Partner spotlight: Co-design and Research Translation Alliance in Mental Health (CoRTA)
Brisbane South PHN are proud to partner with the Co-design and Research Translation Alliance in Mental Health (CoRTA-MH), a place-based consortium working to integrate mental health research with real‑world practice in the wider Brisbane region.
CoRTA‑MH is hosted through Psychosis Australia and brings together people with lived and living experience, families and carers, community organisations, health services, primary health networks, universities and peak bodies. The aim is to co‑design research with communities that can then be effectively translated into tangible and meaningful uplift of mental health services and systems.
Led by board member of Psychosis Australia, Dr Justin Chapman, CoRTA-MH consortium has continued to develop over the last 2 years in consultation with partners. Read on to learn more about the consortium, and how to contribute to their future work, or visit the CoRTA-MH webpage.
About the Co-design and Research Translation Alliance in Mental Health (CoRTA-MH) consortium
CoRTA‑MH works together with its partners to:
set shared research priorities guided by lived experience and service needs
co‑design mental health projects that are relevant to consumers, families and communities
plan projects from the outset with an understanding of how research findings will be translated into practice and policy.
A core principle of CoRTA-MH is its approach to lived experience‑led governance, ensuring that people who use mental health services and their families have meaningful input in the co-design process of services and policies that directly affect their lives.
‘Partnering with CoRTA-MH aligns with Brisbane South PHN’s approach of putting people at the heart of healthcare,’ said Mike Bosel, Brisbane South PHN’s CEO.
Courtney Milham, Brisbane South PHN’s General Manager of Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Alcohol and Other Drugs, expressed support of Brisbane South PHN’s commitment to partnerships that amplify the voices of people living in our region.
‘We look forward to being part of the CoRTA-MH consortium in our joint efforts to ensure people with lived experience, service providers and researchers are able to set the agenda for how research findings are interpreted and used to create positive change,’ she said.
What are the next steps for CoRTA-MH?
With the consortium in its formative stages, work is still ongoing to establish the governance structure and co-design process with local people with lived experience, service providers, and researchers.
Work is currently underway to develop CoRTA-MH’s initial research strategy based on contributions from their inaugural event held on the 3 March 2026, sponsored by the Queensland Mental Health Commission.
Brisbane South PHN will share CoRTA-MH updates and opportunities for collaboration through Brisbane South PHN’s e-newsletter and our website.
Alternatively, look out for CoRTA-MH stalls or sessions at events such as the Leading Reform Summit and other sector conferences.
Further information
Visit our mental health pages on the PHN website.
Learn more about the Medicare Mental Health phone service.
Visit Brisbane South HealthPathways for primary care guidance on assessing and managing patient mental health concerns.