Revolutionising
Mental Health Care
Bridging Indigenous wisdom and cutting-edge psychiatry for holistic well-being
A new paradigm for Indigenous mental health treatment in Australia
Quantum Psychiatry represents a groundbreaking approach to mental health, integrating traditional wisdom with cutting-edge neurobiological research and evidence-based mental health interventions, advancing outcomes for Indigenous youth and communities.
Our Vision
To transform mental health outcomes globally by uniting the traditional medical healing practices with digital innovation.
Our vision is to make sustainable, revolutionary Emotional and Social Well-being (ESWB) healthcare accessible to all.
Our Mission
To deliver innovative mental health solutions that unite cutting-edge approaches in psychiatry and psychology, guiding individuals towards mental clarity, emotional resilience, and profound inner wholeness.
Through accessible programs and services, we foster personal transformation and collective growth on a global scale.
Cultural safety at our core
Our innovative Adventure Based Indigenous Therapy (ABIT) program integrates traditional healing practices with contemporary psychiatric care, creating a holistic treatment framework that respects and embraces Indigenous perspectives on social and emotional wellbeing.
Evidence-based outcomes
Rigorous evaluation protocols measure program effectiveness through validated mental health tools, cultural yarning practices and camping on country, ensuring interventions deliver measurable improvements in mental health outcomes.
Alignment with Vision 2030
Our initiative directly supports Australia's commitment to Closing the Gap in Indigenous mental health outcomes, contributing to key national health strategy objectives through Indigenous-led mental health programs.
About Quantum Psychiatry
Quantum Psychiatry is pioneering a revolutionary approach to the assessment, management and treatment of mental health.
We deliver innovative, evidence-based programs that transform mental health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.
We do this through both immersive in-person experiences, as well as leveraging virtual reality platforms to ensure access to communities, including those in rural and remote areas, across Australia as well as globally.
Founded in 2019, Dugundun: The Boonah Consortium (TBC)/Quantum Psychiatry was established by Professor Derek Chong and Uncle John Long, combining expertise in mental health, indigenous culture, and adventure-based therapy to create innovative solutions for mental health and healing on country.
As Australia’s first Indigenous-led psychiatric initiative of its kind, we are positioned to become a global leader in culturally-appropriate mental health programs.
Key stakeholders
- Professor Derek Chong – Senior Medical Officer Psychiatry, Epigenetics Researcher, ABIT Program Director
- Ms Adele Hauwai – Healing Innovation Hub
- Dr Jason Hartley – Author and Criminologist
- Mr Graham Pringle – Founder & Program Director, Youth Flourish Organisation
- Mr Warren Clements – founding member, lead choreographer, and VTO teacher Tjapukai Theatre Park and Mossman Gorge Tours
- Associate Professor Joanne Voisey – Queensland University of Technology
- Associate Professor Debbie Duthrie – Queensland University of Technology
Strategic initiatives
- Adventure Based Indigenous Therapy
- VR 360 Model Indigenous Mental
Health Hospital (in development) - First Nations Wellness and Healing Centre (in development)
- Cultural Tourism Enterprise (in development)
Join our vision for the future
Quantum Psychiatry has plans for exponential growth, launching the world's first Indigenous Virtual Mental Health Hospital upon an innovative VR 360 platform.
Key Initiatives
Adventure Based Indigenous Therapy (ABIT)
Our flagship product, ABIT is a complementary, integrative approach for treating young people presenting with complex mental health challenges.
First piloted in 2019, we aim to roll the program out to Indigenous communities across Australia.
It involves adventure activities taking place upon outdoor tribal country environments to foster cultural personal identity, cultural principles and interpersonal growth and well-being.
Activities include traditional fishing, land management and water management, Dadirri, LORE principles of “two way thinking, 8 ways of learning, songlines and cultural resilience activities, boy to man adventure therapy hikes, and girl to woman adventure and cultural pathways.
Key Features & Principles
Unlike other programs, our product offers the combined ability of traditional “camps” combined with functional imaging of the brain to assess and evaluate the changes that are occurring and the epigenetic quantification of sustained changes in the individual in the long term.
The unique feature will be the adoption of VR 360 technology for delivery, revolutionising access to specialised mental health services.
Communities across urban, rural, and remote locations can now experience consistent, high-quality care without the traditional barriers of distance and availability.
