A/Prof Andrea Polari is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist with specialist qualifications in Switzerland and Australia. He graduated from the University of Lausanne Medical School in 1999 and completed specialist training in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy in Switzerland, with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) forming an integral part of his specialist training.
A/Prof Polari is passionate about helping young people and adults navigate mental health challenges and develop meaningful, fulfilling lives.
His clinical style is collaborative, compassionate, and humanistic. He places particular importance on shared decision-making and believes that the most effective treatment plans emerge from a genuine partnership between clinician and patient. Where appropriate, he values the involvement of family members and other supportive people in the recovery process.
He believes that effective psychiatric care combines scientific knowledge with genuine curiosity about the person behind the symptoms. He works closely with individuals to develop treatment plans that support recovery, resilience, and a meaningful life.
Conditions Treated
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – Management only
- Bipolar Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Depression
- Dissociative Identity Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Personality Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
Appointment Type
- Face to Face Appointment
- Telehealth Appointment
Age Range
- Accepts patients aged 15 to 40
Languages
- English
- French
- Italian
Working Experience
A/Prof Polari has worked across both Adult and Youth Mental Health services in Switzerland and Australia for more than two decades.
For over 15 years, he worked at Orygen, one of Australia’s leading youth mental health organisations, where he held consultant psychiatrist positions across a range of specialist programs, including early psychosis, personality disorders, and complex youth mental health presentations.
Alongside his clinical work, A/Prof Polari maintains an active academic profile and currently holds an appointment as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne. His research and publications have focused on youth mental health, early psychosis, psychotherapy, and transcultural psychiatry.
A longstanding advocate for early intervention and youth mental health, he enjoys contributing to both academic and public conversations about mental health, with a particular interest in how culture, meaning, and lived experience shape recovery.
In 2025–2026, A/Prof Polari undertook a clinical sabbatical in Japan at the Centre for Morita Therapy, where he explored Japanese approaches to psychotherapy, wellbeing, and recovery. This experience further deepened his interest in transcultural psychiatry and the relationship between culture, identity, and mental health.
A/Prof Polari has also worked extensively in regional and remote Australia, including providing psychiatric care to Aboriginal communities in Central Australia and the Kimberley region. These experiences have strengthened his commitment to cultural humility and to understanding the unique life experiences, values, and cultural backgrounds that shape each person’s mental health journey.
Membership & Affiliations
Clinical Associate Professor, Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne
Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (FRANZCP)
Associate Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (AFRACMA)
Swiss Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist (FMH)
Member, World Association of Cultural Psychiatry
Member, International Early Psychosis Association (IEPA)
Member, International Association for Youth Mental Health (IAYMH)
Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD)
Special Interest
A/Prof Polari’s clinical interests include:
Early intervention psychiatry
Young people experiencing emerging or evolving mental health difficulties
Individuals at risk of developing psychosis and other serious mental health conditions
First episode psychosis and schizophrenia spectrum disorders
Anxiety disorders
Mood disorders
Personality disorders
Psychotherapy
Youth mental health
Transcultural psychiatry