Mental Health and Higher Education in Australia

Dr Abraham P. Francis is an Associate Professor, Head of Social Work and Human Services academic group at James Cook University, Australia, Adjunct Faculty for MSW Programs, Prasanna School of Public Health (PSPH) (Manipal), and a research fellow at the  Department of Social Work, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He has worked with Government, Non-government, and corporate sectors, and has developed many international partnerships. He has extensively contributed to the literature on Social Work and social work practice in mental health through his publications, convening conferences, establishing research collaborations and developing consortiums. His other research interests are in the field of communities, criminal justice, international social work, and gerontological social work.  His excellence in teaching has been recognised on several occasions. In 2010, Dr Francis was a recipient of James Cook University’s Inclusive Practice Award for his“exceptional support for students with a disability”. In 2016, he received the University’s ‘Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning’ for his “leadership and expertise in social work education in mental health that inspires and nurtures students to be competent, confident and compassionate practitioners”. In 2018, Dr Francis received the NAPASWI (National Association of Professional Association Social Workers in India) lifetime achievement for his outstanding contribution to Social Work Education.

Professor Margaret Anne Carter commenced at Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP) in 2019 as Chair of the Discipline of Counselling for Australia.  Before coming to ACAP, Margaret Anne was employed at James Cook University as a lecturer since 2010, first in Singapore as a Senior Lecturer in Education (2010-2013) and then in Australia as a Senior Lecturer in Education, and then Associate Professor (2017-2018). Prior to joining JamesCook University in 2010,  Margaret Anne worked as a School Guidance Counsellor at Brisbane Catholic Education, the CEO of M.A. Carter Consultancy, District Guidance Counsellor and Special Education Consultant Brisbane Catholic Education, and Pre-school Teacher. Margaret Anne completed her Diploma of Teaching Primary and Preschool at Brisbane College of Advanced Education, a Bachelor of Educational Studies and Master of Educational Studies at University of Queensland, and Doctor of Education at Queensland University of Technology. Margaret Anne is currently an adjunct professor with James Cook University and is a member of several doctoral supervisory teams. Margaret Anne’s scholarly work with higher degree research candidates, both locally and globally, focuses on leading socially sustainable change. Her scholarship and research in cyber safety and mental health is grounded in understanding that mental health is everyone’s business.