- The Crisafulli Government is investing $93.1 million to deliver 53 new specialist mental health nurses in emergency departments across the State, as part of a key election commitment.
- Redland, Redcliffe and Hervey Bay hospitals are the first to recruit the specialist nurses, who will work as a team with emergency clinicians to provide faster assessment and care.
- The new nursing roles build on an additional 10,000 health workers who've been employed by Queensland Health since the Crisafulli Government was elected.
- With reduced ramping, stabilised elective surgery waitlist and more frontline workers, the Crisafulli Government is healing Labor's Health Crisis, delivering health services when Queensland need them and more free healthcare than ever before.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering on a key election promise to ensure Queenslanders experiencing mental health concerns will receive faster access to care in emergency departments.
Redland, Redcliffe and Hervey Bay hospitals are the first hospitals to recruit specialist emergency department mental health nurses as part of a $93.1 million statewide investment from the Mental Health Levy to strengthen frontline mental health care.
Recruitment has also commenced at hospitals, including Cairns, Nambour, Bundaberg, Rockhampton and Caboolture, with more hospitals set to be selected in the coming months to employ mental health nurses under this initiative.
The new nursing roles build on an additional 10,000 health workers employed in Queensland's public hospitals and health services since the Crisafulli Government was elected in November 2024.
The 10,000 milestone is part of the Crisafulli Government's election commitment of adding 46,000 health workers by 2032, after the former Labor Government left behind a frontline health workforce in prolonged crisis, skyrocketing ambulance ramping rates and ballooning elective surgery waitlists.
Following the initial $93.1 million investment for the mental health nurses rollout, $28.5 million will be allocated each year ongoing to ensure Queenslanders continue to benefit from timely specialist assessment, coordinated care and improved access to the mental health support they need when presenting to emergency departments.
This is part of the Crisafulli Government's additional funding of $394.4 million commitment from the Mental Health Levy to deliver priority mental health, alcohol and other drug services across Queensland.
A recent scathing independent report from Queensland's Auditor-General found the former Labor government had mismanaged the Mental Health Levy, with funds funneled into projects out of scope.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the Crisafulli Government had given a guarantee that all funds from the Mental Health Levy would be spent on mental health projects.
"When it comes to mental health supports, the former Labor Government failed at every turn and, in fact, mismanaged valuable funding from the Mental Health Levy," Minister Nicholls said.
"We will ensure that every single cent raised by the Levy is spent on mental health projects and initiatives, just like these new specialist nurse positions.
"Arriving at an emergency department for mental health support can be an extremely stressful situation for a patient.
"These new specialist nurses will play a critical role in ensuring people experiencing mental health concerns are assessed promptly and are connected to the most appropriate care pathway as early as possible."
