New Centre of Excellence delivers mental healthcare for people with disabilities

• Miles Government invests $2 million annually to support Mater Research’s new statewide centre to improve mental health of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Based at Mater’s South Brisbane campus, the newly opened centre was co-designed with people living with an intellectual and developmental disability.
• This is part of a larger $51.5 million investment by the Miles Government that will see specialist teams rolled out across 12 Health and Hospital Services (HHSs), including outreach support to rural and remote regions.

The Miles Government is investing $2 million annually towards the establishment of the new Queensland Centre of Excellence in Intellectual and Developmental Disability Mental Health (QCEAIDH) at Mater’s South Brisbane campus.

Approximately 80,000 Queenslanders live with an intellectual or developmental disability and this centre will better support the mental health needs of children and adults living with an intellectual and developmental disability. 

The recently opened centre delivered by Mater Research Limited, will provide clinical leadership through a networked, state-wide approach in education and training advice, capacity building and support, specialist clinical advice and research.

Its new model of service has been co-designed alongside key stakeholders and people living with an intellectual and developmental disability to support and foster improved mental health.

The centre is part of the Miles Government’s $51.5 million investment over four years to establish services that better support the mental health needs of children and adults living with an intellectual and developmental disability. 

In partnership with the Centre for Excellence, dedicated specialist teams will be progressively rolled out across 12 HHSs including Metro North, Metro South, Gold Coast, Cairns and Hinterland, Central Queensland, Townsville, Darling Downs, Sunshine Coast, West Moreton, Mackay, Wide Bay, and Children’s Health Queensland.

Four HHSs will provide outreach support to rural and remote regions, with all new teams recruited across the next two full financial years.

The 4 HHSs who will provide the outreach support to rural and remote regions, are:

• Townsville to North West 
• Cairns to Torres and Cape
• Darling Downs to South West 
• Central Queensland to Central West 

The Mater Intellectual Disability and Autism Service (MIDAS) will also receive an uplift in resources as part of this initiative.

The initiative progresses the Miles Government’s response to Recommendation 9 of the 2022 Queensland Parliamentary Mental Health Select Committee’s Inquiry into the opportunities to improve mental health outcomes for Queenslanders to 'enhance mental health services for people living with intellectual or developmental disability’.

For North Queensland patient Eli Waddell, the QCEAIDH clinic has been a ‘life-saver’.

The 28-year-old lives with Down syndrome, autism, ADHD and severe mental health challenges.

Eli’s mum Linda Waddell, from Tully, said thousands of Australian families would benefit from the new centre.

This investment is part of the Miles Government’s $1.645 billion Better Care Together plan to improve mental health, alcohol and other drug services across the state.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman:

“We know mental illness can have a profound impact on a person’s life, school, or work performance, and their relationships with family and loved ones.

“That’s why the Miles Government has made this significant investment towards the new Centre of Excellence which will boost care for people living with intellectual and developmental disability.

“The Centre will also provide clinical leadership and training opportunities for Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs medical, allied health and nursing staff across Queensland.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Seniors and Disability Services Charis Mullen:

“With around 80,000 Queenslanders living with intellectual and developmental disability, it’s so important that they have access to the mental health support they need.

“It’s why I’m so proud we have partnered with Mater Research to establish the Queensland Centre for Excellence in Intellectual and Developmental Disability Mental Health and funding dedicated teams in our hospitals.

“These initiatives will ensure Queenslanders with intellectual and development disability can access specialist and compassionate care faster.

“The LNP were the first Government in Queensland to cut mental health funding, and Queenslanders know we can’t afford to let them do it again.

“It’s why I’m so proud of our government’s record $1.6 billion investment in the mental health services that matter most to Queenslanders.

“We remain committed to delivering great quality health services, no matter where you live.” 

Quotes attributable to Queensland Health Chief Psychiatrist Dr John Reilly:

“Queenslanders with a form of intellectual or developmental disability, in particular First Nations people, are two to three times more likely to experience mental illness across their lifetime.

 “This can increase any functional impairments due to their disability, and impact on school or work attendance and engagement in social activities.

 “However, it can be difficult to diagnose and treat effectively and we have identified a need to build capacity of existing services in this important clinical area.

 “The Better Care Together investment will support the establishment of dedicated intellectual and developmental disability mental health teams within Hospital and Health Services across Queensland and will greatly increase the capability of specialist mental health services to identify mental illness in Queenslanders with intellectual and developmental disability, and to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

 “These multidisciplinary team services will provide specialist consultation as needed to deliver initial assessment and liaise with more generalist services and provide advice to support the provision of continuing treatment and care.

“These HHS specialist intellectual and developmental disability teams will be supported centrally by the new Queensland Centre for Excellence in Intellectual and Developmental Disability Mental Health, and will also provide outreach support to our rural and remote Hospital and Health Services.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability Senior Research Fellow and Psychiatrist Dr Cathy Franklin:

“Mater Research is excited to be selected as the lead provider for the Queensland Centre of Excellence in Intellectual and Developmental Disability Mental Health.

“The centre will provide clinical leadership, education and training to build the capacity of the mainstream healthcare sector to provide excellence in healthcare to people with an intellectual disability and Autistic people.

“It will also enable us to further build on our research, allowing us to identify and evaluate innovative ways to improve health outcomes.

“Our Mater Intellectual Disability and Autism Service works to improve the lives and health of people with an intellectual or developmental disability, including autistic people, and we want to acknowledge the strong advocacy efforts that have led to these exciting new initiatives.

“We are looking forward to working with Queensland Mental Health Services, people with intellectual and developmental disability, their families, and support people, to improve outcomes.”

Quotes attributable to Far North Queensland patient Eli Waddell’s mother Linda Waddell:

“Not many people have experience in dealing with complex disabilities, so the QCEAIDH clinic was a last resort for us to get the right diagnosis.

“We have been able to access the QCEAIDH clinic with appointments through telehealth with Dr Franklin.

“Eli has trouble with communication, and it’s hard for psychologists or psychiatrists who don’t regularly treat complex patients to help or understand them.

“Thanks to the QCEAIDH clinic, Eli has had opportunities she never thought possible, including starting his own small business.

“Eli has been drawing since he was 12 and recently started an art business called Everything Eli.

“His artwork is printed on bags and keyrings, and he has a stall at the local markets.

“I don’t think we would have been able to do this without the help of Dr Franklin and QCEAIDH.”

ENDS