Contact us


  • If this is an EMERGENCY call 000 for an ambulance or go to your closest Emergency Department

    Eligibility for RCH Mental Health service provision

    Our community services are for young people aged 0-11 years and their families who live in the Western and Northwestern metropolitan regions of Melbourne.  See our map below on this page.
    For young people aged 12-25 years old, Orygen Specialist Program will provide community mental health services and supports for this age cohort.  Our mental health inpatient unit, Banksia, services young people aged 13-18.

    We see infants, children, and young people with the most severe and complex mental illnesses. There are a range of other places you can access for mild to moderate difficulties and illnesses. See our community resources sections for childrenyoung people and parents and carers more details. We also have a range of statewide services that young people up to the age of 18 may be able to use too. It is best to check with our Intake (Triage) Team to be sure. A general rule is if you need our help:

    • our hospital-based services (at the Emergency Department; on a ward; or as regular psychology outpatient where you may or may not have another medical condition) are available to you if you live anywhere in Victoria, Tasmania, or southern New South Wales

    • our outpatient services are generally available to you if you live in our metropolitan areas listed above.

    Here is a link from the Victorian Department of Health that should tell you if you live in a suburb, we generally provide community-based outpatient services to.

    Referring to Mental Health

    This section contains information on how to refer to the Royal Children’s Hospital Mental Health Service.

    For Professionals, Parents and Carers: 
    To discuss suitability of a referral please contact the Mental Health Intake (Triage) team between 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) on 1800 44 55 11 (free call). The Mental Health Intake (Triage) team will determine the urgency of the response by referring to the Mental Health triage scale.  For referrals to the Banksia inpatient unit, referrals can only be taken from mental health professionals.

    You will be asked about your infant, child, or young person's:

    • Age (Must be aged 0-11 years (up until twelfth birthday for community.)
    • Home suburb
    • Background (e.g., are they from culturally or linguistically diverse family or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family)
    • Brief summary of your concerns
    • Previous history with us or another mental health service (if relevant).
    • From 8.30am on 1 July 2024 the service delivery arrangements for 12–14-year-old mental health consumers for community mental health and wellbeing services will change. 
    • In keeping with a recommendation by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) will deliver community mental health services to children aged 0-11 years and the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s (RMH) Orygen Specialist Program (OSP) will deliver community mental health services for young people aged 12–25 years.
    • It is important to note that RCH’s Banksia Ward (Mental Health Inpatient Unit) will continue to see consumers aged 13-18 years old. RCH’s Emergency Department will continue to be a 0–18-year-old service.
    • For further questions, please reference our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) document that provides answers to any questions you may have regarding the transition of 12–14-year-olds from the RCH to RMH (OSP).
    • If you have any further questions about eligibility, you can contact the RCH Intake Triage team on: 1800 44 55 11 or alternatively if you are ringing about a young person aged 12-25 years, please contact the Orygen Specialist Program Youth Access Team on: 1800 888 320. 

    You can speak to the Mental Health Triage Team for:

    • General queries
    • Community Mental Health Teams
    • Infant Mental Health Team
    • Requests for primary or secondary consultations  

    For Professionals:
    To discuss suitability of a referral please contact the Mental Health Intake (Triage) team between 9 am – 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) on 1800 44 55 11 (free call).

    For further information regarding referrals to the Royal Children’s Hospital Mental Health Service please see the  Referrers guide for hospital and community based services. This guide should tell you about our teams, what we can provide and the best way to make a referral.

    If you have left a message with the team and have not heard back yet, please email Mhs.Intake@rch.org.au

     

    How to make contact

    Mental Health intake (triage) team

    The Intake team is the central contact point for most mental health referrals and enquiries about RCH Mental Health. The Intake team clinicians (mental health professionals) work out how best to respond to your query. If we are the best service to help you, they will decide about the urgency of the referral before offering an initial appointment. They also provide information about other child and youth mental health services (where appropriate) and education and training sessions for referrers.

    For emergencies, please call 000 for an ambulance or go to your closest Emergency Department.

