Emerging Minds was saddened to hear of the loss of Emeritus Professor Beverley Raphael AM, MBBS, MD, FRANZCP, FRCPsych, Hon MD (Newc), FASSA.
Professor Raphael has made an extraordinary lifelong contribution nationally and internationally to infant, child and adolescent mental health; trauma, loss and bereavement, prevention, women’s mental health and to the field of prevention in mental health.
Among her many contributions, Professor Raphael played an important role in establishing and supporting the work of Emerging Minds (formerly the Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association).
In 1995, Professor Raphael provided a keynote address at our inaugural conference in Adelaide. Beverley’s keynote addresses were always very highly regarded as she had an encyclopaedic knowledge of mental health.
In 1999, in her role as Chair of the national Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Working Party, Professor Raphael supported our organisation to undertake a national scoping study on children of parents with a mental illness. This work led to the establishment of the national Children of Parents with a Mental Illness initiative. In parallel to this, Professor Raphael also supported the establishment of the Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma Loss and Grief Network. Her pioneering work in bereavement and psychological trauma, including disasters and mental health; continues to be the foundation of much of our work at Emerging Minds.
Most recently, Professor Raphael worked closely with us to join up the work of Emerging Minds and the Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma Loss and Grief Network in the lead up to the development of the Emerging Minds: National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health.
“Beverley has been a constant support to me for over two decades in encouraging the ongoing development of our organisation. Beverley’s contribution to the promotion of mental health and early intervention in Australia is without peer. Beverley will be sadly missed by all of us who had the privilege of knowing and working with her.” Phil Robinson, Chair, Board of Directors at Emerging Minds.