience Network
Fenella Henderson-Zuel
+612 9348 2634