    Otherwise ring the intake team for:

    • Community Mental Health Teams
    • General queries
    • Infant Mental Health Team
    • Requests for primary or secondary consultations

    • Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800: Australia's only free, private, and confidential, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25. 'We care, and we listen any time and for any reason'


    Banksia (Adolescent Inpatient Unit)

    Telephone +613 9345 9600
    (when referrals made in business hours)

    Emergency after hours referrals are managed through the RCH Emergency Department.
    Telephone +613 9345 6153

    Developmental Neuropsychiatry team

    Telephone +613 9345 4666
    Facsimile +613 9345 6002
    Monday to Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm
    (excluding public holidays)

    Clinic run in conjunction with The University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics

    Gender Service

    Telephone +613 9345 5890
    Monday to Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm
    (excluding public holidays)

    Psychology

    Telephone +613 9345 5881
    Facsimile +613 9345 5544
    Monday to Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm
    (excluding public holidays)

    Telephone +613 9345 5780
    Monday to Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm
    (excluding public holidays)

    Telephone +613 9345 5373
    Monday to Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm
    (excluding public holidays)

    Psychology

    Statewide 0-18 year olds
    (free service)

    Neuropsychology

    Statewide 0-18 year olds
    (Free service)

    Psychiatry Clinic

    Telephone +613 9345 6180
    Facsimile +613 9345 5034
    Monday to Friday, 8:15am-4:15pm
    (excluding public holidays)

    Contact Specialist Clinic administration

    www.rch.org.au/outpatient

    Details of how to send Medical Referrals can be found here:

    www.rch.org.au/outpatient/referrals

    Travancore school

    Telephone +613 9345 6053
    Monday to Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm
    (excluding public and school holidays)

    Travancore School is a Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET) school that supports students undergoing treatment for mental illness in the Western and Northern Metropolitan Regions of Melbourne

    Map of our services area

    Here is a map of our service areas. Some are Statewide (all of Victoria) and some are within Metropolitan Melbourne. If you're not sure please ring the RCH Mental Health Intake Team (see table above).

    Map of Victoria

    How to find us

    The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne

    50 Flemington Road
    Parkville Vic 3052

    Telephone +613 9345 5522 (Switchboard)

    Map

    Parking: on site – fee payable

    Public transport:
    Tram 59 from City or Essendon
    Stop No.16

    Banksia

    Level 1 North Building
    Nearest to Green Lifts

    Specialist Clinic D

    Level 1 East Building
    Nearest to White Lifts

    Travancore

    50 Flemington St
    Travancore Vic 3031

    Telephone +613 9345 6011
    Facsimile +613 9345 6010

    Map

    Parking: on site and free

    Public transport:

    • Tram - 59 from City or Essendon to Flemington Street
    • Train - Upfield (Flemington Bridge station)
    • Broadmeadows (Newmarket station) 15 minute walk up Wellington Street
    • Buses - Terminate at Moonee Ponds, connect to Tram 59 (see above) Programs/Teams

    Sunshine

    Level 2 Sunshine Private
    147-149 Furlong Road
    St Albans Vic 3021

    Telephone +613 9345 4877
    Facsimile +613 9345 5501

    Map 

    Parking: on street parking (limited duration) or fee payable in parking site.

    Public transport:
    Train - Albion Station (Sunbury train line)

    Hoppers Crossing

    Temporarily located at Travancore
    50 Flemington St
    Travancore Vic 3031
    (Refer to map, parking and public transport details for Travancore above.) 

    Telephone +613 9345 5022
    Facsimile +613 9345 5778


    Consumer participation

    We need you!

    Participation at RCH Mental Health

    The best results for families using the services of RCH Mental Health are achieved through active participation. Your involvement will make a difference not only to what happens to you and your family but also how our mental health service is offered to everyone. We value the feedback, input and ideas from children, young people, family members and carers, and acknowledge the important role they play in the service we provide. There are a number of ways you can get involved and have a say. 

    Share your opinions

    Getting feedback from families using our service lets us know what we are doing well and in what areas we could do better. You may give feedback directly to staff, through the feedback box or by mail/email at any time during your involvement with our service. Before you leave our service you will also have the opportunity to fill out a short satisfaction survey to tell us about your experience. There is a survey for parents/carers, and one for children and young people 

    Find out more

    For more information please contact our Carer Consultant on 9345 6011 or email rch.mhs@rch.org.au.

    See our brochure Participating in RCH Mental Health


    Elective and Fellowship placements in Mental Health

    Medical staff and medical students seeking information on fellowships or student placements may contact Director Mental Health chidambaram.prakash@rch.org.au