Professor Nicola Reavley
Affiliation: The Centre for Mental Health, University of Melbourne
Discipline: Public Health
Year elected: 2024
How would you describe your work at a dinner party?
I study public knowledge and attitudes to mental health and illness and how we can shift those in beneficial ways.
What initially drew you to your field of study?
My field of study has varied a bit over the years but I am currently a population mental health researcher and I have been doing that for about 20 years. I am interested in contributing to structural or societal changes – the challenges are enormous but so is the potential to have an impact.
What question or issue, in your field, keeps you awake at night?
The state of the world young people are facing.
What continues to motivate your work?
The chance to make a difference, however, small.
What should your field of study be doing more of right now?
More real progress on the social determinants of mental health – we need to really tackle some of the big issues facing society – economic inequality, climate change and the AI revolution – they are going to profoundly impact mental health and we aren’t really doing enough.
Where is your ‘happy’ place?
In front of an easel with a painting that is working.
What is your desert island book, song and/or movie?
I love Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall books – and the TV show. The deep research, tendency to challenge orthodox views and wry humour are a very appealing to me.