Plans and strategic direction
On this page:
Connecting Care to Recovery 2016-2021
Lived Experience Engagement and Participation Strategy 2018 - 2021
Peer Workforce Support and Development Framework (Nov 2019)
Suicide Prevention Health Services Initiative
Queensland Plan for Mental Health 2007-2017
Better Care Together: plan for Queensland’s state-funded mental health, alcohol and other drug services to 2027
A five-year plan setting the strategic directions and priorities to transform, optimise and grow state-funded mental health, alcohol and other drug treatment, harm reduction, care and support across Queensland.
Connecting Care to Recovery 2016-2021
In October 2016, the Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services released Connecting care to recovery 2016-2021: A plan for Queensland's State-funded mental health, alcohol and other drug services (PDF 3401 kB).
Connecting care to recovery 2016-2021 builds on the vision of My health, Queensland's future: Advancing health 2026 through supporting our mental health, alcohol and other drug system to work better for individuals, their families and communities by strengthening collaboration and more effective integration. In this way, our aim is for those with the most severe illness or problematic substance misuse to be better connected to care and to recovery oriented services and their families and communities.
Under the plan, funding is being allocated to expand mental health, alcohol and other drug services across a range of initiatives aimed at optimising the level and mix of services across the care continuum. The plan focuses on the continued expansion of care and treatment, rehabilitation and support delivered in the community.
Development of the plan
Development of the plan was led by the Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch, Department of Health in consultation with key stakeholders. Initial consultation occurred in August 2015 and September 2015 with mental health and alcohol and drug services provided through Hospital and Health services, non-government and primary care sectors. Consultations also took place with specialist and statewide services, consumer and carer organisations as well as with other Government departments.
A Measurement Strategy (PDF 980 kB) provides the framework for regular monitoring of the implementation of Connecting care to recovery 2016-2021, the performance of services and the individual outcomes associated with receiving mental health and alcohol and other drugs care.
The Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Workforce Framework (PDF 747 kB) is a key deliverable under Connecting care to recovery 2016-2021 and sets out the vision, principles and goals for the mental health alcohol and other drug workforce and identifies strategies to guide Hospital and Health Services workforce planning and development.
Further information
For further information or general enquiries in relation to Connecting care to recovery 2016-2021 please email connectingcaretorecovery@health.qld.gov.au.
Read the summary (PDF 656 kB) of the Connecting care to recovery 2016-2021 Plan (PDF 633kB).
Lived Experience Engagement and Participation Strategy 2018 - 2021
The Lived Experience Engagement and Participation Strategy 2018 – 2021 (PDF 969 kB) is a sub-strategy of Connecting Care to Recovery 2016 – 2021 that contains five domains, with associated actions for implementation by Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch, Queensland Health. This strategy brings together National and State policy commitments and actions relating to lived experience engagement and participation under one unified strategy for Queensland Health.
Peer Workforce Support and Development Framework
The Queensland Health Mental Health Framework Peer Workforce Support and Development 2019 (PDF 1647 kB) has been designed to improve state-wide support and consistency for the mental health peer workforce. The framework includes scope of practice and core competencies for peer workers. The framework is aligned to the Queensland Mental Health Commission Queensland Framework for the Development of the Mental Health Lived Experience Workforce and delivers on a commitment made under Connecting care to recovery 2016-2021: A plan for Queensland’s state funded mental health, alcohol and other drugs services.
Suicide Prevention Health Services Initiative
To help drive improvements across the health system, $9.6 million over three years (2016/17 – 2018/19) has been allocated through the Suicide Prevention in Health Services Initiative (the Initiative). The Initiative forms an integral part of the plan for Queensland’s state-funded mental health, alcohol and other drug services – Connecting care to recovery 2016–2021, and comprises of three components:
- The establishment and operation of a Queensland Suicide Prevention Health Taskforce (the Taskforce) as a partnership between the Department of Health, Hospital and Health Services, Primary Health Networks and people with lived experience.
- Analysis of events relating to deaths by suspected suicide of people that had a recent contact with a health service to inform future actions and improvements in service responses.
- Continued implementation of training for hospital emergency department staff and other frontline acute mental health care staff in recognising, responding to and providing care to people presenting to Hospital and Health Services with suicide risk.
The Taskforce Action Plan (PDF 750 kB) identifies 18 areas for investment across three priority areas:
- Skills development and support;
- Evidence based treatment and care; and
- Pathways to care within and external to specialist mental health services
The planning and delivery of Phase one has commenced. Phase two initiatives will be implemented during 2017/18 and 2018/19.
Queensland Plan for Mental Health 2007-2017
The Queensland Plan for Mental Health 2007-2017 (PDF 2125 kB) outlines the Queensland Government’s plan to reform and improve mental health service over the next 10 years.
The Four Year Report on the Queensland Plan for Mental Health 2007-2017 (PDF 509 kB) outlines the progress towards achieving the aims of the Plan.
- Factsheet 1 - Overview (PDF 855 kB)
- Factsheet 2 - Priority 1 (PDF 788 kB)
- Factsheet 3 - Priority 2 (PDF 818 kB)
- Factsheet 4 - Priority 3 (PDF 824 kB)
- Factsheet 5 - Priority 4 (PDF 599 kB)
- Factsheet 6 - Priority 5 (PDF 681 kB)
