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Overview
Associate Professor Ed Heffernan leads the Forensic Mental Health Research Group at Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, and is a senior staff specialist (eminent status) and Director of Queensland Forensic Mental Health Services within Queensland Health.
Ed Heffernan is a clinical leader in the mental health system. With over 20 years of experience working in the criminal justice system, Ed has helped establish services in Queensland for those with mental health problems who come into contact with police, courts, watch houses and prisons. He has provided expert testimony to courts and tribunals and is frequently called upon to assist with service reviews and clinical investigations both in Queensland and at a national level. He is actively involved in training medical students, registrars and psychiatrists in clinical assessment and management with a particular focus on violence and suicide risk. Ed’s leadership in mental health extends to his involvement in key state and national committees in areas such as safety and quality in mental health and health planning for major events such as the G20 and the Queensland Commonwealth Games.
Ed is passionate about enhancing the health and human rights of people living with mental illness who intersect with the criminal justice and mental health systems. His research interests include both epidemiology and health services research, and span the spectrum from early intervention and prevention through to continuing care and relapse prevention. Ed is currently involved in leading several large research projects, chairs the academic and research committee for forensic mental health and supervises three PhD candidates.
Qualifications
Fellow, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry
Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Master of Public Health, The University of Queensland
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, The University of Queensland
Bachelor of Science (Hons I), University of Melbourne
Research Interests
Ed is currently conducting research in the following areas. If you are interested in PhD study in any of these areas, you can contact him here.
Research Grants
2017 – 2020 Improving Outcomes for people with acute mental illness in the emergency department: a data linkage study. NHMRC Project Grant
2014 – 2018 Developing a model for Culturally Competent Prison Mental Health Services. National Closing the Gap Funding (via Qld Indigenous Health Unit)
2014 – 2016 Juvenile offenders sexual and reproductive and mental health study (14-18 years) – Queensland. NHMRC Project Grant
2013 – 2016 The Australian Centre for Research Excellence in Offender Health. NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence
2013 – 2014 Strong Futures – Improving the understanding and treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among incarcerated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Beyondblue National Priority Driven Research Grant