Referral Information
Triage is the first contact point for people wanting to refer a young person to EPPIC.
Call toll free: 1800 888 320 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Pager service: phone 9483 4556 ask for YAT Triage Service, leave your name and contact number and someone will call you back.
Non emergency referrals wait for normal business hours (9.00 am - 5.00 pm Monday to Friday).
If an interpreter is needed for the young person or their family, Triage staff can arrange a Telephone Interpreter for phone calls: please inform staff as early as possible.
The young person must be aged between 15 to 24, and live in the western or north-western metropolitan catchment region of Melbourne.
The following information may be asked by Triage staff when making a referral:
- Demographic data (for example: name, date of birth, address, next of kin)
- Does the young person, their family or guardian know about the referral? If not why not? If they know about it, how do they feel about it?
- The general nature of the problem
- Changes in emotions: for example mood swings; more depressed than usual; unusually happy for several days; anxious; tearful
- Changes in thinking: for example changes in concentration and memory; not making sense; complaining of thoughts being slower or sped up
- Changes in behaviour: for example withdrawn; deterioration in school/work performance; poor sefl care; self harm
- Physical symptoms: for example changes in sleeping/eating
- Degree of risk to self or others: for example thoughts of suicide; plans; actions
- Family history of mental illness
- Drug use
- Offending behaviour
- Available supports
- Previous mental health treatment
- Why are you referring now?
When answering questions about deterioration in a young person’s ability to do usual life activities, the Triage worker will ask how long this has been happening, if it happens every day, and how distressed the person is by the changes.
If EPPIC is identified as being a suitable service to provide an initial assessment, an assessment with a mental health professional from the Youth Access Team (YAT) will be arranged. The urgency of the situation will determine if this assessment is scheduled for a routine or urgent appointment.
New assessments occur, when possible, at the Rushford Annexe which is located next to the Inpatient Unit in Footscray. If an interpreter is needed for the young person or their family or carer, Triage will arrange for an interpreter to be present. Please inform staff as early as possible that this is needed, and what language is required. Click here for location details.
Following a thorough mental health assessment, options for treatment are then explored and an initial treatment plan is formulated. Young people who are accepted for ongoing treatment at EPPIC will be allocated an Outpatient Case Manager who will assist in providing and coordinating their care.
If the young person is not accepted for treatment at EPPIC, then alternative treatments will be discussed. This may include referring the young person to another clinic within OYH (for example Youthscope), or to a community based support service. Click here for more information about other clinics within OYH.
Click here to go to the Our Catchment Area page.