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Three components of the Brain Disorders Programme are are geographically co-located on the Royal Talbot Campus of Austin Health (Kew, Victoria), namely: the inpatient unit, the transitional living unit and the BDP Community Team (CBDATS and ABI Behaviour Consultancy). The other component, the Neurobehaviour Clinic, is located at the old Repatriation Campus of Austin Health (West Heidelberg, Victoria). This clinic provides mainly neuropsychiatric assessment of cases, where the presence or degree of brain imprairment needs further clarification, along with any co-existing psychiatric issues. In recent years, there has also been a strengthening alliance with the Neuropsychiatry Inpatient Unit of the Royal Melbourne Hospital, though that unit is not clinically or administratively part of the Brain Disorders Programme. |
Mary Guthrie House
Mary Guthrie House (or "Brain Disorders Unit" or "BDU") is a 30 bed facility which provides neurobehavioural rehabilitation for persons between the ages of 16 and 65 with the dual disability of brain impairment and psychiatric disturbance. It is managed by the Mental Health Clinical Service Unit of the Austin Health Network and is located at the Royal Talbot Campus .
Step 2
Step 2 is a three bed transitional living unit which is committed to assisting persons between the ages of 16 and 65 with the dual diagnosis of Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) or Neurodegenerative disease and Psychiatric disorders. Step 2 provides a unique home like environment aimed at maximising each persons potential for independent living through case management, assessment, training, supervision and facilitation of independent living skills.
Neurobehaviour Clinic
The Neurobehaviour Clinic is a neuropsychiatric assessment service run on Wednesday and Thursday afernoons at the Repatriation Campus of Austin Health in West Heidelberg.
Its core team is comprised of two psychiatrists, a psychiatric registrar, a neuropsychologist and a behavioural neurologist
The clinic is conveniently located and run alongside a separate neurology clinic to facilitate quick cross-referral in cases where neurology and psychiatry issues co-exist or blend into each other.
Patients who attend this clinic also have access to specialist investigations and neuroimaging such as MRI, SPECT and PET, via the Austin Hospital... read more
CBDATS
The Community Brain Disorders Assessment and Treatment Service (or CBDATS) is a team comprising of members from various disciplines, including medical, nursing, clinical psychology, neuropsychology and social work.
The core functions of CBDATS may be summarized as: Assessment & treatment, Secondary consultation, Service integration, Education, and Internal coordination... read more
ABI Behaviour Consultancy
The ABI Behaviour Consultancy is the latest addition to the Brain Disorders Programme. It is currently being phased in and will eventually consist of a small group of neuropsychologists and a part-time psychiatrist. The core aim of this service is to assess and respond to persons who suffer from ABI and challenging behaviours. Because the boundary between "challenging behaviours" and "psychiatric illness" is often blurred, however, a process collaboration is being developed with CBDATS.The referral point will continue to be CBDATS, but cases will be triaged accordingly, and at times managed collaboratively if needed. More information about the new system will be available on this website as the process is fine tuned.