Curtin Enable Institute

23/08/2025

Do you support someone with dementia? A parent, partner, grandparent or friend?

You might not call yourself a “carer,” but your experience matters.

Researchers from UNSW, Curtin University and the University of Surrey have launched a national survey for people aged 18–40 to share their views on ageing. They’re especially keen to hear from younger adults supporting a loved one with dementia.

The survey questions were co-designed by members of Y-Care of Dementia — a grassroots support community for young carers — who know first-hand how invisible this group often feels.

This is a collaboration with Curtin Enable Institute and University of Surrey, and the first survey of its kind focused on younger carers and how they think about ageing, support, and identity.

📍 Australians aged 18–40
📍 Takes 30–40 mins
📍 Fully online

🟡 Carers: https://bit.ly/4lIDY2j
🟣 Non-carers: https://bit.ly/4o9GVLa

Help us make sure young carers are finally seen — and heard. Have questions? Feel free to reach out at amber.izett@student.curtin.edu.au or k.numbers@unsw.edu.au

This research has been ethically approved by Curtin University's Human Research Ethics Committee (HRE2025-0207).

04/07/2025

A new mental health program for young people affected by disasters across regional and remote Western Australia has received funding from Healthway. The Crisis to Calm program, led by Associate Professor Elizabeth Newnham from the Curtin School of Population Health and Curtin Enable Institute, was co-designed by young people to ensure that it is engaging, relevant, and tailored to young people’s needs. Congratulations everyone!

When natural disasters strike, young people often carry an invisible burden, one that lingers long after the physical damage fades.

That’s why Curtin University's Crisis to Calm pilot program is a game-changer – and we’re happy to support it through our Open Research Round.

Crisis to Calm empowers 12 to 18-year-olds in regional and remote communities with practical tools to process the emotional aftermath of floods, cyclones, and bushfires. It’s co-designed WITH young people who’ve lived through these experiences, making the sessions authentic and deeply relevant.

This is just one of eight transformative projects funded through our 2024 Open Research Round - each tackling real challenges in our community.

Check them out here 👉 http://bit.ly/4k7xHM7

Want to help us drive change? The 2025 Open Research Round is now open!
http://bit.ly/44nezE7

Submit your Expression of Interest via your research grants office before 5pm, Friday 15 August 2025.

Sabine Winton MLA
Meredith Hammat MLA

30/06/2025

Join The Curtin Enable Institute for a powerful and timely event exploring the intersection of climate change and mental health. This year’s “Big Issues in Mental Health” seminar series brings together key stakeholders who will highlight the impacts and critical responses to these challenges.
To attend, register here: https://tinyurl.com/enablebigissues or scan the QR code.

20/06/2025

On 17th June 2025, Curtin Enable Institute Curtin University hosted a seminar on a critical-decolonial analysis of communication disability/neurodiversity. Special thanks to enAble visiting scholars Dr Vishnu Nair, University of Reading and Prof Betty Yu, San Francisco State University who shared their expertise and insights.

05/06/2025

Researchers at Curtin University and the University of Sydney are seeking Australian-based public health and health promotion professionals who may be interested in completing a massive open online course (MOOC). The MOOC aims to build social media competencies and capacity to design message frames to engage audiences, as well as potentially influence policy and practice. The MOOC uses harmful products, specifically vapes, as case studies. This research project aims to evaluate the MOOC by asking participants to complete an online survey at three time points (approx. 20 minutes each): T0 pre-test; T1 post-test; and T2 post-test.

The MOOC is available free of charge and those who complete the course will be provided with a downloadable certificate.

If you would like to express your interest in participating in the research, please complete the short survey at https://curtin.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0BXLA8N5YjKpGLQ

Contact Dr Renee Carey at renee.carey@curtin.edu.au if you would like further information.
(HREC number HRE2023-0020).

27/05/2025

At the Su***de Prevention Australia LiFE Awards, COMPAS (Checking on Mental Health Providing Alternatives to Su***de) won the 2025 National LiFE Award for Innovative Practice and Research, following their earlier recognition as the Western Australia State winner!

This award recognises innovative practices and research by individuals and organisations to strengthen understanding of effective su***de prevention, intervention and postvention strategies.

This category highlights initiatives that may target recent events which threaten mental health, and recognises research into strengthening best practice in su***de prevention, specifically those that further:
- greater knowledge, insights or innovations in su***de prevention in the field of research or
- innovative action to address, prevent, or respond to suicidal behaviours and their impact on the local community.

