FOR 20 years, associate professor Frances Dark has passionately led the Deafness and Mental Health Statewide Consultation and Liaison Service, empowering individuals facing hearing and mental health challenges.
Since 2004, 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,” she said.
“Access to information about health available in the hearing world may not be accessible for the deaf.”
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.
Associate professor Dark shared the many projects the team has been involved in 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.”
She acknowledged the people who have contributed towards the success of the past two decades, including the interpreters, consumers, key stakeholders such as DeafConnect, and Di Briffa who attended the celebration.
“It was her persistence based on her needs analysis that this service received funding in March 2004,” she said. “I don’t think we can stop recognising Di as being the birth mother of the service.”
Associate professor Dark said the goal for the future was to have more deaf professionals trained in mental health and working in the field.
