Karen Struthers, MP as Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister for Health, announced the support of Premier Anna Bligh, on Thursday 16 October 2008 launch of the 4th World Congress on Mental Health and Deafness, 2009.

The support from both the Premier’s Office and Dr Aaron Groves, Queensland’s Director of Mental Health, is an important step in this year of campaigning and events before the international Congress is held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre next year.

Veronica Pardo, Congress Convenor and Deputy CEO of Deaf Children Australia and Deaf Services Queensland welcomed Queensland Government’s support, “With 800,000 deaf and hard of hearing Australian’s experiencing mental health problems at some time, greater awareness and collaboration within the deaf and mental health sectors is the priority of the Congress.”

(Pictured Clockwise from the top left: The Hon Karen Struthers- MP Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister for Health, Dr Aaron Groves- Director of Mental Health, Veronica Pardo, Brett Casey)

The General Manager of Deaf Services Queensland, Brett Casey, noted that Brisbane was an excellent location to host this event, with its world class conference facilities, its partnerships in Mental Health and Deafness, and the support shown by the Queensland Government.

Interpreters provided by Deaf Services Queensland:
Leanne Beer and Martin Randel

(more pictures are attached at the bottom of the page)