Hume - Mental Health Service System – Referral Options(Updated July 2013)

Diagnosis, Assessment Management Advice / Service / Description / Service / Description
GP Psych Support Line
Phone: 1800 200 588
Fax: 1800 012 422
/ ­Free patient management advice from a psychiatrist within 24 hours.
­GPs can request advice in:
  • General adult psychiatry
  • Child and adolescent psychiatry
  • Old age psychiatry
Dual diagnosis/drug and alcohol / North West Mental Health Shared Care Team
Intake and information
Phone: 8371 9800 / ­Multi disciplinary team supports GPs in the assessment and management of patients with a mental health condition.
­Consultations with a senior clinician. Assessments, review and up to 18 sessions of therapy can be offered.
­Team does not provide a crisis service, long term case management, medical reports for Work Cover or TAC , or legal reports for court cases
Private Consultant Psychiatrist / ­Referral to a consultant psychiatrist by a GP for an assessment and management plan (MBS Item 291).
­Psychiatrist Referral Directory available at: / Drug and Alcohol Clinical Advisory Service (DACAS)
Phone: 1800 812 804 / ­24 hour specialist telephone consultancy service on clinical management of alcohol and drug issues.
Primary Care / Better Access to Mental Health Services (Medicare)
Find a Psychologist:

Find a Mental Health OT:

Find a Mental Health Social Worker:
/ ­Patient must have a GP mental health treatment plan (2715, (2717, 2700, 2701)
­Patient eligible to access Medicare rebates for up to 10 individual sessions and/or 10 group services from a clinical psychologist or other allied mental health professional in a calendar year.
­Exceptional circumstances (change in condition or care circumstances), additional 6 sessions. (ie total 16)for 2012 calendar year only
­Patient may be billed a gap payment. / Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (Medicare funded)
Mental Health Nurses are engaged directly by some general practices.
NB: Govt freeze on program growth beyond 2012/13 levels
See
/ Free services for patients funded through Medicare. Patient eligibility:Currently receiving treatment for a mental illness with current GP mental health treatment plan, GP or private psychiatrist is principally responsible for patients clinical mental health care AND
­Condition causes significant disablement to patients social, personal & occupational functioning AND
­Has had or is at risk of having admission to psychiatric facility, AND
­Patient expected to require treatment for up to two years, AND
Patient interested in receiving additional support from a Mental Health Nurse.
ATAPS- Access to Allied Psychological Services
(Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Program)
Administered by Infiniti Health Solutions for the Northern Melbourne Medicare Local.
Phone: (03) 9353 4944
Fax: (03) 9354 2164 / ­Patient must have a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan.
­Eligible patients are health care card holders or women with perinatal depression, or children under 12 yrs or ATSI or patients affected by the Victorian bushfires, or people at risk of suicide. No cost
­Patient eligible to access up to 12 individual sessions in a calendar year (6 sessions followed by a GP Review & re-referral) from an allied mental health professional registered with Infiniti’s program. Additional 6 sessions in exceptional circumstances. / Early Psychosis, Prevention & Intervention Centre (EPPIC)
Ph: 1800 888 320 / ­A service of the ORYGEN Youth Health
- Available to patients with or without a GP mental health
treatment plan, or formal referral.
- This specialist service provides early intervention and
case management for young people between 15 - 24 years
of age, who are at risk of developing a psychosis or who
have experienced a first episode of psychosis
Private Allied Mental Health Providers / Other than through Better Access to Mental Health and ATAPS; will not require MH Treatment Plan (No Diagnosis required). At cost to patients, or claimable through private Health Ins.
Specialist Services / Northern or North WestArea Mental Health Service
Centralised Triage Service (via NorthWestern Mental Health:
1300 874 243 / To make a referral or for a response for people with mental health issues in a crisis, advice on
  • Crisis Assessment
  • Youth Early Psychosis Service (Northern only)
  • Adult Mental Health Services & Aged (after hours)
In an emergency where a response is required within 2 hours call 000 / Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation Support Services (PDRSS) / ­Non-clinical specialist mental health support services
­16 yrs+, serious mental illness and associated significant psychiatric disability. Recovery and empowerment model to maximise opportunities to live successfully in the community.
­Written referral for diagnosed mental health condition
Local PDRSS providers available in North West:

Youth Mental Health Services (15 – 24Yrs)
Children’s Mental Health Services
Royal Children’s Hospital (under 15 yrs) / ­Triage 1800 888 320 (until 10pm and then Triage 1300 874 243)
- 1800 445 5119.00am – 5.00pm Mon-Fri (then refer to ED at RCH) / Statewide Specialist Services /
eg Forensic, Eating disorders, Spectrum, Mother and Baby, Brain Disorders, Neuropsychiatry, Dual disability, EPPIC
Aged (People 65+ with severe mental illness) / -1300427288 9-4.30 M-F then defaults to 1300 874 243
-APPATT 8371 8200 / Private Consultant Psychiatrist / ­At cost to patients.
­Psychiatrist Referral Directory available to RACGP members at:

(Based on original created by Central West Gippsland Division of General Practice)