The Statewide Ed-LinQ Program works to ensure all school-aged children and young people will receive the evidence-informed mental health care they require to optimise education, social and emotional outcomes.

Ed-LinQ works directly with service providers and stakeholders to support the early detection and collaborative care of school-aged children and young people at risk of, or experiencing, mental health problems or mental illness . In particular, Ed-LinQ collaborates with stakeholders of health and education sectors to establish and facilitate referral and access pathways to appropriate and timely care for students requiring mental health intervention.

Ed-LinQ complements the mental health services responding to these needs and is an early intervention program offered as a component of the mental health, alcohol and other drug service (MHAOD) continuum.

Ed-LinQ aims

Ed-LinQ aims to ensure that children and young people in the education sector who experience, or at-risk of mental illness, have earlier access to appropriate mental health support.

The program achieves this by offering the following services:

  • Consultation liaison – Mental health advice and services are provided to education staff, including availability for consultation about children and young people managing mental health and educational needs. Ed-LinQ coordinators can facilitate referral pathways into mental health supports, including coordination of services following crisis and critical mental health incidents.
  • Enhancing capacity – Ed-LinQ collaborates with stakeholders to build knowledge and skills regarding the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.
  • Strategic partnerships – Ed-LinQ promotes statewide and local-level collaboration and partnership initiatives between health, education (Department of Education, Catholic Education, and Independent Schools), primary care, and community stakeholders to ensure coordinated and integrated mental health service access and care is provided to children and young people.

Ed-LinQ is offered across Queensland, delivered by local coordinators based in Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMHS) teams at local Hospital and Health Services (HHSs). Services are delivered using various modalities for engagement, including face to face and online.

Groups who can access the program

  • Child and youth mental health clinicians
  • Education staff from all education sectors
  • School-based youth health nurses
  • Non-government agency staff
  • Primary care providers (e.g. GPs)
  • Private clinical providers

Last updated: 19 May 2026