Adjunct Professor Manjula Datta O'Connor

Adjunct Professor Manjula O'Connor is an Indian-born award-winning psychiatrist, clinician, and researcher. She is a reviewer of journals, change maker in the community, leader, educator, and advocate. Manjula is also an author and wrote the book 'Daughters of Durga'.

Her clinically based research has led to breaking the silence on family violence and dowry abuse. Manjula works closely with community (particularly the indian and broader South Asian community) to promote the prevention of family violence.

Manjula co-founded the AustralAsian Centre for Human Rights and Health in 2012.

Manjula has also pioneered an innovative community education method using community participation theatre.

Manjula recognised the ubiquitous presence of family violence in mental illness. She influenced the Royal Australian and NZ College of Psychiatrists to establish the Victorian Family Violence Working Group in 2014. It became the binational Family Violence Psychiatry Network Committee. Manjula is the chair of this committee.

She led a media campaign, leading to legislative change in Victoria. In 2019 dowry abuse became classified as a form of family violence.

As Chair she influenced the College to endorse a new policy in 2023. This requires psychiatrists to do four hours of family violence education every two years.