A 20th anniversary celebration for Australia’s only deafness and mental health service has culminated with calls for more deaf professionals to train in mental health and work in the field.
The Deafness and Mental Health Statewide Consultation and Liaison Service in Queensland began in 2004, based at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane.
Psychiatrist Associate Professor Frances Dark has worked there since day one as director.
She has dedicated much of her career to the delivery of culturally and linguistically appropriate psychiatric assessments and care for deaf people, and proudly shared her reflections during the service’s birthday celebration.
“For 20 years we’ve been the only deafness and mental health service in Australia,” A/Prof Dark said. “Access to information about health available in the hearing world may not be accessible for the deaf.
“We’re situated at our 20th year in a really healthy position to take it forward. The goal for the future would be to have more deaf professionals trained in mental health and to be working in this field.”
Retired clinical nurse specialist in deafness and mental health Ms Di Briffa also attended the celebration on 15 October 2024.
“It was her persistence based on her needs analysis that this service received funding in March 2004. I don’t think we can stop recognising Di as being the birth mother of the service,” A/Prof Dark said.
Statistics show one in six people in Australia experience some degree of hearing loss which is why the service continues to be vital to the community.
A/Prof Dark said the team had been involved in many projects throughout the years, including work at the Bayside Community Care Unit.
“Involvement of our team with the residential rehabilitation enabled adaptation of the units, for example flashing fire alarms to meet the rehabilitation needs of deaf consumers,” she said.
“Another key role for our team has been to enhance the capability of mental health staffing in Queensland through the development of resources and training.”
A/Prof Dark acknowledged the many people who had contributed to the service’s success in the past two decades including interpreters, consumers, key stakeholders such as DeafConnect, and Briffa.
“Let’s hope the future is bright for the deaf community and deaf people with mental illness especially,” she added.
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