About the inquiry
The Queensland Government established the Barrett Adolescent Centre Commission of Inquiry on 16 July 2015 with the Commissioner providing the Barrett Adolescent Centre Commission of Inquiry final report to the Premier on 24 June 2016.
We accepted all 6 recommendations in principle and the Government response to the Barrett Adolescent Centre Commission of Inquiry report (PDF 257 kB) was published on 18 July 2016.
Learn more about the inquiry or view the hearings and statements on the Barrett Adolescent Centre Commission of Inquiry website.
Our response
The Barrett Commission of Inquiry Implementation Steering Committee oversaw the implementation of the Queensland Government's response to the 6 recommendations.
Independent reviews and reports addressing the 6 recommendations were delivered and noted at the final meeting of the implementation steering committee on 19 July 2017.
Health Consumers Queensland provided a video outlining consumer and carer engagement during this process. Watch the Engagement overview: Barrett Adolescent Centre Commission of Inquiry Implementation video on YouTube to learn more.
While formal implementation of the Government response concluded in June 2017, the Department of Health progressed additional work associated with the outcomes of the reports and reviews completed.
A Youth Mental Health Oversight Committee was established to oversee this work and met until 2020 following the establishment of Jacaranda Place, the new Adolescent Extended Treatment Centre, 2 new Youth Step Up Step Down services and new Adolescent Day Programs.
Continued improvement and development of the service system for children, adolescents and young people has since taken place as part of the implementation of Connecting Care to Recovery 2016-2021 and the subsequent planning and new investment for the latest five year plan to 2027 – Better Care Together.
Recommendation 1
The Queensland Government will engage an independent party by 30 September 2016 to review the progress of implementation of the Hunter Review with regard to the delivery of statewide services. This will include a focus on the functions and role of the Department of Health as a system manager and the role of Hospital and Health Services as statutory bodies with responsibility for delivering statewide services across local communities through service agreements entered into with the Department. This review will be completed by 31 March 2017.
Our response
We engaged PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC) to review and report on the progress of implementation of the Hunter Review (PDF 1006 kB) about the delivery of statewide services. The report focused on the:
- functions and role of the Department of Health as a system manager
- Hospital and Health Services as statutory bodies with responsibility for delivering statewide services across local communities through service agreements entered into with the Department.
The report was informed by extensive consultation with Department of Health staff, Hospital and Health Services, non-government organisations (NGOs), and consumer representatives.
The Barrett Adolescent Centre Commission of Inquiry recommendation 1: Review of statewide services final report (PDF 899 kB) was submitted on 22 March 2017.
The Department of Health considered and endorsed all the recommendations of the report. In response to the recommendations, a statewide services governance and risk management framework was developed to improve the planning, governance and delivery of statewide services including Jacaranda Place.
In August 2021, the System Management Advisory Committee endorsed new governance and commissioning arrangements for statewide services in Queensland. This includes the establishment of governance to oversee and monitor the performance of statewide services.
Read the Department of Health statewide services policy (PDF 233 kB) to learn more.
Recommendation 2
The Queensland Government will review the service agreement arrangements for all non-government organisations providing health services. This review will focus on the effectiveness of quality and safety provisions, performance monitoring arrangements and the capacity to respond to poor performance or significant events. The review will be completed by June 2017.
Our response
We engaged Quality Innovation Performance Consulting to:
- undertake an assessment of the quality, safety and performance standards of funded service providers
- develop a framework for the future state of funded services standards.
A project oversight group oversaw this work and included representatives from the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, Department of Health, Hospital and Health Services, the non-government organisation (NGO) sector, and a consumer representative.
Read the Final report for recommendation 2 – Queensland Health review of NGO service agreements.
Queensland Health considered the final report from Quality Innovation Performance Consulting which was published in May 2017. On 16 October 2017 the Queensland Government included quality and safety provisions in funding arrangements between Queensland Health and non-government organisations (NGOs) contracted to deliver community health services.
Queensland Health’s NGO quality requirements framework supports accountability and reflects recognised national standards certified through independent third party audits.
If you work for Queensland Health, you can download the NGO quality requirements framework poster on QHEPS.
Recommendation 3
The Queensland Government will commission the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR) to identify existing clinical and program evaluation frameworks for extended treatment for adolescents and young people with severe and complex mental health issues. This will inform the development of an ongoing evaluation process and approach, including data analysis and reporting across Adolescent Mental Health Extended Treatment Initiative (AMHETI) services. The Premier will provide the findings and recommendations to Council of Australian Governments (COAG) for consideration.
Our response
The Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research commenced work on this recommendation in late 2016 and tabled the Final report (PDF 1596 kB) to the Implementation Steering Committee on 2 June 2017.