- Durie M. Providing health services to indigenous peoples. BMJ. 2003;327(7412):408-409.
- NATSIMHL. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Mental Health. Gayaa Dhuwi-Proud Spirit Declaration. 2019. https://natsilmh.org.au
- Coopes A. Relationships, stories and healing: Indigenous knowledges for mental health and wellbeing. Croakey.August 31, 2017. https://www.croakey.org/relationships-stories-and-healing-indigenous-knowledges-for-mental-health-and-wellbeing/
"Working in 2 worlds"
Integrates traditional cultural healing practices with evidence-based clinical interventions, acknowledging the validity and importance of both knowledge systems.1-3
Trauma-Informed Care
Recognises and addresses intergenerational trauma through culturally appropriate therapeutic approaches, emphasizing safety, trust, and empowerment.
Revolutionary access through digital innovation
Our innovative platform integrates immersive on-country experiences with advanced neurological monitoring and VR 360 delivery, making specialised mental health services accessible to all communities - from urban centers to remote locations.
Key Impact Areas
Evidence from Cultural Revitalisation Programs overwhelmingly indicates that when Indigenous people return to their culture and country, outcomes include:
- Enhanced mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Reduced rates of violent offending and recidivism
- Decreased substance use and addiction
- Lower rates of domestic violence
- Improved physical health outcomes and reduced chronic disease
- Better educational engagement and achievement
- Increased vocational participation and employment outcomes
Strategic Development Roadmap
To achieve our vision of global access, our roadmap involves the following strategic initiatives, with an expected launch date of February 2026.
We seek partners for investment and implementation of these projects:
- Acquisition of Mount Barney Lodge (Traditional land of the Wongabarah/Mullenjahli people) as the base for ongoing delivery of ABIT and other strategic initiatives
- Development of VR 360 content production facilities
- Creation of virtual prevention and recovery center
- Development of First Nations Wellness and Healing Centre
- Integration of Cultural Tourism Enterprise
Join our vision for the future
Our initiative directly supports Australia's Vision 2030 goals for Indigenous-led mental health care, positioning us as a key contributor to national health priorities and making us an ideal candidate for strategic funding partnerships.
partner with us
Professor Derek Chong
Professor Derek Chong is Queensland’s first Indigenous psychiatrist, bringing a unique perspective to mental health innovation.
Connected to Country through his mother’s people – the Mullenjarli and Wongabarah in South East Queensland, and his father’s people from the Walkamin and Kunjen Nations in Far North West Queensland, Prof Chong brings deep cultural understanding to his clinical practice.
Prof Chong’s unique pathway through healthcare – from residential care worker to psychiatric nurse, and ultimately to psychiatrist – has shaped his holistic approach to mental health treatment. As Senior Psychiatry Registrar at the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health and pending Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry, he also mentors other medical and mental health practitioners in cultural safety when treating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Pioneering Adventure Based Indigenous Therapy (ABIT), Prof Chong integrates traditional healing practices with contemporary psychiatric care. His research in epigenetics and generational trauma informs evidence-based approaches to Indigenous mental health treatment.
Drawing inspiration from his family’s legacy, Prof Chong is dedicated to forging a closer connection to our culture for healing from trauma, and fostering positive mental health outcomes for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
Awards & Recognition
In the media
Professor Chong and his initiatives which have been featured across various media platforms. Learn more by clicking the links below.
Camping on Country
Read the write-up of Camping on Country - our health our way. Dr Derek Chong delivered ABIT workshops as part of these five-day camps in collaboration with Camping on Country Ambassador Ernie Dingo.
Read the article
ACU Impact
Read ACU Impact's story on Dr Derek Chong following his Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Award and the Alumni of the Year Award in ACU’s Alumni Awards 2019.
Read the articleGet involved
Quantum Psychiatry’s vision is to expand access to innovative, evidence-based mental health and wellness programs to individuals, families and communities globally, including in rural and remote areas.
We will do this by rolling out cutting-edge virtual reality platforms, allowing us to enter new markets within the next 1-2 years. View our Business Prospectus for full details.
We are seeking:
- Philanthropic investors
- Academic and research partnerships
- Board members
- Referral networks across the healthcare and juvenile justice systems
Together, we can revolutionise Indigenous mental health care.
Interested in supporting our mission? Fill out the contact form below to learn how you can be part of this exciting initiative.
