Dr Bronwyn Milkins will begin research with (L-R) Dr Ines Pandzic, Dr Karen Lombardi, Dr Michael English, Dr Megan Ansell, Dr Tanika Sgherza and (unpictured) Dr Hayley Jackson, Professor Jeneva Ohan and Professor Helen Milroy.
Healing Kids, Healing Families researchers will map family decision making about their children’s mental health support after the 2026 Embrace Big Idea grant winner was announced today.
Dr Bronwyn Milkins will lead research investigating the critical points in which families make decisions that shape whether they access mental health support with the award, which is valued up to $150,000.
By identifying these key sliding doors moments, researchers will be able to provide more targeted support to improve early engagement.
According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, two in five young people experience a mental health condition every year.
But just 30 per cent of those young Australians access professional services.
“And of those, most only engage when they are in crisis,” Dr Milkins said.
“We need to work out how to get them into services more successfully.”
“We’ve done a lot of research working out individual factors behind help-seeking, but we think the missing piece is how the family communicates with each other.”
Ultimately, the big picture goal is for families to be involved at every stage of the help-seeking journey of young people.
Public health messaging will be developed to reduce stigma and provide support for families at the initial stage of considering seeking mental health support, while tailored resources will also be made with young people, caregivers, clinicians and service providers to support service navigation.
“Right now, mental health services often focus on the individual coming to care,” Dr Milkins said.
“It should not be the case that you have to get into CAMHS to involve family – there needs to be more opportunities to go through the mental health journey together.”
Adolescents and caregivers will participate in multiple interviews during the development of the map.
The Embrace Big Idea award is judged by an independent panel of community members, researchers, and professional staff at The Kids Research Institute of Australia.
Embrace is proudly supported by principal partner Rio Tinto and Channel 7 Telethon Trust.
First published Tuesday 4 August 2026.
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