Professor Ed Heffernan

Professor Ed Heffernan is the Director of the Queensland Forensic Mental Health Service (QFMHS) and a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Queensland. He has over twenty-five years’ experience as a psychiatrist working with people in mental health crisis and with people suffering mental problems who encounter the criminal justice system. Ed has been involved in the development and expansion of Prison and Court Mental Health Services, Inpatient Forensic Services and Community Forensic Services in Queensland and has provided input into reviews, investigations, and the development of services in multiple Australian jurisdictions.

Ed is a former Chair of the Council of Australian Forensic Mental Health Leaders. He has a key role in Forensic Mental Health training and research and leads the Forensic Mental Health Research Stream with the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research. He is currently developing innovative approaches to the emerging area of police and mental health collaborations and is the head of the QFMHS Police and Mental Health programmes.