The DHQ Journey
DHQ is a not-for-profit registered charity supported by a Board of Directors and Management Committee of volunteer doctors and community members. The members of the board and management committee have keen interests in doctors’ health and generously volunteer their time and expertise to support the activities of the organisation. DHQ is also appreciative of the business support services provided by the Australian Medical Association (Queensland).
DHQ recognises that medical practitioners can find it challenging to accept the patient role and many fail to seek help in a timely manner. Yet doctors experience the same wide range of health-related issues as others in the community, in addition to conditions specifically related to the stressors of practicing medicine. DHQ is dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of doctors and medical students in Queensland, understanding that a healthy medical workforce benefits the community as a whole.
If you would like to support the work of the DHQ please contact us or donate via the link at the top of the page.
We would like to thank Dr Christopher Erian and Dr Michael Erian for the development of our new DHQ logo.
Help is only a call away
Call 07 3833 4352
For doctors and medical students only – Independent and Confidential advice
THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY SERVICE
FOR ANY EMERGENCY PLEASE CALL 000
Core Vision
Queensland medical practitioners and medical students will be supported to achieve optimal health and wellbeing throughout their careers.
Mission Statement
DHQ aspires to be the leading provider in Queensland of doctors’ health services to medical practitioners and medical students, encompassing advice, support, education and research.
Aims of DHQ
- To promote the health and wellbeing of doctors and medical students in Queensland
- To provide a 24 hour confidential support line for doctors and medical students requiring support and advice
- To deliver education about doctors’ health and being a doctor to a doctor
- To advocate for doctors’ wellbeing
The DHASQ Journey
Several decades ago, a group of doctors decided to develop an organised approach to assisting their colleagues in difficulty. This lead to the formation of the Doctors Health Advisory Service Queensland (DHASQ) under the leadership of Professor Joan Lawrence.
It became apparent to them that doctors often failed to access timely healthcare and treatment despite and sometimes because of working in the medical profession. Doctors frequently continued to work while unwell to their own personal disadvantage. They experienced shame and significant difficulty taking the step to consult their colleagues.
In 1989, their initiative led to the founding of the Doctors’ Health Advisory Service of Queensland (DHASQ). In 2020, DHASQ was renamed Doctors’ Health in Queensland (DHQ).
Since then, the DHASQ, now known as DHQ, has regularly comforted, supported and relieved the distress of doctors suffering sickness, helplessness, disability and misfortune, while recognising the direct benefit to the community in providing this service.
DHQ works as a charitable organisation in collaboration with the Medical Benevolent Association of Queensland.
During the formative years, the DHASQ worked to establish connections with other doctors’ health services that were emerging in other states and territories across Australia and New Zealand. This informal network was strengthened to become the Australasian Doctors’ Health Network in 2009, now known as the Doctors Health Alliance. Since 1999, the doctors’ health services have been running a doctors’ health conference every two years. As well as providing a strong academic and educational programme for these conferences, many of those working in this field have been contributing to the understandings of physician health by presenting research papers and workshops at international conferences.
DHQ Now
In 2016, DHQ was selected by the Doctors’ Health Services Pty Ltd (now DRS4DRS) to receive funding as part of the Medical Board of Australia’s vision to expand doctors’ health services across Australia. These funds were provided to establish a wholly owned subsidiary company, Doctors’ Health Services Pty Ltd, (DrHS) to distribute the funds and ensure the doctors’ health activities were delivered at arms’ length from the funder.
In response, DHQ established its own wholly owned subsidiary company, the Qld Doctors Health Programme (QDHP) to deliver these services on its behalf. Dr Margaret Kay was appointed as the inaugural Medical Director of the QDHP to establish this service. Both DHASQ and QDHP are now collectively known as DHQ.
Donate to DHQ
Doctors’ Health Advisory Service (Queensland) Inc. (trading as Doctors’ Health in Queensland) is a registered charity with Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). DHAS(Q) has Deductible Gift Recipient status and donations over $2 are tax deductible.
We deeply value your donation which support doctors’ and medical students’ health and wellbeing.