Dietetics
The Complex Clinical Obesity Dietitian provides care to young people and their families to understand their eating habits, growth and overall health. Dietitians provide personalised advice and practical support to help families make positive changes to food choices and eating habits that support health and wellbeing.
Our Dietitians provide assessment and specialist recommendations, as a part of the clinic. As we do not provide ongoing or long-term dietetic care, families may be referred to a local community dietitian for ongoing support where appropriate.
Referral Options
Access to a community dietitian can be obtained through:
For some helpful tips on nutrition and lifestyle changes for your family, please see our Resources page here.
Social Work
The Complex Clinical Obesity Social Work service supports children, young people and their families to address the wider social factors that can influence health, wellbeing and the ability to make sustainable changes.
Social workers help young people and families overcome social barriers so they can reach their health and wellbeing goals. These may include stressors such as financial hardship; housing instability or homelessness; parental health challenges; family violence; family conflict or relationship issues; or challenges related to the management of chronic health conditions or disabilities.
The social worker will complete a psychosocial assessment to identify these stressors and develop a care plan that may include the following:
- Advice and education
- Supportive counselling
- Crisis intervention and safety planning
- Education and assistance with navigating health and welfare systems
- Referrals to relevant community-based services and resources
- Liaison with existing supports such as schools and/or other health professionals
Accessing social work
A member of our team can refer you to social work while you are a patient of the service, if this is appropriate for you and your family's needs. The social worker is available on Thursdays during business hours.
Psychology
The Complex Clinical Obesity Assessment Service Psychologist provides an outpatient assessment and referral service to support young people and their families to better understand and address the emotional, behavioural and social factors that can influence health and wellbeing.
Challenges such as low mood, anxiety, low self-esteem or stress can a person's overall wellbeing, affecting their ability to live the life they want to live. Our Psychologist works with families to identify strengths and barriers in order to help improve health and well-being.
Support is brief focused and may include:
- Psycho-education around the complexities of obesity
- Understanding the link between thoughts, emotions and health behaviours
- Strategies to strengthen coping strategies and improve a young person's relationship to food and eating
- Goal setting by working with strengths and barriers associated with change
- Referral to a community psychologist for ongoing support where appropriate
Our psychology service does not provide:
- Ongoing or long-term therapy
- Acute or crisis mental health care
- A replacement for local community mental health services
Accessing psychology
A member of our team can refer you to psychology while you are a patient of the service, if this is appropriate for you and your family's needs. Appointments are available on Thursdays during business hours.
Community referral options and support services
Depending on your needs, you may also be able to access support through:
- Your GP: for a Mental Health Treatment Plan to access subsidised psychology support in the community
- Headspace: early intervention mental health support for young people aged 12-25
- Kids Helpline: 24/7 phone and online counselling for young people (1800 55 1800)
- Lifeline: 24/7 crisis support (13 11 14)
- Suicide Call Back Service: 24/7 crisis counselling and support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts or supporting someone at risk (1300 659 467)
- Youth Beyond Blue: free mental health information and support for young people experiencing anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns (1300 22 4636) (1300 224 636)
- 13YARN: 24/7 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support (13 92 76)
- Butterfly foundation: information, support and resources for eating disorders, disordered eating and body image concerns (1800 334 673)
- Eating Disorders Victoria: information, support and treatment navigation for people experiencing eating disorders, disordered eating or body image concerns (1300 550 236)
- QLife: anonymous and free LGBTIQA+ peer support and referral service, available Australia wide (1800 184 527)
- 1800RESPECT: 24/7 confidential support for people experiencing or supporting someone affected by domestic, family or sexual violence (1800 737 732)
In an emergency, please contact 000 or attend your nearest emergency department. For ongoing or specialist mental health support, families are encouraged to access local services through their catchment area: https://vahi.vic.gov.au/mental-health-services
For practical resources and tip sheets, please refer to the RCH Mental Health Services webpage here.
Other allied health providers
Other allied health providers (such as an exercise physiologist, physiotherapist or occupational therapist) can be accessed through local community health or private services. Please speak to your GP or paediatrician for more information.