Women’s mental health

Our intensive short-stay inpatient program is designed to get clients back to their optimal health. The recommended length of stay is between 7 – 10 days depending on the client’s mental health condition and individual circumstances.

Women who stay at the hospital will have their own private room with an ensuite and have access to an integrated open plan living and dining area, and state-of-the-art group therapy, interview and consulting rooms.

On admission, clients are assigned a care coordinator whom they will meet with one-on-one during their stay to help work on treatment and recovery goals. The care coordinator will support discharge planning, including transition or referral to our community support services. The admitting practitioner will also meet with clients during their stay.

During the inpatient stay, clients will spend six hours per day in various structured group activities that use treatment modalities such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

We also offer several complementary therapies that support movement and creativity including trauma informed yoga with our exercise physiologists, art therapy, and mindfulness.

The inpatient therapy program operates seven days a week and is run by our highly-trained, multidisciplinary mental healthcare team.

Your stay – information guide

Referral process

A referral to Cabrini Women’s Mental Health Service will need to be organised by your GP (General Practitioner) or psychiatrist and sent via email to wmh@cabrini.com.au OR completed through our online referral form.

Once the referral has been received, a member of our team will be in contact with you to book in an intake assessment. The assessment will be conducted via phone and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.

The intake assessment will then be clinically reviewed by our medical team and, if appropriate, accepted by a medical practitioner for admission. Our intake team will then get back in contact with you to discuss an admission date. Once your admission is confirmed, you will receive a welcome email from our intake team.

The turnaround time for admissions is dependent on the current demand of our services and each clients individual circumstances.

Fees

During your initial contact with our team, we will ask for your private health fund or third-party insurer details so we can confirm your level of cover for our services. We will provide you with an estimate of hospital charges and outline the level of cover by your fund and any out-of-pocket expenses you may incur.

• Cabrini Women’s Mental Health Service is recognised by all major health funds, that will reimburse treatment costs depending on your level of coverage.
• Prior approval is sought for compensable clients, such as Workcover, TAC or DVA.
• In case some therapies are not included in your policy, we will provide you with an estimate of costs for these services.
• Items such as pathology, medical imaging and any medication you may require will be invoiced separately as these are not covered by private health insurance.

Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) clients

As a DVA partnering hospital, DVA clients have immediate access to our care, without the need for prior approval in most cases. We also provide help and support through our Veteran Liaison Officer.

What if I do not have private health insurance?

If you do not have private health insurance, or your current private health insurance does not cover you for psychiatric care, you can purchase a private hospital policy that will cover you as a private patient for psychiatric treatment in hospital.

Unlike other pre-existing conditions, which normally require you to complete 12 months of membership before you can be covered for a hospital admission, psychiatric services and rehabilitation only require a two-month waiting period, even if the condition is pre-existing. This means you can be covered two months after commencing or upgrading your policy.

If you wish to self-fund your stay, please contact our intake team to discuss estimated cost of your stay. Your account must be paid in full prior to admission.

Cabrini Women’s Mental Health Service offers specialised community day programs tailored to the unique needs of women on their mental health journey. These programs can be accessed independently or as a complement to our short stay inpatient program, ensuring a comprehensive continuum of care.

Our community outpatient programs are compact and intimate, typically consisting of up to 12 participants, allowing for personal attention within a group dynamic. Guided by experienced facilitators, we provide a professional and supportive environment with a strong emphasis on the therapeutic process.

For those transitioning from our short stay inpatient program, we ensure a seamless move to the most suitable program based on individual needs and progress. Our programs are delivered at the same location in Elsternwick, enhancing safety, comfort, and a welcoming atmosphere.

Key features

• Accessible to all women, with no requirements to have been an inpatient
• Designed to assist clients in achieving longer-term treatment and recovery goals
• Emphasises intimacy and personalization for effective therapy
• Provides a safe and supportive environment for women
• Facilitated by experienced and compassionate professionals, who receive ongoing specific professional development
• Encourages peer support and shared experiences within a small group setting
• Focuses on holistic well-being, addressing both mental and emotional health

This distinctive approach enhances the continuum of care, providing ongoing support beyond the inpatient phase.

No prior inpatient stay is required to participate. We accept direct referrals to our group therapy programs from GPs and psychiatrists.

Fees

The cost of community group therapy may be included as part of our bundle of care package. This is dependent on your private health fund or third-party insurer, and you will be informed of this prior to an inpatient admission.

If you have self-funded your inpatient stay and wish to transition into our community program, please contact our intake team to discuss estimated cost of participation. Your account must be paid in full prior to the program commencing.

To address the growing need for psychological support, HER Therapy is providing private one-on-one sessions to support the unique needs of women and girls in our community.

Our mental health clinicians including clinical psychologists and an exercise physiologist are here to support you through all of life’s challenges including burnout, stress, anxiety, trauma, family and relationship issues.

Sessions may be accessed face-to-face at the Cabrini Specialist Centre – Elsternwick or via Telehealth.

Our team of experienced and compassionate mental health clinicians can provide:

• Schema therapy
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)
• Expressive art therapy
• Trauma informed exercise physiology

Download the HER Therapy flyer

Referral process

To access HER Therapy, please email hertherapy@cabrini.com.au to book an appointment.

If you wish to access the Medicare rebate, then you will also need to send through a copy of your mental health care plan from your GP or a referral from your psychiatrist.

The referral will be triaged by a member of the HER Therapy team, and you will be contacted once an appointment becomes available.

If you are currently an inpatient with us, your assigned care coordinator will support you through the referral process.

Fees

A full fee-paying session with one of our trained mental health clinicians will cost $230.

However, with a Medicare rebate your out-of-pocket expense is substantially reduced from anywhere between $50 to $130 dependent on the clinician.