Jackie Curtis

Dr Jackie Curtis is the Executive Director of the Mindgardens Neuroscience Network. She is also Clinical Lead of Youth Mental Health, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District and Conjoint Professor with the Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health UNSW. She has worked with young people experiencing psychosis, and emerging mental health disorders in public mental health services. She has a long-standing interest in the physical health of people living with psychosis. Professor Curtis’s clinical research has had strong research translation implications, influencing clinical practice, health service delivery, policy and guidelines in mental health services locally, nationally and internationally. She co-founded the international group concerned with physical health in young people experiencing psychosis (iphYs) in 2010 which she co-chairs. This is now auspiced by the International Early Psychosis Association. Dr Curtis is regularly invited to speak nationally and internationally on youth mental health, and physical health co-morbidities and was invited to be part of the WHO guideline development group for physical health in people experiencing severe mental illness.

Emma is a registered pharmacist who has worked in the health sector for over 20 years, both in Australia and abroad. She was a Specialist Mental Health Pharmacist and the Chief Pharmacist at Wyong Hospital for nearly 10 years and, prior to entering Parliament, she was the Deputy Director of Pharmacy for Central Coast Local Health District. Emma’s background and experience as a healthcare professional led her to Parliament, where she fights for better health services for all Australians.

She is a passionate advocate for quality affordable healthcare, close to home. She understands the unique challenges facing rural and regional communities when it comes to accessing healthcare and she hopes to play a role in shaping public policy that promotes the health and wellbeing of every Australian, regardless of where they live.