Melissa Opozda

Research Fellow

College of Medicine and Public Health

melissa.opozda@flinders.edu.au

Adelaide Home Office

Dr Mel Opozda is an AHPRA-registered Health Psychologist, Research Fellow in Boys' and Men’s Mental Health in CMPH, and Lead of the Digital Health and Wellbeing Cluster in the FHMRI Health Equity Impact Program, working on Kaurna land in Tarntanya/Adelaide. Her research relates to boys', young men's, and men's mental health, wellbeing, health behaviours (e.g., health care access, substance use, gambling), and models of mental health and wellbeing care and support that suit their preferences and circumstances - especially delivered in digital settings such as social media and online forums.

Mel is particularly interested in these issues in equity-owed populations of boys and men. Her current main role is evaluating a new social media-based mental health promotion program for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males in the Northern Territory (YBMenNT). She has recently worked on projects examining men's experiences of using telehealth services, men's alcohol use during Covid, African migrant men's perceptions of mental health care, and men's use of and preferences for e-mental health interventions.

She is current primary supervisor on one PhD project and co-supervisor to three PhD projects, all focused on boys' and men's mental health and wellbeing promotion. Mel is available to supervise Honours, Masters, and PhD projects related to boys, young men's, and men's mental health, wellbeing, health care, and health behaviours.

Mel was previously at the Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing and has also worked in a variety of teaching, health education, health promotion, and clinical settings.

Current roles:

FHMRI Health Equity Impact Program Lead, Digital Health and Wellbeing Cluster.
Movember Institute of Men's Health Research Partner.
Bellberry Ltd Human Research Ethics Committee Member.
ALIVE National Centre Next Gen Researcher Network Member.

Professional memberships:

Australian Association for Psychologists Inc.
International Society for Research on Internet Interventions.
Australian Health Promotion Association.
Society for Mental Health Research

Qualifications

Jan 2018: PhD (Psychology)
Dec 2010: M Psych (Health)
Dec 2004: BA Hons (Psychology)

Honours, awards and grants

Funding:

ALIVE National Centre Next Gen Researcher Network Capacity Building Funding Scheme. Co-designing recommendations to inform development of online single-session mental health and wellbeing interventions for adolescent boys and young men. 2026, $19,919. Chief Investigator A.
FHMRI Kickstart Grant Program. Questions, discussions, and constructions of manhood in a reddit community dedicated to inclusive, progressive masculinities. 2026, $10,000. Chief Investigator A.
Australian Government Department of Education Round 6 National Industry PhD Scholarship. School-based programs for adolescent boys and young men: Promoting mental health, healthy masculinities, and positive relationships. 2026-29, $232,288. Chief Investigator A.
MRFF Million Minds Mental Health Research Mission. Casting the Net for What Matters: The ALIVE National Consortium for Equitable Wellbeing and Mental Health Systems Transformation. 2025-30, $10 million. Chief Investigator.
Flinders Foundation Health Seed Grants. YBMenSport: An adaptation of a wellbeing program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boys and young males through sport. 2025-27, $24,613. Chief Investigator.
Movember Institute for Men's Health. Evaluation and Implementation Science Partner for the Movember Indigenous Social and Emotional Wellbeing Portfolio. 2024-29, $2.1 million. Chief Investigator.
Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute. Health Equity Impact Program. 2024-27, $210,000. Chief Investigator.
Movember Digital Social Connections Challenge. Implementation of the YBMenNT online social and emotional wellbeing program for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males. 2023-25, $399,766. Chief Investigator.
ANZUP Below the Belt Research Fund. Why do men leave active surveillance? A mixed methods investigation examining factors contributing to active surveillance adherence. 2018-19, $29,275. Chief Investigator.

Awards:

FHMRI Health Equity Impact Program. Research Excellence Award (Early Career Researcher). 2024.
FHMRI Health Equity Impact Program. Travel Grant. 2024.
Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute. EMCR Publication Award. 2024, $3500.
University of Adelaide. Master of Psychology (Health) Award. 2010.

Professional engagement