Overview
Background
Sandra Diminic is a Principal Research Fellow at Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR) and leads the Mental Health Services Research stream. She has qualifications in psychology and public health and her PhD focused on understanding the service needs of carers and families of people with mental illness. Before joining QCMHR Sandra worked on the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank and interned in Mental Health Policy and Service Development at the World Health Organization; she has also been a visiting scholar at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto.
Sandra's research aims to reduce the population burden of mental illness through understanding demand for and utilisation of mental health services, identifying and evaluating evidence-based mental health service models, and applying these findings to improve mental health systems and services. This research program involves close collaboration with health system partners such as national and state governments, Primary Health Networks, and community organisations to provide evidence and advice to support integrated regional and national mental health service planning. Current major projects include development and application of the National Mental Health Service Planning Framework (NMHSPF) and Australian Suicide Prevention Planning Model (AuSPPM), needs-based planning tools which model population needs and required care to produce resource targets for optimal mental health and suicide prevention service delivery in Australia. Sandra also leads projects drawing on population surveys and health service administrative data to understand current mental health service delivery and identify service gaps for specific regions and populations.
Availability
- Dr Sandra Diminic is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Masters (Coursework) of Public Health, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Sandra Diminic’s works on UQ eSpace
2017
Other Outputs
Refinement of the NMHSPF care profiles for youth with severe, persistent and complex mental illness in Queensland: Final Report - March 2017
Diminic, Sandra, Leitch, Elizabeth, Gossip, Kate and Whiteford, Harvey (2017). Refinement of the NMHSPF care profiles for youth with severe, persistent and complex mental illness in Queensland: Final Report - March 2017. Brisbane: The University of Queensland.
2017
Other Outputs
A review of existing clinical and program evaluation frameworks for extended treatment services for adolescents and young adults with severe, persistent and complex mental illness in Queensland: Final Report
Wright, Eryn, Baxter, Amanda, Diminic, Sandra, Woody, Charlotte, Leitch, Elizabeth, Erskine, Holly, Scott, James, Hielscher, Emily, Lee, Yong Yi, Gossip, Kate, Scheurer, Roman and Whiteford, Harvey (2017). A review of existing clinical and program evaluation frameworks for extended treatment services for adolescents and young adults with severe, persistent and complex mental illness in Queensland: Final Report. -: QCMHR.
2017
Other Outputs
Application of the NMHSPF to support integrated Primary Health Network and Hospital and Health Services planning: Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast
Leitch, Elizabeth, Wright, Eryn, Fjeldsoe, Kevin, Diminic, Sandra, Oakley, Padraig, Jimenez, Eliana and Whiteford, Harvey (2017). Application of the NMHSPF to support integrated Primary Health Network and Hospital and Health Services planning: Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research.
2016
Other Outputs
Mental health psychosocial support service needs from the National Mental Health Service Planning Framework (NMHSPF): version 2, 21 November 2016
Diminic, Sandra, Gossip, Kate and Whiteford, Harvey (2016). Mental health psychosocial support service needs from the National Mental Health Service Planning Framework (NMHSPF): version 2, 21 November 2016. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
2016
Other Outputs
National mental health service planning framework: phase 2 extension: final report – August 2016
Whiteford, Harvey, Diminic, Sandra, Fjeldsoe, Kevin, Gossip, Kate, Leitch, Elizabeth and Wright, Eryn (2016). National mental health service planning framework: phase 2 extension: final report – August 2016. Brisbane: The University of Queensland.
2016
Other Outputs
National mental health service planning framework: phase 2: final report – June 2016
Whiteford, Harvey, Diminic, Sandra, Wong, Ides, Fjeldsoe, Kevin, Gossip, Kate, Leitch, Elizabeth and Harris, Meredith (2016). National mental health service planning framework: phase 2: final report – June 2016. Brisbane: The University of Queensland.
2016
Journal Article
Applications of the epidemiological modelling outputs for targeted mental health planning in conflict-affected populations: the Syria case-study
Charlson, F. J., Lee, Y. Y., Diminic, S. and Whiteford, H. (2016). Applications of the epidemiological modelling outputs for targeted mental health planning in conflict-affected populations: the Syria case-study. Global Mental Health, 3 (e8) e8, e8.1-e8.13. doi: 10.1017/gmh.2016.4
2016
Other Outputs
Co-morbid mental and substance use disorders – a meta-review of treatment effectiveness
Leung, Janni, Stockings, Emily, Wong, Ides, Galasyuk, Nataliya, Diminic, Sandra, Leitch,, Whiteford, Harvey, Degenhardt, Louisa, Ritter, Alison and Harris, Meredith (2016). Co-morbid mental and substance use disorders – a meta-review of treatment effectiveness. Sydney, NSW, Australia: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.
2016
Conference Publication
Developing a mental health planning framework
Gossip, Kate, Diminic, Sandra, Harris, Meredith, Fjeldsoe, Kevin, Leitch, Elizabeth, Wright, Eryn and Whiteford, Harvey (2016). Developing a mental health planning framework. 38th Society for Mental Health Research Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, 7-9 December 2016.
