Welcome to our first newsletter of the Queensland Centre of Excellence in Autism and Intellectual Disability Health (QCEAIDH)
Watch a video version of our newsletter!
Introducing the team 👋
Who we are and what happened to MIDAS and QCIDD?
The Queensland Centre of Excellence in Autism and Intellectual Disability Health (QCEAIDH) is the new name for our team. It’s a long name, so we call it “The Queensland Centre” for short. The Queensland Centre includes what you might remember as MIDAS and QCIDD wrapped up into one, plus our newest addition, the Queensland Centre of Excellence in Intellectual and Developmental Disability Mental Health.
We have the same aim, to improve the health and wellbeing of people with intellectual disability and those on the autism spectrum. We provide a clinical outpatient service, education and research.
The Queensland Centre is located at Mater Hospital Brisbane. We are across the road from the Mater Hill Bus Station and a short walk from the South Bank railway station. Our clinic is in the Salmon Building on Stanley Street, Level 4, in the former location of Mater Children’s Private Brisbane’s outpatient clinic.
Our staff include psychiatrists, a general practitioner, a visiting rehabilitation medicine physician, nurses, psychologists, an occupational therapist, a speech pathologist, a social worker, and a team of research staff including research assistants with lived experience. We also have a manager and administrative staff.
The Queensland Centre has funding from Queensland Health and several research grants, mostly from the Australian Government. We are also supported by the Mater Foundation.
Looking for assessment of Intellectual Disability or Autism? We can help!
QCEAIDH has a post graduate psychology student providing assessments for intellectual disability and autism from February next year.
These assessments will be provided at student rates and will be available for the first 6 months of next year.
What is The Queensland Centre of Excellence in Intellectual and Developmental Disability – Mental Health (QCE IDD MH)?
We recently launched a new part of our service called The Queensland Centre of Excellence in Intellectual and Developmental Disability – Mental Health (QCE IDD MH). This Centre of Excellence has the job increasing the capacity of the health workforce to provide better health care for people with intellectual and developmental disability.
This is funded by Queensland Health. It is part of the new “Better Care Together” services in Queensland Health mental health services. It also included funding for new intellectual and developmental disability mental health teams across Queensland, and a funding boost for own clinical service (that used to be called the MIDAS clinic).
One of the main jobs for this Centre is to work with these teams to provide education, second opinion clinical services and research support.
View the launch presentation by our Director Dr Catherine Franklin:
Increased capacity in clinic
We have recently updated our referral criteria and with extra funding, we have increased capacity to see people at our outpatient clinic or via telehealth. To access our service, you will need a referral from your doctor.
Watch this video to see where we are and what to expect when you visit us 📍
National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health
The National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health was set up to make sure people with intellectual disability get better healthcare. Notice that it focuses on intellectual disability, not autism.
The National Centre will be a leader in intellectual disability health. It will have new ideas and work together with other services and organisations.
The National Centre will help health services do a better job of meeting the healthcare needs of people with intellectual disability.
The National Centre is provided by a group of nine organisations. The University of New South Wales in Sydney leads the group of nine.
The Queensland Centre is one of these nine organisations. We are leading one of the four teams, called the “Health Service Development Team”.
The Health Services Development team’s job is to focus on helping healthcare services do a better job. It will set up a network for health professionals and will research the best ways to deliver health care for people with intellectual disability.
Dr Kitty-Rose Foley is a Senior Research Fellow at the Queensland Centre and is leading the Health Services Development team for the National Centre. Amy and Ruby are research assistants who also work on National Centre. Dr Catherine Franklin and Dr Katie Brooker help oversee the work.
Bridge to Better Health
Our Bridge to Better Health project is open for recruitment!
The Bridge to Better Health project wants to improve health care in general practice for people with intellectual disability.
It will partner with general practices across Queensland to provide training, education, and support to practice nurses in conducting annual health assessments for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Professional development opportunities
The National Centre is looking for PhD students!
If you are passionate about improving health outcomes for people with intellectual disability and are looking to develop research skills including co-design in research. This opportunity may be right for you!
Deaf Connect have a variety of Auslan courses for families and services available
Important dates 📅
Christmas Closure – December 24, 4:30pm reopening on January 6.