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ATSIMS Value Add Grant - GBRF
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation provided a 2025 Value Add Grant to enhance and extend the impact of the ATSIMS program beyond its core delivery. The funding supported additional opportunities including program coordination, storytelling and communications, Traditional Owner and Ranger participation, student engagement activities, and program evaluation, strengthening the program's reach, partnerships and long-term impact.
Beyond ATSIMS incubation Grant
The WWF Australia and Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation grant supported the Beyond ATSIMS program, providing ongoing opportunities for outstanding ATSIMS alumni to continue their engagement in marine science beyond the initial program. Funding enabled mentoring, skills development, career exploration, leadership opportunities and pathways into higher education, helping students build confidence, networks and long-term participation in STEM.
ATSIMS Reef Education MoU
A three-year Memorandum of Understanding between James Cook University (ATSIMS) and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's Reef Education Team provided $150,000 in funding ($50,000 per year) to support the ongoing delivery of ATSIMS. The partnership strengthened reef education, place-based learning and career pathways by connecting First Nations students with marine science, Sea Country and Great Barrier Reef stewardship.
Establishing a rodent model of rheumatic heart disease to evaluate hookworm-derived frontline proteins NaAIP1 and AcFAR2 as therapeutic candidates
This project aims to establish a robust rodent model of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) to investigate pathological cardiac inflammation and provide a platform for therapeutic evaluation. Using this model, we will assess the efficacy and mechanisms of hookworm-derived immunomodulatory proteins as novel therapeutic candidates for RHD.
Co-designed sleep health program to achieve better sleep and improved mental health symptoms in Indigenous adolescents
The overarching goal of the Let’s Yarn About Sleep project is to co-design, deliver, and co-evaluate a sleep health program for First Nations adolescents in remote Australia. The specific objectives of this project are to:
1) Co-create a sleep health program for First Nations adolescents
2) Train and upskill Aboriginal Youth Workers (AYWs) as “Sleep Coaches” to deliver the program.
3) Evaluate the program's acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness in improving First Nations adolescents' sleep health and SEWB.
Supporting Provisional Psychologists to Practice - Stream 2
Mental Health Program - Addressing Critical Psychology Shortages – Supporting Provisional Psychologists to Practice Grant (GO6626). $1,179,686 including GST, 2023 to 2027. Funds 300 full supervisor training places and 160 masterclass places nationally, with additional places awarded by the Department across the final two years.
Supervisor experiences of psychology skills required for rural and remote practice
The aim of this research was to gain a broader understanding of the skill needs of supervisors providing board
approved supervision to rural and remote psychologists from the perspective of new and experienced
supervisors and to evaluate the efficacy of curriculum developed to address rural and remote as a
competency.
Publications
Varela, S. M., Hays, C., Knight, S., & Hays, R. (2021). Models of remote professional supervision
for psychologists in rural and remote locations: A systematic review. Australian Journal of Rural
Health, 29(2), 211-225.
Varela, S. M, Jones, S., Schlicht, K., Aniftos, M, Varela, A. J., Foley, C., & Felton-Busch, C. (unpublished – ready for submission). Perspectives of Experienced Supervisors: How Can We Better Support the Rural and Remote Psychology Workforce?
Varela, S. M, Jones, S., Schlicht, K., Aniftos, M, Varela, A. J., Foley, C., & Felton-Busch, C. (paper being developed). The Development of a Rural and Remote Curriculum for Supervision
Varela, S. M, Jones, S., Schlicht, K., Aniftos, M, Varela, A. J., Foley, C., & Felton-Busch, C. (paper being developed). Rural and Remote Supervision as a Competency: Training Outcomes
Conference presentations:
1. Varela, S. M. (2023, 9 November). Supporting the Rural and Remote Psychology Workforce: Perspectives of Experienced Supervisors. Rural Mental Health Conference, Albury, NSW.
2. Varela, S. M. & Jones, S. (2023, 12 July). Strengthening the Rural/Remote Allied Health Workforce. 11th Biennial "Are You Remotely Interested...?" Conference. MCRRH, JCU, Mount Isa.
3. Varela, S. M. (2020, 1 October). Remote clinical supervision for psychologists located in
geographically rural and remote locations. "Are You Remotely Interested...?" 2020 Virtual Conference. MCRRH, JCU, Mount Isa.
4. Varela, S. M. (2020, 25 May). Professional Supervisor Training Needs for the Rural and Remote Psychology Workforce. 7th Rural and Remote Health Scientific Symposium (Virtual Pre-Symposium). National Rural Health Alliance, Canberra.
Evaluation of patient outcomes from the Western Queensland Primary Health Network (WQPHN) Mental Health Collaborative
The purpose of this evaluation is to determine the association of implementation of the mental health collaborative with changes in client outcomes (particularly overall wellbeing and functioning) over a 12 month period.
Health Workforce Program: Expansion of the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training Program in More Remote Settings
Expansion of the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training Program in More Remote Settings in Victoria, University of Melbourne (UDRH) — Mental Health and Wellbeing for Remote and Aboriginal Victorians
Mindful Ageing: A Control-Enhancement Mindfulness Pilot Intervention for Regional Australian Older Adults
This pilot study adapts an 8-week mindfulness program to support mental health and enhance a sense of control among regional Australian older adults experiencing psychological distress. Older adults frequently report a diminished sense of control, which exacerbates anxiety and depression. Participants will engage in guided mindfulness and structured inquiries to better recognise controllable versus uncontrollable life domains. This project evaluates if the intervention successfully reduces distress and strengthens personal agency, providing critical pilot data to leverage significant future funding applications for regional mental health care.