Our mission
Coming together to make a difference
Mindgardens Neuroscience Network was established to improve the lives of people who experience mental health, drug and alcohol and neurobehavioural disorders.
At Mindgardens, we bridge the gaps that have held our sector back. We are tackling decades-long delays between original discoveries and changes to practice. We are amplifying missing voices, including those of consumers, so they can challenge conventional thinking. We are breaking down barriers between academic researchers and people working at the coal-face. And we are scaling up pilot programs into efficient, responsive models of care.
Powered by innovation
We lead in the translation of research evidence into better care and support, responding to real-world questions and priorities across mental health, drug and alcohol and behavioural neuroscience.
Collaboration and partnership
We provide the framework for our Member organisations to work together effectively and efficiently, combining their strengths to deliver the most meaningful patient-centred health and wellbeing outcomes.
A learning ecosystem
We are committed to high quality training, education, and support systems for our clinicians, researchers, health managers, peer workforce and community, building our capacity so everyone can contribute to achieving our shared goals.
Our history
Mindgardens is established
The Mindgardens Neuroscience Network makes its debut as a research partnership, established through a $7 million grant from the Commonwealth Government.
Seventeen projects are initiated across mental health, drug and alcohol and neurological disorders.
Mindgardens is launched
The Mindgardens board, executive team and scientists launch the organisation to an audience of politicians, research leaders and community members.
Additional project funding is received from NSW Government and private sources.
Professor Jackie Curtis appointed
After an international search, Professor Curtis is announced as Executive Director.
With extensive experience as a translational research leader and highly respected in clinical practice internationally, her appointment opens new opportunities for Mindgardens.
Mindgardens joins up with RHIP
The Randwick Health and Innovation Precinct confirms Mindgardens as an inaugural participant, with shared objectives for campus-wide collaboration.
Established as a company
Signalling its maturity, the Mindgardens Neuroscience Network transitioned from a partnership of its Members to become a company limited by guarantee.
A new home for Mindgardens
The Mindgardens team moves into dedicated office space at NeuRA headquarters in Randwick.
Recognition for FND Clinic
Mindgardens Functional Neurological Disorders (FND) Clinic wins a SESLHD CORE Award and is a finalist in the NSW Premier’s Awards.
Advocating for psychosis reform
With partner Psychosis Australia, Mindgardens shared an agenda for research in complex mental illness with more than 60 parliamentarians.
Our Members
Mindgardens brings together the strength of our Member organisations, supporting them to share their unique expertise to address the most pressing challenges in mental health, drug and alcohol and neurological disorders.
South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
South Eastern Sydney Local Health District provides care to more than 930,000 residents from Sydney’s CBD to the outskirts of the southern suburbs. SESLHD has nine hospitals and range of community based health care services.
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UNSW Sydney
UNSW Sydney, one of Australia’s Group of Eight leading universities, has an especially strong reputation in life sciences and medicine.
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Mindgardens is a key collaborator in the Randwick Health and Innovation Precinct (RHIP), which has been established to maximise the benefits from physically co-locating UNSW, Randwick campus hospitals, medical research institutes and health partners. As a young organisation that is already partnering successfully across these sectors, Mindgardens is powerful contributor to the Precinct where it represents the benefits and impacts of this approach.
News & Events
Coroner’s recommendations could transform care for people living with severe mental illness
February 6, 2026Professor Jackie Curtis, the Executive Director of Mindgardens Neuroscience Network, has welcomed the recommendations of the NSW State Coroner for mental health system reforms to provide more intensive and consistent care for people living with severe mental illness.
Mindgardens honoured with Angelo Cocchi Translational Impact Award
September 12, 2025Mindgardens Neuroscience Network’s flagship Keeping the Body in Mind program (KBIM) has been honoured with the Angelo Cocchi Translational Impact Award at the 15th International Conference on Early Intervention and Prevention in Mental Health (IEPA), held this year in Berlin.
Mindgardens at the 15th International Conference on Early Intervention and Prevention in Mental Health (IEPA15)
September 8, 2025The Mindgardens Neuroscience Network team is in Berlin this week for the 15th International Conference on Early Intervention and Prevention in Mental Health (IEPA15) and the parallel International Physical Health in Youth Stream (iphYs) and International First Episode Vocational Recovery Group (iFEVR) Joint Symposium.
Mindgardens Neuroscience Network acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures, and to Elders past, present and emerging.
We acknowledge the voices of people with lived experience, their carers, families and kinship groups. We recognise the expertise acquired through living with a mental health, drug and alcohol or neurological disorder and acknowledge those who care for people on their recovery journey. We place lived experience at the heart of all that we do.
