A collective impact approach to integrated care. Applying research to optimise clinical impact.
| Thursday, November 6, 2025 |
| 9:55 AM - 10:25 AM |
Overview
Professor Russell Roberts, Charles Stuart University
Presenter
Professor Russell Roberts
Professor
Charles Sturt University
A collective impact approach to integrated care. Applying research to optimise clinical impact.
Presentation Overview
The last three decades has seen astonishing progress in health outcomes. This progress is related to advances in health promotion, illness prevention, screening and treatment. However, people living in rural communities and people living with mental health conditions have not benefitted equally from these system enhancements. This presentation overviews the extent and pattern of the health disparities for marginalised population groups, including people living with mental health conditions, and offers simple, practical actions that will make a difference.
There is an unacceptable, and indeed, scandalous health equity gap for significant sections of our population. The premature death rates for people living with mental health conditions are between 4-6 times higher than for the rest of the population, and approximately two thirds of these deaths are ‘excess’ or potentially preventable. A deeper analysis of the research data provides important insights that if applied to clinical and public health practice, would dramatically improve the mental health and physical health of people living with mental health conditions.
Current research underscores the urgent need for action, and points to targeted solutions to reduce the health inequalities for marginalised populations, especially those living in rural communities. However, they also demonstrate that research evidence alone is not sufficient to drive change. As such, the presentation suggests actions for researchers, advocates and service providers to effectively address the physical health disparities for people living with mental health conditions.
There is an unacceptable, and indeed, scandalous health equity gap for significant sections of our population. The premature death rates for people living with mental health conditions are between 4-6 times higher than for the rest of the population, and approximately two thirds of these deaths are ‘excess’ or potentially preventable. A deeper analysis of the research data provides important insights that if applied to clinical and public health practice, would dramatically improve the mental health and physical health of people living with mental health conditions.
Current research underscores the urgent need for action, and points to targeted solutions to reduce the health inequalities for marginalised populations, especially those living in rural communities. However, they also demonstrate that research evidence alone is not sufficient to drive change. As such, the presentation suggests actions for researchers, advocates and service providers to effectively address the physical health disparities for people living with mental health conditions.
Biography
Russell Roberts is Professor of Leadership at Charles Sturt University, NSW. He is National Director of Equally Well Australia and served for two terms as Editor in Chief of the Australian Journal of Rural Health. He is Chair of the Global Leadership Exchange, Physical Health stream and leads the International Collaborative Learning Network on mental health and physical illness. He is also a Foundation Investigator on the Rural Universities Mental Health Research Network. He is on the board of the Australia and New Zealand Mental Health Association and Clinical Associate Professor at The University of Sydney. He was the Chair of the Rural Mental Health Conference for 10 years. He has published over 120 research papers and reports resulting in approx. 6,000 citations of his work.
Russell previously worked as Executive Director of Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol services in rural NSW. This organisation comprised over 1,100 staff delivering services across the spectrum of care. Facilities in this organisation ranged from the largest integrated health/mental health hospital in the Southern Hemisphere, to small community-based teams in some of Australia’s most remote communities such as Burke and Lightning Ridge.
With over two decades experience in developing, implementing, and consolidating new and innovative health services across a range of complex service environments, and a unique career profile as a clinician, researcher, executive director and rural mental health advocate, he is referenced as one of the 50 most influential rural Australians.
