Evolve Interagency Services

About Evolve

Evolve Interagency Services (Evolve) provides therapeutic and behaviour support services for children and young people under an interim or finalised child protection order granting custody or guardianship to the chief executive of the department and in out-of-home care who have severe and complex behavioural and psychological issues and/or disability behaviour support needs.

Research indicates that children and young people who enter the child protection system are more likely to experience varying degrees of emotional and behavioural problems than children who do not. Factors that can positively impact on a child's development are:

• competent parenting
• a warm relationship with a carer
• a better network of informal relationships
• better educational experience.

The service is a collaboration between Queensland Government departments responsible for delivery of child protection services to meet the requirements of children in care who have complex and extreme needs. It is a partnership between:

• our department
• Queensland Health 
• Department of Education.

The therapeutic and behaviour support services are provided by:

• Queensland Health Evolve Therapeutic Services, which provides a mental health therapeutic response through a multidisciplinary clinical team
• Disability Services Evolve Behaviour Support Services which provides positive behaviour support services through a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, speech and language pathologist and occupational therapists
• Evolve Therapeutic Services and Evolve Behaviour Support Services work in collaboration with school guidance officers and our child safety officers.

What does Evolve offer?

Children and young people with challenging behaviour and/or significant emotional needs as a result of past trauma and abuse are at risk of, or have already experienced increased breakdown in their placement with carers, disruptions in schooling and lack of continuity in their relationships with peers, carers and other significant people in their lives. A referral to Evolve is aimed at assisting children to reduce the intensity and frequency of problem behaviours in order to:

• improve their functioning and provide opportunities to achieve stability with their out-of-home care placements
• increase involvement in schooling
• improve community engagement and activities designed to facilitate their wellbeing.

As part of the service, each child receives an initial or comprehensive assessment of biological, psychosocial, and cultural factors and a functional assessment (for children with a disability).

An Evolve plan is implemented and monitored by the Evolve team, together with the key people in the child's life, such as child safety officers, carers, family, Recognised Entity, non-government organisations and school officers.

The services provided to a child may be medium to long term intervention.

In addition to the above positive behaviour support services provided by Evolve Behaviour Support Services, if a child has a disability, a referral may also be made for a Specialist Disability Assessment.

There is no requirement for a child to be on an interim or finalised child protection order for this referral to be made. This assessment identifies the child’s disability specific needs and provides advice about the necessary supports, services and placement options that will be required to meet the child’s needs. 

Evolve Behaviour Support Services also delivers an Early Intervention service for children with a disability who have complex behaviours and behaviour support needs, and are at-risk of being relinquished by their families to the child protection system. The main goal is to offer early intervention for families by providing intensive family centred services in managing the complex needs of their child.

Where are the services located?

Evolve Interagency Services are currently located in:

• Far North Queensland (Cairns, Edmonton, Atherton, Innisfail)
• North Queensland (Townsville, Aitkenvale, Thuringowa, Mt Isa, Mackay, Bowen)
• Central Queensland (Rockhampton, Gladstone, Emerald, Bundaberg, Maryborough)
• North Coast (Maroochydore, Caloundra, Gympie, Kingaroy, Murgon)
• Brisbane North (Alderley, Caboolture, Redcliffe, Strathpine, Chermside, Fortitude Valley)
• South East (Gold Coast, Logan, Loganlea, Woodridge, Browns Plains, Beenleigh, Beaudesert)
• Brisbane South (Mt Gravatt, Stones Corner, Wynnum, Redlands, Inala, Forest Lake)
• South West (Ipswich, Goodna, Toowoomba)

Further information

For further information about Evolve Therapeutic Services and Evolve Behaviour Support Services contact:

Queensland Health - Evolve Therapeutic Services
Location		Telephone
North Queensland	Townsville	(07) 4433 9004
	Mackay	(07) 4968 3893
Central Queensland		(07) 4920 5700
Sunshine Coast	Mooloolaba	(07) 5457 9000
	Gympie	(07) 5489 8777
	Fraser	(07) 4128 5400
	Bundaberg	(07) 4150 2600
Brisbane North		(07) 3355 8999
Brisbane South		(07) 3087 2200
Logan		(07) 3412 1500
Ipswich		(07) 3817 2360
Toowoomba		(07) 4616 5365
Gold Coast		(07) 5537 0615

 

Disability Services - Evolve Behaviour Support Services
Location		Telephone
Far North Queensland		(07) 4048 9900
North Queensland - Townsville and Mackay		(07) 4799 5300
Central Queensland	Rockhampton	(07) 4938 6000
	Maryborough	(07) 4190 4560
Sunshine Coast		(07) 5352 7200
Brisbane North		(07) 3293 7500
Brisbane South		(07) 3877 8800
Logan		(07) 3884 7981
Ipswich		(07) 3381 7400
Toowoomba		(07) 4615 3900
Gold Coast		(07) 5656 5800