Adapted from the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research Newsletter, June 2024
Roman Scheurer, a Forest Lake resident for more than 20 years, has recently retired from his career spanning five decades in mental health research.
On the occasion of his retirement in June 2024, Roman has taken the time to reminisce and reflect on his many experiences at the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR) at The Park, Wacol.
Roman worked as a senior researcher in the field of mental health services research and evaluation. He is an Adjunct Senior Fellow with the School of Public Health at the University of Queensland.
Roman holds qualifications in Psychiatric and General Nursing, Bachelor of Education (La Trobe University), Postgraduate Diploma (Epidemiology), and a Masters in Social Science (Applied Research), at The University of Queensland.
His experiences in the mental health field, included clinical, education, and senior management. His academic and research career encompasses, qualitative and quantitative research, systematic literature reviews, evaluation and policy analyses, spatial and thematic mapping, and health economic modelling with large population-level, time series data. He has co-authored numerous journal publications across sub-specialities in mental health.
In this defining moment, a poignant truism encapsulates the essence for Roman, albeit, “Retirement is when you stop living at work, and start working at living.” [anonymous]
These words resonate deeply with Roman as he looks back on five decades of advancing mental health through public service. Throughout this journey, Roman has encountered countless transitions, navigated challenges, and engaged in collaborative efforts that have shaped a fulfilling research career in mental health.
Roman’s professional journey began at Ramsay Books, Medical & Equipment Pty Ltd in Victoria at the age of 21. The journey continued with his venture into Psychiatric Nursing at Mont Park Hospital in 1974. In 1982, Roman received a Diploma as a General Nurse at Preston & Northcote Community Hospital, where he shared the first prize in Medical Nursing. This achievement was facilitated through a secondment provided by the Victorian Government’s Department of Health, equivalent as an industry first.
Several pivotal chapters in his career involved participation in decommissioning teams for the deinstitutionalisation of traditional mental health facilities. Noteworthy closures include Willsmere Hospital in Victoria in 1988 and Rosemount Hospital in Queensland in 1994.
As a founding member and Assistant Director of Nursing, Roman, along with others, established the first co-located and mainstreamed acute psychiatric service at Maroondah Hospital in Victoria, a position he held for seven years.
In August 1994, a pivotal moment occurred with Roman’s relocation to Queensland, where he assumed the role of Senior Nurse Researcher at the Clinical Studies Unit. This transition marked a significant stage in his career, later progressing into a Senior Researcher/Adjunct Senior Fellow position at QCMHR/University of Queensland, supported by various postgraduate studies. These experiences served as a foundation for his contributions to projects at QCMHR under Professor John McGrath and colleagues. Some notable projects include The Clozapine Study, Twins Psychosis, Low Prevalence Study, and the Brisbane Psychosis Study.
Roman’s responsibilities also extended beyond traditional research methodologies, encompassing hands-on tasks such as blood collection, delineating family genograms, conducting anthropometric studies, for skull and facial anatomy measurements, and collecting fingerprint samples for analysis. These diverse responsibilities underscored the multifaceted nature of the innovative research endeavours at QCMHR.
Reflecting on decades of notable achievements, Roman finds it challenging to single out a specific accomplishment. His contributions span specialised analytical techniques and novel software applications in epidemiology, policy analysis, mental health services mapping, including participation in Global Burden of Disease studies and Health Economics. Roman’s role in the Mental Health Outcome and Case Complexity stream, directed by Professors Philip Burgess and Associate Professor Meredith Harris, provided invaluable insights in a well-regarded enterprise aligning with the objectives of the National Mental Health Strategies. In essence, his proudest achievements transcend specific projects or accolades, they laid in the legacy of collaborating with exceptional colleagues, collectively contributing to high-impact research.
Roman has been part of the organisational transformative evolution, including the transition from the Clinical Studies Unit at McDonnell House to the upper level of QCMHR, Dawson House. He viewed that this represented not only a physical move but also symbolised a shift to a ‘room with a view,’ an analogy drawn to the expansive vision and changing landscape embraced by QCMHR executive and staff.
From his office, marked by panoramic views, Roman assumed an unofficial guardianship role over a collection of Medicare Benefits Schedule collections, numerous National Mental Health Reports, and the ubiquitous bible, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders taxonomy. His collection not only served as a drawcard for numerous research interactions with staff but also established goodwill, where staff continued to contribute positively to the optics of collaborative and impactful research efforts.
As Roman adjusts to a new reality, his years have been marked by lessons learned, scholarly camaraderie, overcoming challenges, and developing resilience—a priceless dividend from a long-standing investment at QCMHR. Roman and his wife Carmen, a retired psychiatric nurse, will endeavour to continue to channel his skills and wisdom into an advocacy role for marginalised communities and promoting evidence-based mental health initiatives within the Forest Lake surrounds.
As Roman embarks on this new chapter at 72 years old, he will shift away from a structured routine to a more self-directed life. Following the adage that, ‘…retirement is when you start living’, the first order of business involves cracking open a bottle of Moet. The rest of the days and years will fall into place or by force majeure.
