Professor Manjula Datta O’Connor is a distinguished psychiatrist specializing in migrant women’s mental health, family violence, and complex trauma. Her significant contributions span clinical practice, research, and advocacy, profoundly impacting public policy and community education in Australia.
Championing Mental Health and Advocacy
Professor O’Connor serves as an Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of New South Wales Department of Social Sciences. She is a leading voice in the Royal Australian New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, chairing the Family Violence Psychiatry Network and pioneering family violence education for psychiatrists since 2014.
Her private practice focuses on the mental health challenges faced by migrant women, addressing family violence, trauma therapy, and complex trauma. Through her clinical and research endeavors, Professor O’Connor actively translates academic findings into practical community education and prevention programs.
Leadership in the Australasian Centre for Human Rights and Health
In 2012, Professor O’Connor co-founded the Australasian Centre for Human Rights and Health (ACHRH). Under her leadership, ACHRH has developed innovative programs to educate culturally diverse communities about domestic violence prevention and Australian cultural integration. Notably, she spearheaded a successful campaign against dowry abuse, leading to legislative changes in Victoria in 2019 and influencing national principles addressing coercive control in family and domestic violence.
ACHRH, under Professor O’Connor’s directorship, has received numerous grants, totaling approximately $1 million over the past five years, and won the Innovative Award for the Mutual Cultural Respect program. Her advocacy continues to push for changes in federal laws to better protect migrant women.
Recognitions and Contributions
Professor O’Connor’s work has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Meritorious Award of the Royal New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Victorian Branch and the Victorian Government Multicultural Award for Excellence in Service Delivery in Women’s Health. She has also been named among the top 100 Indians of Australia and was a finalist for the Changemaker Award at Women’s Agenda.
Her contributions extend globally, with invitations to keynote and panel sessions at international conferences in India and Australia. Her expertise is frequently sought by government committees, and her work is regularly cited in Victorian and Federal Australian Parliaments.
Author and Public Figure
Professor O’Connor is the acclaimed author of the bestselling book “Daughters of Durga,” which sheds light on the plight of migrant women. She is a regular guest on various media platforms, informing public debates on the safety and mental health of migrant women.
For more information on Professor Manjula Datta O’Connor’s work and initiatives, visit www.manjulaoconnor.com.
