For 50 years, RFQ has served the community by providing compassionate, tailored support for people experiencing mental health challenges, as well as their families, carers, and wider networks.
Brisbane GP, Dr. Charles Elliott, meets Dutch nurse Elly Jansen at a Church of England event in London. The pair speak about Elly’s groundbreaking work creating therapeutic communities for people living with mental illness in Richmond, Surrey. Elly has been outspoken in opposing mental institutions and is a pioneer of the de-institutionalisation and community mental health movements. At this time, the idea of people with mental illness living in a therapeutic community, spearheaded by a young woman, is considered dangerous and highly controversial.
This exchange piques Dr Elliott’s interest, as he has noticed a marked increase in the number of his patients presenting with mental health challenges. He returns to Brisbane and persuades the Anglican men’s society to fund a purpose-built therapeutic home at Eliza Street, Clayfield, which could accommodate 21 people.
With that, RFQ is born.
RFQ is officially incorporated in May 1974, with James Riggs employed as its first staff member. James spends six months in the UK training with Elly in the therapeutic community model. Upon his return, James becomes RFQ’s founding Executive Director – a position he would hold from 1975 to 1995.
The Eliza Street therapeutic community program commences.
With the Eliza Street therapeutic program receiving intermittent funding, RFQ needs to fundraise to keep the house going (their annual garage sales were infamous!) Over time, small surplus funds from the Queensland Government begin to assist with program delivery.
In 1993, Larry Stapleton and Rudolf Manu begin their careers with RFQ, with both still working for the organisation to this day. In 1995, James Riggs resigns from his Executive Director position, and Kingsley Bedwell takes on the leadership role.
There are seven RFQ staff working across two programs during this time – Eliza Street and a small outreach service called Independent Living Service (ILS).
Mental health is in the spotlight. RFQ becomes one of the 12 not-for-profits involved in Project 300, which supports 300 people to move from Queensland’s three long-stay psychiatric hospitals, into public housing. An independent evaluation of the program shows a significant improvement in the clinical and overall functioning of clients.
The value of recovery-oriented, non-clinical mental health support continues to be better understood. RFQ forges partnerships in Australia and abroad, rolling out an evidence-based collaborative recovery model to improve service delivery and outcomes for clients. RFQ wins various funding contracts and expands its service delivery footprint.
RFQ is funded to deliver Hospital to Home (H2H), Transition from Corrections (TFC), NewAccess, National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the Way Back Support Service (TWBSS).
In 2018, RFQ merges with Mental Illness Fellowship Queensland (MIFQ), bringing together 77 years of combined experience. As part of this transition, RFQ also inherits grants from a large Gold Coast-based organisation that goes into administration.
RFQ becomes the host of the iconic Recovered Futures Art Exhibition.
RFQ’s Indigenous Cultural Supervision project launches, with Indigenous-Identified staff members providing leadership, knowledge and advice to non-Indigenous staff. This project ensures our workforce is empowered to deliver culturally appropriate support to all Indigenous clients. The Wellbeing Literacy program is developed and adapted for First Nations audiences.
Wellbeing and positive psychology become a key focus within RFQ, with the introduction of Wellbeing Literacy, Schwartz Rounds, Lived Experience and MERIT Institute programs. RFQ is the Diamond Sponsor of the 2025 International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) World Congress in Brisbane.
RFQ turns their attention to the area of mental health and wellbeing research, with the introduction of a research team including Dr. Peter Davison, Senior Research and Evaluation Officer, and Professor Liz Jones in a joint professorial position in partnership with the University of Melbourne.
In 2025, RFQ’s team of 400+ supports more than 11,500 clients across ten key programs and services, spanning 18 locations.
Brisbane GP, Dr. Charles Elliott, meets Dutch nurse Elly Jansen at a Church of England event in London. The pair speak about Elly’s groundbreaking work creating therapeutic communities for people living with mental illness in Richmond, Surrey. Elly has been outspoken in opposing mental institutions and is a pioneer of the de-institutionalisation and community mental health movements. At this time, the idea of people with mental illness living in a therapeutic community, spearheaded by a young woman, is considered dangerous and highly controversial.
This exchange piques Dr Elliott’s interest, as he has noticed a marked increase in the number of his patients presenting with mental health challenges. He returns to Brisbane and persuades the Anglican men’s society to fund a purpose-built therapeutic home at Eliza Street, Clayfield, which could accommodate 21 people.
With that, RFQ is born.
RFQ was officially incorporated in May 1974, with James Riggs employed as its first staff member, spending six months in the UK training with Elly in the therapeutic community model. Upon his return, James became RFQ’s founding Executive Director, from 1975 to 1995.
Thousands of people across Queensland were transitioned from long-stay institutions into boarding houses, hostels and private facilities in the community, a process which was not without its challenges.
Eliza Street community program commences.
The Eliza Street program received intermittent funding, and at this time, the idea that a not-for-profit organisation could set up services that provided therapy and rehabilitation was considered ‘dangerous.’ The therapeutic community, in general, was subject to high levels of scrutiny.
RFQ needed to fundraise to keep the house going (their annual garage sales were infamous) and mental illness was topical in the news. Small surplus funds from the Queensland Government began to assist with program delivery intermittently.
In 1993, Larry Stapleton and Rudolph Manu begin their careers with RFQ, with both still working for the organisation to this day. In 1995, James Riggs resigns from his Executive Director position, and Kingsley Bedwell takes on the leadership role.
Seven RFQ staff working across two programs during this time – Eliza Street and a small outreach service called Independent Living Service (ILS).
Mental health is in the spotlight .RFQ become sone of the 12 not-for-profits involved in Project 300, which supports 300 people to move from Queensland’s three long-stay psychiatric hospitals, into public housing. An independent evaluation of the program shows a significant improvement in the clinical and overall functioning of clients.
The value of recovery-oriented, non-clinical mental health support continues to be better understood. RFQ forges partnerships in Australia and abroad, rolling out an evidence-based collaborative recovery model to improve service delivery and outcomes for clients. RFQ wins various funding contracts and expands its service delivery footprint.
RFQ increases its service delivery footprint via various funding contracts including Hospital to Home (H2H), Transition from Corrections (TFC), New Access, National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the Way Back Support Service (TWBSS).
In 2018, RFQ merges with Mental Illness Fellowship Queensland (MIFQ), bringing together 77 years of combined experience. As part of this transition, RFQ also inherits grants from a large Gold Coast-based organisation that goes into administration.
Wellbeing and positive psychology become a key focus within RFQ, with the introduction of Wellbeing Literacy, Schwartz Rounds, Lived Experience and MERIT Institute programs. RFQ is the Diamond Sponsor of the 2025 International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) World Congress in Brisbane.
RFQ turns their attention to the area of mental health and wellbeing research, with the introduction of a research team including Dr. Peter Davison, Senior Research and Evaluation Officer, and Professor Liz Jones in a joint professorial position in partnership with the University of Melbourne. The RFQ team of 400+ supports more than 11,500 clients across ten key programs and services, spanning 18 locations.
