Mental Health Referral Network

The Mental Health Referral Network (MHRN) has been designed to provide a wide range of services, from basic mental wellness checks to comprehensive clinical treatment plans. Eligible individuals are encouraged to reach out and seek support for any mental health issues, challenges or a general wellbeing matter.

The Mental Health Referral Network (MHRN) provides eligible athletes and individuals from Australia’s high performance (HP) sports system with priority access to a network of AIS-endorsed psychologists, psychiatrists and neuropsychologists across the country.

"We need to tackle the day to day wellness of athletes rather than wait to intervene in critical situations. The AIS MHRN enables athletes to check-in, to talk to someone, outside the athletes sporting environment in order to help them understand and manage any issue they may be facing."

Matt Butterworth, AIS Mental Health Manager

How to contact the service

The MHRN access line

Phone: +61 02 6214 1130 (Monday - Friday 9am-5pm AET)
Email: mentalhealth@sportaus.gov.au

The MRHN can be accessed via self-referral, or someone can make an enquiry or referral on behalf of an Individual. People who can make referrals on an individuals behalf can include but are not limited to friends, family members, staff from sporting organisations, medical practitioners, and allied health professionals.

Upon calling or emailing in to the MHRN service, an AIS Mental Health Advisor, who is a qualified psychologist, will discuss your concerns and circumstances. The next step will be to connect you (or the person you are referring) to the most suitable psychologist or mental health practitioner, based on their expertise and location. All practitioners are highly skilled in mental health, understand the high performance sporting environment and the unique demands faced by elite athletes and those in the sporting system.

Please note that the MHRN is not an emergency call service. If you are urgently concerned about your wellbeing, or that of someone close to you, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 for immediate 24/7 support. If someone’s life is in danger, call 000 at once.

Featured psychologists

Dr Lyndel Abbott

Lead psychologist with the Australian Olympic Team in at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games

Lyndel completed her Doctorate of Clinical Psychology at the University of Sydney in 2005. Since then she has had extensive experience in both the sporting and clinical domains. Clinically Lyndel has worked in university settings as well as community mental health, inpatient units, drug and alcohol facilities and is now in her own Private Practice in Crows Nest, Sydney. Lyndel has been able to apply her clinical training and experience to the world of sports first through her role as Residential Athlete Counsellor at the AIS, and then as a Psychologist with the Australian Olympic Team at the London 2012 Games, and as the Lead Psychologist at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

“The Mental Health Referral Network is a great initiative that allows athletes across the country to access quality psychological care to help them thrive both in and outside the field of play. It means that the athletes pursuing Olympic excellence have support when they need it."

Dr John Baranoff

Extensive experience working with the AIS, state and national sport networks and professional footballers

John has worked with athletes from a wide range of sports in private practice and in his former role with the Australian Institute of Sport, Performance Psychology Unit. He has also worked extensively with athletes from professional football codes as well as state and national sport networks, particularly in the area of mental health, persistent pain, and the psychology of sport injury rehabilitation. John has significant experience as a psychologist within a number of national mental health networks for athletes, and he has worked within the broader mental health system to gain an up to date understanding of best practice.

“Based on my experience within an institute and within national sporting organisations, I believe it’s important to have a coordinated approach to provide timely help when it’s needed. Early intervention for mental health leads to better health and performance outcomes. The Mental Health Referral Network supports and strengthens the work already being done within the national sporting organisations, and within the state and national institutes and academies.”

Kim Mercer

20 years professional experience in clinical and sporting arenas

Kim is a Clinical Psychologist and high-performance specialist with more than twenty years’ professional experience in both clinical and sporting arenas.

As Team Psychologist for the Fremantle Dockers AFL Club since 2010, Kim has worked with elite athletes and coaches, dealing with both on and off-field issues.

Kim has consulted to the AFL Players Association and provided support for current AFL Women’s players and ex-AFL players who have transitioned out of the game. She has consulted with athletes competing at a national and international level across a many sports.

In her private practice, Kim has worked with a broad range of clinical and mental health matters and coached high performing executives in the corporate sector.

“The AIS initiative of having a designated Mental Health Referral Network of skilled and experienced Psychologists who understand the unique challenges of a sporting environment is imperative for ensuring the highest level of psychological support and individual care for our elite athletes.”