2016
Conference Publication
Mapping mental health system resources against planning benchmarks: examples and challenges
Diminic, Sandra, Harris, Meredith, Leitch, Elizabeth, Fjeldsoe, Kevin, Charlson, Fiona and Whiteford, Harvey (2016). Mapping mental health system resources against planning benchmarks: examples and challenges. Society for Mental Health Research 2016 Conference, Sydney, Australia, 7-9 December 2016.
2016
Conference Publication
The replacement cost of informal care for people with mental illness in Australia
Lee, Y., Diminic, S., Hielscher, E., Harris, M., Kealton, J. and Whiteford, H. (2016). The replacement cost of informal care for people with mental illness in Australia. 38th Australian Conference for Health Economists, Fremantle, WA, Australia, 26-27 September 2016.
2016
Conference Publication
A profile of Australian mental health carers
Diminic, Sandra, Hielscher, Emily, Harris, Meredith, Lee, Yong Yi, Schess, Jaclyn, Kealton, Jan and Whiteford, Harvey (2016). A profile of Australian mental health carers. Society for Mental Health Research 2016 Conference, Sydney, Australia, 7-9 December 2016.
2015
Other Outputs
Understanding regional variations in mental health and alcohol and other drug services in Queensland. FINAL REPORT
Harris, M., Leitch, E., Wong, I., Santomauro, D., Diminic, S., Scheurer, R., Fjeldsoe, K. and Whiteford, H. (2015). Understanding regional variations in mental health and alcohol and other drug services in Queensland. FINAL REPORT. Brisbane, QLD Queensland: Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research and The University of Queensland.
2015
Other Outputs
Regional planning for Primary Health Networks: final report
Harris, Meredith, Santomauro, Damian, Diminic, Sandra, Wong, Ides, Leitch, Elizabeth, Scheurer, Roman, Fjeldsoe, Kevin and Whiteford, Harvey (2015). Regional planning for Primary Health Networks: final report. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
2015
Journal Article
Gender-related patterns and determinants of recent help-seeking for past-year affective, anxiety and substance use disorders: findings from a national epidemiological survey
Harris, M. G., Baxter, A. J., Reavley, N., Diminic, S., Pirkis, J. and Whiteford, H. A. (2015). Gender-related patterns and determinants of recent help-seeking for past-year affective, anxiety and substance use disorders: findings from a national epidemiological survey. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 25 (6), 548-561. doi: 10.1017/S2045796015000876
2015
Journal Article
Males' mental health disadvantage: An estimation of gender-specific changes in service utilisation for mental and substance use disorders in Australia
Harris, Meredith G., Diminic, Sandra, Reavley, Nicola, Baxter, Amanda, Pirkis, Jane and Whiteford, Harvey A. (2015). Males' mental health disadvantage: An estimation of gender-specific changes in service utilisation for mental and substance use disorders in Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 49 (9), 821-832. doi: 10.1177/0004867415577434
2015
Journal Article
Intersectoral policy for severe and persistent mental illness: review of approaches in a sample of high income countries
Diminic, S., Carstensen, G., Harris, M.G., Reavley, N., Pirkis, J., Meurk, C., Wong, I., Bassilios, B. and Whiteford, H.A. (2015). Intersectoral policy for severe and persistent mental illness: review of approaches in a sample of high income countries. Global Mental Health, 2 e18, e18. doi: 10.1017/gmh.2015.16
2015
Other Outputs
A systems approach to mental health service planning: final report
Whiteford, Harvey, Leung, Janni, Wong, Ides, Meurk, Carla, Harris, Meredith, Diminic, Sandra, Fjeldsoe, Kevin, Lee, Yong Yi and Leitch, Elizabeth (2015). A systems approach to mental health service planning: final report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2015
Journal Article
The rising tide of mental disorders in the Pacific region: forecasts of disease burden and service requirements from 2010 to 2050
Charlson, Fiona J., Diminic, Sandra and Whiteford, Harvey A. (2015). The rising tide of mental disorders in the Pacific region: forecasts of disease burden and service requirements from 2010 to 2050. Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, 2 (2), 280-292. doi: 10.1002/app5.93
2015
Other Outputs
Testing the National Service Planning Framework: predicting the need for Commonwealth funded primary mental health services: final report
Fjeldsoe, Kevin, Leitch, Elizabeth, Diminic, Sandra, Harris, Meredith, Wong, Ides and Whiteford, Harvey (2015). Testing the National Service Planning Framework: predicting the need for Commonwealth funded primary mental health services: final report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Sandra Diminic is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Building the evidence for needs-based forensic mental health service planning in Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zoe Rutherford
-
Doctor Philosophy
Mental Health Service Planning in Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Harvey Whiteford, Associate Professor Meredith Harris
-
Doctor Philosophy
The role of non-clinical support services in improving functional outcomes among young adults with mental disorders in Australia: Evidence to inform mental health service planning
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Holly Erskine, Professor James Scott
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Rural strengths: Local assets, resources, and protective factors to improve rural mental health
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zoe Rutherford, Professor Harvey Whiteford
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Planning mental health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults: an analysis of service models, prevalence, and local variation in needs
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Harvey Whiteford, Dr Alize Ferrari
Media
Enquiries
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