The report found that no program evaluation frameworks applicable to a service such as the new Adolescent Extended Treatment Centre (Recommendation 4), were available. However, key principles and requirements for such an evaluation framework were identified.
The findings of this report informed development of the initial Model of Service for Queensland's new Adolescent Extended Treatment Centre, now known as Jacaranda Place.
Subsequent to this, the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research was engaged by the Department of Health to lead the development and implementation of an evaluation framework for Jacaranda Place. This endorsed evaluation framework was completed in 2019.
View the evaluation framework report
Recommendation 4
The Queensland Government will build a new bed-based facility in Southeast Queensland for young people with complex mental health issues and ensure patients have access to an integrated educational/vocational training program. The size, location and model of care provided in this facility will be informed by current research and consultation with health consumers, including families from the former Barrett Adolescent Centre.
Our response
In 2017, the Government committed more than $68 million for capital works to rebuild and expand mental healthcare services for young people.
This included establishing the following new services.
- Jacaranda Place, the new statewide adolescent extended mental health treatment centre, commenced services on 20 April 2020
- Caboolture youth step up step down service commenced in March 2020 and Logan youth step up step down service commenced in May 2020
- Gold Coast adolescent day program commenced in July 2020 and Logan adolescent day program in early 2021
A co-design process inclusive of consumers, carers, families and other young people was adopted during development of these new facilities, including the model of service, design of the physical building, naming, staffing profiles and integrated educational and vocational services for Jacaranda Place and the adolescent day programs.
Learn more about the programs and services on the Hospital and Health Service (HHS) websites.
- Jacaranda Place a statewide service provided by Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
- Adolescent day program at Metro South HHS
- Logan youth step up step down at Metro South HHS
- Yangah adolescent day program at Gold Coast HHS
- Caboolture youth step up step down at Metro North HHS
Recommendation 5
The Queensland Government will engage an independent reviewer to review the alignment and transition arrangements between adolescent and adult mental health services. The Premier will provide the findings and recommendations to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) for consideration.
Our response
We engaged Health Outcomes International (HOI) and the Synergy Nursing and Midwifery Research Institute to conduct an independent review of the transition and alignment between adolescent, youth and adult mental health services in Queensland.
Health Outcomes International provided its Final review report (PDF 1609 kB) to the Department of Health on 30 June 2017.
To progress the key findings, the Department of Health completed a review and revision of the 2015 ‘Guideline for the transition of care for young people receiving mental health services’ in consultation with key stakeholders inclusive of consumer and carer representatives, and Hospital and Health Services.
Queensland Health subsequently published a revised transition guideline: Transition of care for young people receiving child and youth mental health services (PDF 265 kB) in 2019.
The transition of care elearning module is also available via the Queensland Health iLearn platform enabling broad access across Queensland Health and to outside stakeholders inclusive of consumers and carers.
Developed by the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Learning, this training module is accompanied with resources to support application of the Transition Guideline in practice settings and information for young people and their families, carers and/or significant others regarding best practice transition principles.
Watch the Transition of care promotional video on Vimeo to learn more.
Recommendation 6
The Queensland Government will undertake services mapping and review Guidelines for Collaboration between Queensland Health Services, Disability Services Queensland and Funded Disability Service Providers. This review will have regard to introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the role and function of the Department of Health, Hospital and Health Services, the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services/ National Disability Insurance Agency and Non-government organisations. The revised guidelines will include reference to transition and care co-ordination arrangements to ensure continuity of care for clients.
Our response
We published our Final report (PDF 1646 kB) into recommendation 6 on 30 June 2017.
The report was based on advice from a reference group including Hospital and Health Services, the then Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services and Department of Education and Training, Primary Health Networks, universities, service providers and consumer and carer representatives.
The report outlines the mapping completed of existing services in Queensland at the time confirmed access to appropriate specialist services for children and young people with a dual disability (intellectual and mental illness) was limited.
Review of the existing guidelines identified their underutilisation and noted while there are local level service documents to guide clinical practice, there are no other identified formal documents to guide collaborative practices.
Activities to implement recommendation 6 also considered the significant changes associated with the implementation of the National Disability Service Scheme (NDIS) being rolled out across Queensland from 2016 to 2019.
It was determined at the time (2017), a review of the guidelines to support collaboration would not be helpful in the context of these changes due to the transitioning of systems and services to the NDIS.
Queensland Health is currently progressing work under Better Care Together: A plan for Queensland's state-funded mental health, alcohol and other drugs services to 2027, to establish a Centre for Excellence with state-wide capacity and networked to HHS to respond to the mental health needs of children and adults living with intellectual or developmental disability and their families and carers.