Oral Presentation (max 20 mins) National Suicide Prevention Conference 2025

Crisis care continuum on the Gold Coast: a contemporary multidisciplinary approach with Lived Experience integration. (#82)

Tom Tsai 1 , Heidy Van Engelen 1 , Amanda Goodsir 2
  1. Mental Health & Specialist Services, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
  2. Gold Coast Primary Health Network, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

The Gold Coast continuum of crisis care services was developed from the Gold Coast Crisis Reform for Responsive Effective, Compassionate, and Connected Care.(1) Recognising the need for prevention, early intervention, and an alternative pathway to ED that is consumer-centred and recovery-focused. 

Throughout development, we consulted extensively with our community and key stakeholders – including Primary Health Network, consumers, carers, and leaders in suicide prevention to establish the Crisis Stabilisation Unit (CSU) as part of the continuum of crisis care services on the Gold Coast. Ongoing evaluations has enabled us to continuously improve services and inform future strategies.

Our evaluations show that an increasing number of consumers access these services as an alternative to Emergency Department for crisis support. Specifically, the 24-hour multidisciplinary model of service at CSU with a peer-first and peer-last approach to consumer journey has contributed to positive outcome in relation to consumer care and experience.   

In this presentation, we will reflect on:

  • Where we started (initial processes with extensive stakeholder consultation),
  • Where we are (the results of recent service evaluations, including one of the first Crisis Stabilisation Unit in Australia inclusive of Lived Experience 24-hour workforce, and
  • Where we are heading (informing innovative strategies and service directions).
  1. 1. Queensland Government. (2021). Gold Coast Crisis Reform 2021–2024: A strategic approach to transforming Mental Health crisis care across the Gold Coast region. Retrieved 23 May 2024, from: https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/ckan-publications-attachments-prod/resources/f404beeb-65ad-47eb-b571-fd3c4298a1d4/int.0192.02_crisis-now-strategy-web.pdf?ETag=3b0a5d9355743a660b941a7ca0f783e8.