Professor Jo Robinson AM has been elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS), recognising her significant contributions to youth suicide prevention research and policy development.
Prof. Robinson, Head of Suicide Prevention Research at Orygen and Scientific Director at the Orygen Policy Centre, is one of 29 leading health and medical researchers elected to the Academy for 2026. Fellowship is one of the highest honours in Australian health and medical sciences, recognising exceptional achievements and sustained contributions to improving health.
Prof. Robinson said it was an honour to be named an AAHMS Fellow.
“It’s a privilege to be recognised alongside researchers and health professionals whose work is making such an important contribution to improving health and wellbeing in Australia,” Prof. Robinson said.
“This recognition also highlights the importance of ongoing suicide prevention research in today’s youth mental health crisis, and the innovative approaches that can really make a difference in young people’s lives.”
In her work at Orygen, Prof. Robinson leads research focused on developing and evaluating innovative approaches to suicide prevention for young people.
Her work has helped bridge the gap between research and real-world practice, informing approaches to suicide prevention across clinical settings, digital platforms and public policy. A key contribution has been the development of #chatsafe, the world’s first evidence-based guidelines for safe peer-to-peer communication about suicide and self-harm online. These locally adapted and translated resources for young people, parents, carers and educators have been downloaded across 30 countries, with the #chatsafe social media campaign reaching more than 13 million Australians.
Prof. Robinson’s research and policy expertise have also informed government advice and suicide prevention initiatives in Australia and internationally.
She is currently serving as president of The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), through until 2028. IASP works globally to prevent suicide by building partnerships, sharing evidence-based strategies, and encouraging actions to reduce suicide and suicidal behaviour.
In 2023, Prof. Robinson was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to community health through suicide prevention awareness and support.
Her election to AAHMS recognises the importance of research that translates evidence into practical approaches to improving health outcomes and supporting young people experiencing mental ill-health.