About the Uni Student Wellbeing Project
The Uni Student Wellbeing (USW) research project aims to improve universities’ capacity to support young adults’ wellbeing by investigating the educational conditions, practices and experiences that affect student mental health in Australia’s universities.
The three-year program of research (2023-2026), funded by an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant, is investigating:
- Institutional and course-related factors associated with undergraduate students’ mental health and wellbeing;
- Educational experiences that foster (or undermine) young adults’ mental health and wellbeing, and how these experiences vary among students from diverse backgrounds;
- Whether, how and when diverse undergraduate students form a sense of belonging at university; and
- Young adults’ perceptions of the economic, social and psychological benefits and costs of higher education, with a focus on how students construct and assess the value of their university studies.
In this way, the USW project aims to contribute new knowledge about the contextual determinants of students’ psychological distress and positive wellbeing in Australian higher education and develop a platform for sustainable collection and reporting of reliable, national data.
Please check the USW Research Project News and Updates page for the latest information about the Project.
The Project Team
Chief Investigators
Professor Chi Baik
Chi Baik is the Project Lead for the USW project. Chi is a Professor in the Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE), The University of Melbourne. Her research program centres around the quality of the student experience, and her work in recent years has focused on the development of policies and programs to promote and recognise effective university teaching.
email: cbaik@unimelb.edu.au
Dr Tracii Ryan
Tracii Ryan is the Project Manager for the USW project. Tracii is a Senior Lecturer in the Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE), The University of Melbourne. Her research interests broadly relates to the student experience in higher education, with particular interest in the areas of student wellbeing, belonging and improving teaching and learning.
email: tracii.ryan@unimelb.edu.au
Associate Professor Wendy Larcombe (retired 2024)
Wendy Larcombe was a Chief Investigator for the USW project until 2024. Prior to her retirement, Wendy researched issues affecting student engagement and mental wellbeing in higher education. She has also conducted extensive research into the scripting of gender and sexuality in law, with a focus on rape law reform.
Expert International Partners
Professor Daniel Eisenberg
Daniel Eisenberg is a Professor of Health Policy and Management in the Fielding School of Public Health at UCLA. His broad research goal is to improve understanding of how to invest effectively in the mental health of young people. He is a Principal Investigator of the Healthy Minds Network (HMN) for Research on Adolescent and Young Adult Mental Health.
Dr Nicola Byrom
Nicola Byrom studies mental health and wellbeing in emerging adulthood. Her focus is on public health, exploring the institutional, social, and cultural factors that shape individual mental health. She supported the initial development of the University Mental Health Charter and her research has informed policy and practice guidance including Advance HE’s Education for Mental Health Toolkit.
Student Reference Group
Heidee Austic (she/her) – President (2023-2024), Murdoch Student Guild
Heidee studied a Masters of Forensic Science at Murdoch University and was the President of the Murdoch University Student Guild between 2023-2024. She was also a Murdoch student elected Senate representative. As her role as President of the Student Guild, she represented the student body both within the University and to external organisations.
Amelia Cotsanis (she/her) – Welfare Officer (2023), RMIT University Student Union
Amelia is a graduate of a Bachelor of Youth Work and Youth Studies at RMIT University, and former Welfare Officer for the RMIT Student Union. She is passionate about working alongside and supporting young people, empowering them to achieve positive mental health and well-being outcomes.
Riley Jones (he/they) – Queer Officer (2023), Flinders University Student Association
Riley was the Flinders University Student Association Queer Officer and was studying toward their Bachelor of Creative Industries (Writing & Publishing). They have a passion for advocacy, and particularly when working on behalf of the rural, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ communities.
Manisha Kulasinghe (she/her) – Women’s Officer (2023), James Cook University Student Association
Manisha studied Medicine at James Cook University and was the Women’s Councillor at the James Cook University Student Association. She is interested in helping women, particularly in rural and remote areas. She is also passionate about weightlifting and baking.
Liam McLaren (he/him) – President (2023-2024), Tasmanian University Student Association
Liam was President of the Tasmanian University Student Association in 2023 and 2024. Liam was also a Bachelor of Science (Honours) student conducting social research in regenerative agriculture.
Bailey Riley (she/her) – President (2023), National Union of Students
Elected as President of The National Union of Students in 2023, Bailey has been a staunch advocate for students in tertiary education. Bailey began tertiary education at TAFE Ultimo before being accepted into a Bachelor of Communications at the University of Technology Sydney.
Tess Robb (she/her) – Welfare Officer (2024), Swinburne Student Union
Tess is studying a Bachelor of Applied Innovation/Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Swinburne University. Aside from her Welfare Officer role, she is also the current Swinburne Representative Council Chair and the elected 2024/2025 Swinburne Student Life Board Director.
Isaac Solomon (he/him) – President (2022-2024), University of South Australia’s Student Association
Isaac Solomon served as President of the University of South Australia’s Student Association (USASA) Student Board since 2022. He studied a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (History and Global Politics). Through his expertise in governance and community advocacy Isaac worked to ensures student voice is integrated within the university’s decision making at every level.
John Sopar (any pronouns) – Indigenous Officer (2023), Monash Student Association
John is a proud Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara person who studied a Bachelor of Science and Arts at Monash University. John has a particular passion in empowering people’s personal stories and using these stories to bring equity.
