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Adam Chen is on the Psychology pathway at the University of Birmingham. Adam undertook an OIV to Orygen/the Centre for Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne from February 14 to May 16, 2026.

During the OIV, Adam focused on bridging the gap between academic research and real-world policy engagement. A central element of his role involved working with the "Right Here Right Now" (RHRN) national survey of approximately 3,000 young Australians, which investigates the underlying drivers and prevalence of mental ill-health. Adam conducted content analysis on the concerns of young people and created a two-page policy document summarizing key findings. This work culminated in a unique knowledge translation opportunity where he presented research directly to politicians and policy advisors at Parliament House in Canberra.

In addition to his policy work, Adam co-wrote an Orygen Policy Centre positioning paper designed to link youth priorities with future policy agendas. He also expanded his international academic network by connecting with prominent global suicide prevention experts, attending the National Suicide Prevention Conference in Sydney, and presenting his own doctoral research at the Orygen Colloquia and the School of Population and Global Health.

Adam noted that the experience immensely boosted his confidence in handling mixed methods data and offered vital clarity on pursuing post-doctoral career pathways within dedicated research centres.