Mater Research has opened a new statewide centre of excellence to improve the health and care of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Queensland Government has invested $6 million over three years to support the establishment of the Queensland Centre of Excellence in Intellectual and Developmental Disability Mental Health at Mater’s South Brisbane campus.
The centre will build on the leading work of the Queensland Centre of Excellence in Autism and Intellectual Disability Health (QCEAIDH) in breaking down barriers for people with intellectual disability and autistic people in accessing high quality, equitable health care.
Approximately 80,000 Queenslanders live with an intellectual or developmental disability.
Centre Director, Dr Cathy Franklin said Mater will work with Queensland Health, key stakeholders and people living with an intellectual or developmental disability and their support people to co-design a model of service for the centre.
“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,” Dr Franklin said.
“The centre will also enable us to further build on our research, allowing us to identify and evaluate innovative ways to improve health outcomes.”
Dr Franklin said health professionals often lacked the training and experience in providing high quality healthcare to people with intellectual disability and autistic people.
“This new funding and the establishment of this centre will enhance Mater’s ongoing work around training health professionals”.
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.
“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,” Ms Waddell said.
“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.
Ms Waddell said 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,” she said.
“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.”
Queensland Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman said the centre would provide valuable support for Queenslanders with intellectual or developmental disability.
“Making sure Queenslanders with intellectual and developmental disability can access specialist and compassionate care faster will ensure they get the right mental health support when they need it most,” Minister Fentiman said.
“This new centre will provide clinical leadership in intellectual and developmental disability mental health through capacity building of Hospital and Health Service (HHS) staff, across primary care providers and the broader mental health sector.
“It will also support links to training opportunities for undergraduate and post graduate HHS Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs medical, allied health and nursing staff.
“The centre will also be instrumental in developing and undertaking important research to inform intellectual and developmental disability mental health service delivery and innovation.”
Eli Waddell
