From veterinary medicine to naturopathy, the Mental Health and Neuroscience postgraduate programs have just graduated the 100th student. Graduates are translating mental health and neuroscience knowledge into diverse, real‑world impact.
Working as a veterinary nurse gave Cat Walker a personal insight into the mental health crisis within the industry as she navigated her own husband’s declining mental health.
This year, Cat will be among the first 100 graduates of our Mental Health and Neuroscience postgraduate programs.
Meanwhile, another student, Jules Galloway, is just beginning.
For a program only launched in July 2020, graduating 100 students in 2026 is a big milestone.
With flexible application, across a vast array of career paths and fully remote learning available, these programs are highly versatile and beneficial in so many ways.
“No longer is mental health a field exclusively for clinicians. Mental health understanding is integral to any career path that supports people. Our students are applying their knowledge to education, leadership, social work, policymaking and more. We offer the only fully online postgraduate program that covers both mental health and neuroscience in Australia. To my knowledge, it's one of only two in the world,” - Professor Daniel Hermens, Program Coordinator.
Tackling mental health in the veterinary world
Originally trained as a litigation lawyer, Cat started working as a vet nurse when she and her husband opened their own clinic in Far North Queensland.
They struggled to find other rurally-based vets to work in the clinic and had to face many challenges – like the reality of families being unable to afford lifesaving surgeries and the emotional fallout that comes with that.
Cat’s husband developed an almost fatal substance use disorder, trying to escape this pressure, and the marriage broke down – then they sold the clinic.
After closing the clinic doors, Cat moved back to the Sunshine Coast and continued to delve into mental health in the veterinary industry.
The more she looked at this industry-wide problem, the more she began to uncover.
“We have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession; it’s four times higher than the general population and twice as high as other human medical practitioners,” she said.
“So, there’s a huge mental health crisis in vet medicine.”
Cat will complete the Graduate Certificate of Mental Health and Neuroscience program this year and she’s delivering lifechanging talks to veterinary professionals around the world, including one based on the white paper she worked on during her studies about suicide in the industry.
It was Cat’s best friend, a senior neuroscientist with Thompson Institute – where the master’s program is delivered – who encouraged her to enrol in and complete the degree.
“After my friend told me UniSC was offering government-subsidised positions in the postgraduate program, I enrolled immediately,” Cat said.
“They tell you straight away it’s about translational science.
“Being able to go back to your own profession and translate the content and make it relevant for whatever field you work in.”
Cat now works full time in mediation and conflict management for veterinary clinics while also delivering presentations for international vet conferences, on the topic of mental health in the industry.
She offers support and acknowledges upfront the darkness that comes with this career.
It’s a support that is gratefully received by fellow vet practitioners, with many approaching Cat after her presentations to express the gratitude for attention in this area.
One special moment during an early talk on suicide stands out for Cat.
“He looked exhausted and broken but he waited for everyone to leave, came up to me and quietly said ‘thank you so much’,” she said.
Supporting neurodivergence with naturopathy
As one student graduates, another is just beginning.
Meet Jules Galloway, a well-respected naturopath based in Melbourne. Jules has been treating people with naturopathy for more than 20 years, focusing on mental health and chronic fatigue.
She is highly successful, having worked in private and clinical practice, as a podcaster and public speaker.
Then, a few years ago, Jules was diagnosed with ADHD, which sent her “into a rabbit hole, learning as much as I could about how naturopathy can help.”
Now, Jules runs training courses for fellow naturopaths, nutritionists and integrative GPs on how to use evidence-based natural medicine to support ADHD clients.
By enrolling in our Graduate Diploma of Mental Health and Neuroscience with plans to carry on to do the Master’s, Jules hopes to deepen her “understanding of how the brain works”.
“Which will support me in private practice, speaking and mentoring,” she said.
“I want to improve the quality of education I put out there for natural health practitioners.”
Once graduated, Jules wants to engage more speaking opportunities, not only around ADHD but into the broader mental health space as well.
“I can definitely see more practitioner education offerings on the horizon.”
“Who knows – maybe I’ll even write a book.”
So, watch this space.
Two very different career applications from the same program – and at least 100 more with their own unique stories waiting to be told.
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