This national honour, presented by Su***de Prevention Australia at the National Su***de Prevention Conference in Perth, is a powerful acknowledgment of the pioneering work COMPAS is doing to transform su***de prevention and mental health support across Australia.

***deprevention

20/05/2025

enAble Institute's Mental Health Domain co-lead, Mark Boyes’ team are recruiting year 6 children and their parents/caregivers for a nation-wide MRFF-funded project (Medical Research Future Fund). The team are aiming to better understand how to support the socioemotional wellbeing of children with language and literacy difficulties during the transition to high school. Although the project is particularly focused on young people with language and reading difficulties, it is open to any year 6 child in Australia.

Find out more and sign-up here: https://lnkd.in/gki9_x-c.

The project has ethical approval from Curtin, University of Melbourne, University of Tasmania, Department for Education, Children and Young People (TAS), and Australian Catholic University. If you have any questions or concerns about the research, please do not hesitate to contact the team at lalyp@curtin.edu.au.

20/05/2025

📢 Attention Parents & Guardians!

We’re looking for children aged 6-12 years in Australia to take part in an online, self-guided cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) program designed to support children experiencing grief and loss.

This program was co-developed by children with lived/living experience of grief, and leading psychologists and researchers in grief and mental health, and is proudly supported by Telethon7 Perth

To learn more or sign up, please visit www.skilgrief.com 🎨

Your participation can help shape better grief support for children across Australia!

06/09/2024

On 3 September, the enAble Institute, Curtin University, hosted its second Big Issues in Mental Health panel discussion for 2024, with the theme "Scaling Mental Health Interventions to Meet Community Needs."
A special thank you to the speakers, Amanda Aiyana, Rachel Radcliffe, Christina Pollard, Grace Stanton, Sue-Ellen Morphett, Nick Titov, Bronwyn Myers, and Samir Heble who shared their expertise and insights into what is needed to scale interventions to improve mental wellbeing and service systems, highlighting the need for connection, community, and working together towards a common goal. A special thank you to all attendees, it was a pleasure to host you.

02/09/2024

September marks Women's Health Month, dedicated to raising awareness about women's health challenges, and inspiring women to take charge of their health and wellbeing. For more information on this years hosted events, click the link below!

https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/womens-health-week/about #:~:text=Jean%20Hailes%20Women's%20Health%20Week,%2Dto%2Ddate%20health%20information.

27/08/2024

Final reminder!! enAble's Big Issues event; 'Scaling mental health interventions to meet community needs' is a week today! Last date to register is Thursday 29th of August (two days time) 5pm.

If you haven't already, please register via the link below or scan the QR code in the flyer.

See you then!

https://events.humanitix.com/the-big-issues-scaling-mental-health-interventions-to-meet-community-needs-hv5ckuvv?_gl=1*gecqrs*_gcl_au*MjA4MDU4NzY0OS4xNzIwMTQzMjU5*_ga*OTEwNDM0NzIuMTcyMDE0MzI1OQ..*_ga_LHKW5FR9N6*MTcyMDE1MTg2My4yLjEuMTcyMDE1MTg4NS4zOC4wLjA

15/08/2024

2025 RTP Scholarship Round Now Open!

We are excited to announce that the 2025 RTP scholarship round is now open for applications. This year, candidates can choose to apply for existing approved projects or propose new research initiatives.

There are 2 PHD Studentships on offer as part of the 2025 RTP round.

1. Testing the Synergistic Effect of Inorganic Nitrate and Exercise on Cardiovascular and Brain Health in Older Subjects.

Project lead: Professor Mario Siervo.

Please apply through this link:

https://scholarships.curtin.edu.au/Scholarship/?id=7177

2. Action to accelerate dementia prevention within a population-based context in Australia.

Project lead: Professor Blossom Stephan.

Please apply through this link:

https://scholarships.curtin.edu.au/Scholarship/?id=7198

Application Process for students:

• Explore projects Browse and select from our list of approved research projects.

• Submit your direct application Alternatively, propose a new research project aligned with your interests and expertise.

Key Dates: RTP scholarship applications close on August 18, 2025. Supervisors are encouraged to review and recommend their preferred candidates for scholarship shortlisting by the applicant admission closing date, August 31, 2024.

Further Information: For detailed guidance and timelines for current and prospective Curtin HDR Students, please visit RTP Scholarships For any inquiries, please contact the Graduate Research Team at HDRSCH-applications@curtin.edu.au