Darebin & Whittlesea- Mental Health Service System – Referral Options (Updated July 2013)
Patient identified as having a mental disorder or condition
If you are not able to diagnose the condition, or for assistance consider speaking to


a Consultant Psychiatrist for Assessment and Management Plan (MBS 291), or
Centralised Triage via NW Mental Health 1300 874 243


Northern Primary Mental Health Team
GP Psych Support Line
MANAGEMENT WITH A MENTAL HEALTH
TREATMENT PLAN
8480 3808
1800 200 588
MANAGEMENT WITHOUT A MENTAL HEALTH
TREATMENT PLAN
PLUS
Northern
Primary Mental
Health Team
Better Access to Mental Health
Services (Medicare)
GP refers patient to a Medicare
registered clinical psychologist,
or psychologist, occupational
therapist, social worker or GP for
focused psychological
strategies. Patient may be billed
a gap payment.
ATAPS- Access to Allied
Psychological Services
(Better Outcomes in Mental
Health Care Program)
For health care card holders, no
cost to patient.
GP refers patient to an allied
mental health professional
(clinical psychologist,
psychologist or occupational
therapist, social worker, MH
nurse) registered with the
Northern Melbourne Medicare
Local (NMML) for focused
psychological strategies.
Referrals for NMML catchment
are faxed by GP to 9354 2164 at
Infiniti Health Solutions, who
facilitate the referral to a MH
Allied Health Provider registered
with the program.
Enquiries ph: 9353 4944
Mental Health Nurse
(Incentive Program)
To assist GPs in the
provision of coordinated
clinical care for people
with a severe &
disabling mental illness.
For more information
see Mental Health Nurse
Incentive Program
Guidelines at
www.medicare.gov.au
Duty Worker
03 8480 3808
Consultant
Psychiatrist,
Psychiatric
Registrar, Senior
Clinicians
providing support
to GP’s including
diagnostic
clarifictaion,
medication advice
& secondary
consultation
NB: Govt. Freeze on
growth in Program at
2012/13 Levels
Northern Area Mental
Health Service
Central Triage Service via
North Western Mental
Health :
1300 874 243
Triage will assess and
categorise a person’s
mental health needs, and
provide advice on
appropriate treatment and
management.

Consultant

Youth Early Psychosis
Intervention (YEPS)

Adult Mental Health
Services
Austin Child and
Adolescent Mental Health
Service (CAMHS)
Community Support Services
GP refers patient to mental
health community support
services (including CHS) for:
 Psychiatric Disability
Rehabilitation Support
Services (PDRSS)
o Neami
o Mind
o PHAMS Personal
Helpers & Mentors
Service
 24 hour telephone support
 Alcohol and drug services
 Aboriginal Health (VAHS)
03 9416 8714
Preparation of GP Mental Health Treatment Plan - MBS Item 2715 & 2717 (or 2700 & 2701)
GP assesses the patient (including mental health diagnosis) and discusses mental health concerns, referral and
treatment options, inc appropriate support services. (Max once every 12 months*)

Review of GP Mental Health Treatment Plan - MBS Item 2712
Review patient progress against care plan, modify if required. Initial review should occur 4-24 weeks after initial care
plan developed, if required a second review at 3 months following first review. (Two reviews in a 12 month period*)


Plenty Valley
CHS
9409 8787
Darebin CHS
8470 1111
 Generalist
Counselling
 Support
Groups
PRIVATE ALLIED
Mental Health
Providers
At cost to
patient
 Psychiatrist
 Clinical
Psychologists
 Psychologist
 Social Worker
 Occupational
Therapist
 Mental Health
Nurse
Triage 9496 3620
(9.00am – 5.00pm M – F)
1300 558 862 after hours
referrals:
USING A MENTALFax
HEALTH
TREATMENT PLAN - WHICH MBS ITEMS CAN BE USED?

