Carl, Elly, Bree, Hamza, and Marg
Five staff across Metro South Health are proudly advocating for patients admitted to a mental health ward, through their roles of Independent Patient Rights Advisers (IPRA) at PA Hospital, Logan and Redlands.
IPRAs provide advice to the patient and their support person under the Mental Health Act 2016, ensuring everyone receiving treatment is aware of their rights and responsibilities.
IPRA Manager Hamza said he cares deeply about access, equity, and inclusion.
“I’m passionate about ensuring patients are provided with accessible and timely information to make informed choices about their care. I gain the most satisfaction in creating a culture with the necessary support systems that enable patients to express their views, wishes, and preferences around their care,” he said.
IPRAs Elly and Carl agree all patients are deserving of supportive and inclusive care. “This is at the forefront of the work that we do,” said Elly.
“When meeting a patient, I come from a place of genuine understanding to foster a safe environment so every individual feels seen, heard, and valued.
“It’s about working with patients to build upon their understanding of their rights and obligations while receiving treatment, and building awareness of their options to self-advocate,” she said.
Carl has been working as an IPRA since 2019 and recalled a time when he advocated for an older, culturally diverse patient with a terminal illness who wanted to return home.
“It took perseverance and dedication to empower this person, and with the help of the IPRA role this patient was able to return home, receive the agreed-upon community support, and resume life doing what they believed in. IPRAs make a positive difference in the lives of patients,” he said.
Bree is a proud Dunghutti woman and has worked as an IPRA since 2022.
“We also provide helpful resources to patients to assist them with their legal rights and ensure a less restrictive way of treatment is practiced. I want to ensure that they feel heard and respected not only during my interactions with them, but long after,” she said.
Marg believes it’s important for patients to know there is someone there looking out for them, independent of the treating team.
“Part of the role is assisting with documentation and record keeping, which is really important when patients can be quite overwhelmed by the situation. In these situations, the IPRA role benefits the patient and treating team by providing a helpful and impartial guide towards better care outcomes,” she said.
In May, the IPRA service transitioned from external provider Stride to MSH’s Clinical Governance Unit, ensuring they remain independent from Addiction and Mental Health Services.
There are no changes to the service provided. IPRAs remain available from Monday to Friday, 8am–4pm and can be contacted via 1800 MS IPRA (1800 67 4772) or msh_ipra@health.qld.gov.au