Rate Professor Helen Milroy

Professional Summary: Professor Helen Milroy

Professor Helen Milroy is a distinguished academic and psychiatrist at the University of Western Australia (UWA), recognized for her pioneering contributions to child and adolescent mental health, Indigenous health, and trauma-informed care. With a career spanning clinical practice, research, and policy advocacy, she has made significant impacts on mental health frameworks in Australia, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Academic Background and Degrees

Professor Milroy holds the following qualifications:

• Medical Degree (MBBS) from the University of Western Australia
• Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (FRANZCP)
• Certificate of Advanced Training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Research Specializations and Academic Interests

Her research and academic interests focus on:

• Child and adolescent mental health
• Indigenous mental health and well-being
• Trauma, grief, and loss in marginalized communities
• Holistic and culturally informed approaches to mental health care

Career History and Appointments

Professor Milroy has held numerous prestigious roles throughout her career:

• Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Western Australia
• Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Perth Children’s Hospital
• Commissioner with the Australian Government’s Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2013–2017)
• Co-Deputy Chair of the National Mental Health Commission’s Advisory Committee
• Director of the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health at UWA (previous role)

Major Awards, Fellowships, and Honors

Her contributions have been widely recognized through numerous accolades:

• Western Australian of the Year (Community Category) – 2013
• Indigenous Professional of the Year, NAIDOC Awards – 2011
• Honorary Research Fellowship, Telethon Kids Institute

Key Publications

Professor Milroy has authored and co-authored several impactful works, including:

• Working Together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principles and Practice (Co-editor, 2014)
• Various peer-reviewed articles on Indigenous child mental health and trauma in journals such as the Medical Journal of Australia and Australasian Psychiatry (specific titles and years widely cited but not individually listed here due to volume)

Influence and Impact on Academic Field

Professor Milroy is widely regarded as a leading voice in Indigenous mental health in Australia. Her work has influenced national policies on trauma-informed care and culturally safe mental health practices. Through her role in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, she contributed to shaping recommendations for systemic change to protect vulnerable populations. Her advocacy for integrating cultural perspectives into mental health frameworks has had a lasting impact on both academic research and clinical practice.

Public Lectures, Committees, and Editorial Contributions

Professor Milroy is an active contributor to public discourse and academic leadership:

• Regular speaker at national and international conferences on Indigenous health and child psychiatry
• Member of various advisory committees on mental health policy in Australia
• Contributor to editorial projects and guideline development for culturally appropriate mental health care