Community
Health
Services
GP Mental Health Care Consultation - MBS Item 2713 or
Standard Consultation - MBS Item 23 or 36
Ongoing management of the patient where consult is primarily for a mental health issue, providing treatment advice
or referral (not Better Access). Not used for development/review of mental health treatment plan. (No restrictions)
(* Except in Exceptional Circumstances – change in the condition or care circumstances of the patient)
Without a mental health
treatment plan - Which MBS items
can be used?
 GP Mental Health Care
Consultation
MBS Item 2713 (20+ min) or
 Standard Consultation
MBS Item 23 or 36
GP assesses all health concerns. With
the patient, GP develops a pathway
of care that does not include
(claiming) a MH Treatment Plan.
(Based on original created by Central West Gippsland Division of General Practice)
Diagnosis, Assessment
& Management Advice
Darebin & Whittlesea- Mental Health Service System – Referral Options (Updated July 2013)
Service
GP Psych Support Line
Phone: 1800 200 588
Fax:
1800 012 422
www.psychsupport.com.au
Private Consultant Psychiatrist
Better Access to Mental Health Services
(Medicare)
Primary Care
Find a Psychologist:
http://www.psychology.org.au/FindaPsychologist
Find a Mental Health OT:
http://www.ausot.com.au
Find a Mental Health Social Worker:
http://www.aasw.asn.au/membersdirectory
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
Private Allied Mental Health Providers
Specialist Services
Northern Area Mental Health Service
Centralised Triage Service (via
NorthWestern Mental Health:
1300 874 243
Child & Adolescent Mental Health
Services (Austin CAMHS)
Aged (People 65+ with severe mental
illness)
Description
Service
- Free patient management advice from a psychiatrist within 24
hours.
- GPs can request advice in:
o General adult psychiatry
o Child and adolescent psychiatry
o Old age psychiatry
o Dual diagnosis/drug and alcohol
- Referral to a consultant psychiatrist by a GP for an assessment
and management plan (MBS Item 291).
- Psychiatrist Referral Directory available for RACGP members
at: www.racgp.org.au/psychiatristdatabase
Description
Primary Mental Health
(PMHT)
- Multi disciplinary team supports GPs in the assessment and
management of patients with a mental health condition.
Consultations with a consultant psychiatrist/ psychologist/ social
worker available for: Clarification of diagnosis; Psychosocial
Referrals and information
management; Medication advice
Phone: 8480 3808
- Secondary consultation available for case discussion/ review,
advice regarding assessment and management.
- Not for ongoing mental health support and care.
Drug and Alcohol Clinical - 24 hour specialist telephone consultancy service on clinical
management of alcohol and drug issues.
Advisory Service (DACAS)
Phone: 1800 812 804
- Patient must have a GP mental health treatment plan, 2715 or
2717 (or 2700 or 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 to 30 December 2012 only
(change in condition or care circumstances), additional 6
sessions , ie total 16
- Patient may be billed a gap payment.
Mental Health Nurse
Incentive Program
(Medicare funded)
- 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 & rereferral) from an allied mental health professional registered
with Infiniti’s program. Additional 6 sessions in exceptional
circumstances.
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.
Youth Early Psychosis
Service
Ph: 1300 874 243
- This specialist service provides early intervention and
case management for young people between 16 – 25 years
of age, who are at risk of developing a psychosis or who
have experienced a first episode of psychosis
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
 Adult Mental Health Services
In an emergency where a response is required within 2 hours
call 000
- Psychiatric triage (information, assessment and referral)
- Business hours (9.00am - 5.00pm, Monday to Friday)
- Telephone: (03) 9496 3620
- After hours (all other times)
Telephone: 1300 558 862
Bundoora Extended Care (BECC) – Aged Persons Mental Health
Team 65 years+ (for patients Darebin Nth of Dundas St; City of
Whittlesea) Ph: 1300 427 288
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
www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/services/disability
www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/services/statewide.htm
eg Forensic, Eating disorders, Spectrum, Mother and Baby, Brain
Disorders, Neuropsychiatry, Dual disability, EPPIC,
NB: Freeze on growth in
program at 2012/13
Levels
http://www.medicareaustrali
a.gov.au/provider/
(Via Centralised Triage)
Statewide Specialist
Services
Private Consultant
Psychiatrist
Free services. 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.
- A service of the Northern Area Mental Health Service
- Available to patients with or without a GP mental health
treatment plan, or formal referral.
- At cost to patients.
- Psychiatrist Referral Directory available to RACGP members at:
www.racgp.org.au/psychiatristdatabase
(Based on original created by Central West Gippsland Division of General Practice)