- $1.76 million in annual funding will go towards the Sunshine Coast Mental Health Co-Responder Program.
- The program, run in partnership with Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) and Queensland Health, pairs senior paramedics with senior mental health clinicans to provide care to people in crisis.
- This future proofing investment gives certainty to the Sunshine Coast community to receive the right care at the right time in the right place.
- The program continues to relieve pressures on emergency departments and reduces avoidable trips to hospital for Sunshine Coast residents.
The Palaszczuk Government will contribute over $1.76 million a year to ensure the continued delivery and expansion of the QAS's Mental Health Co-Responder Program on the Sunshine Coast.
Queensland's new Minister for Health, Mental Health, and Ambualnce Services, Shannon Fentiman, today visited the Birtinya Ambulance Station to meet with the staff who have been running the program since April 2021.
The recent State Budget included an additional $760,000 in annual funding to expand the program on the Sunshine Coast, which has shown promising results so far, and ensure even more mental health services in the region.
By pairing a senior QAS paramedic with a senior mental health clinician from the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, the co-responder program enables the delivery of fast and collaborative specialist care to people experiencing mental health crises.
By treating people in their homes, the program also diverts people away from Emergency Departments and eases pressure on our whole health system.
The co-responder program is just one component of the QAS's larger Mental Health Response Program, which also includes a dedicated Mental Health Liaison Service embedded within the Brisbane Operations Centre, 24 hours a day.
It is another example of the Palaszczuk Government funding better health outcomes for Queenslanders – particularly in one of the new Minsiter's key priority areas.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services:
"We are committed to delivering free world-class health care to Queenslanders, where and when they need it.
"The Mental Health Co-Responder Program is a great example of how we are delivering the innovative and targeted care that Queenslanders need."
"We know EDs aren't always the best place for people experiencing a mental health crisis, so providing an appropriate alternate pathway not only leads to better outcomes for the individual, but for the health system as a whole."
Quotes attributable to Director, Queensland Ambulance Service, Mental Health Response Program, Sandra Garner:
"Around the state the Mental Health Co-Responder teams see around 1,000 people in a mental health emergency each month.
"Around 80 per cent of those people are offered interventions in their own environment or homes.
"The program commenced during a trial in South East Queensland in 2019 and has expanded to 15 sites across the state thanks to its huge success."
Background
Since April 2021, $1.38 million has been invested in the Sunshine Coast Mental Health Co-Responder Program.
Following the recent state budget, the QAS will be providing $1.3 million in annual funding towards the program.
The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service currently provides $460,000 annually for the next five years.
