Lexine Stapinski

Dr Lexine Stapinski is a Senior Research Fellow and Lead in Intervention and Implementation at the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney. She is a registered Clinical Psychologist and currently holds an NHMRC Translating Research into Practice Fellowship. Her research focusses on understanding how alcohol and substance use disorders develop, and how we can intervene early on to reduce their impact and prevent escalation. Addressing critical shortcomings of the existing evidence base, she has worked in partnership with key stakeholders and youth to develop and evaluate two innovative internet-delivered welling programs: the Inroads early intervention for anxiety and alcohol problems, and the Strong and Deadly Futures culturally-inclusive wellbeing program for schools. Her leadership of the national Positive Choices initiative facilitates translation of prevention strategies to over 1 million users and 3,000 schools. Dr Stapinski has produced >77 research publications and the impact of her research has been recognized by eight awards, including the TheMHS Early Career Research Innovation award (2015), the Australian Drug Foundation Primary Prevention award (2019), and the Mental Health Matters Mental Health Promotion and Wellbeing Award (2017).