Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service

About the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service CAMHS is a Hunter region provider for mental health services for identified young people (0-17 years) in the public sector. The service provides assessment and treatment of children and their families where a child is exhibiting, is suspected of having, or is at risk of developing emotional and psychological problems.

CAMHS provides a range of specialist mental health services in both community and inpatient settings across Hunter New England to infants, children, young people, their families and carers with a view to optimising mental health outcomes.

In addition, CAMHS provides a range of prevention, promotion and early intervention activities that aim to increase awareness of mental health issues for children and young people. CAMHS also aims to improve early detection and intervention in the development of mental illness and to actively promote mental health and wellbeing.

Wiyiliin Ta provides assessments of emotional wellbeing issues for children and adolescents from an Aboriginal background. Staff work in close partnership with Awabakal Medical Centre.

What services are provided?

CAMHS adopts a family based approach to working with young people, with family therapy being the main intervention technique used by the service.

The service provides:

• Family therapy
• Counselling
• Parent/Family Education
• Parent/Family Support Group
• Integration Support
• Medical Services

The types of problems treated include: Adjustment Disorders, Tourette's Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Separation Anxiety, Conduct problems, Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa, Personality problems, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Depression, Anxiety, Phobias, School Refusal, Enuresis, Schizophrenia, Sleep problems, Bereavement and Encopresis.

Do I need a referral and how do I make an appointment?

Enquiries about referrals are welcome from families and professionals actively involved with young people. This may include: Early Childhood staff, Community Health Centres, DOCS staff, Educators, General Practitioners, Health Professionals, Medical Specialists and School Counsellors.

An Intake Officer is available for phone calls regarding referrals or enquiries between 9am and 4pm each week day. Referrals can be discussed by phone but can only proceed when a written referral is received accompanied by an appropriate report.

Preliminary assessment and/or treatment of the young person or the family must have been made by another professional e.g. GP, Specialist, Community Health Worker and School Counsellor.

Once an informal or formal referral is received it is discussed at a weekly Intake Meeting to decide the appropriateness of the referral. An appointment is then offered to the family on receipt of the written referral. The first appointment involves the whole family and two clinicians.

The service may have a waiting list and families usually need to wait around four to six weeks before being seen. A young person considered a high priority is usually seen within one to four weeks. There is an urgent appointment time available at the same time each week to allow for urgent referrals to be seen quickly.  

Locations and contact details

The staff at the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service will make contact with families following a referral from a Health Professional.

Operating Hours: Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 5 pm.

Fees: This is a free service

Wheelchair Access: There is wheelchair access to all facilities