Adolescent medicine at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick

The Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick (SCH) provides tailored services to adolescent patients in its mental health services. Adolescent services runs a clinic to help teenagers and their families manage difficulties and adapt to changes in their lives.

Adolescent inpatients in the hopital are housed in their own ward.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service at SCH and the Prince of Wales Hospital comprises Child & Family East, a mental health service for infant, preschool and primary school-age children and their families, and the Adolescent Service, a mental health service for high school-age children and their families.

For infant, preschool and primary school-age children, please contact Child & Family East (CAFE) on (02) 9382 8213. For high-school children, please contact the Adolescent Service on (02) 9382 4347.

Clinic

The Adolescent Service is for teenagers and their families who are trying to adjust to changes and manage difficulties in their lives.

Difficulties may include:

• Relationships with parents or friends
• Sexuality
• Eating Disorders
• School
• Health Concerns
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Anger Management.

Interventions include:

• Individual counselling
• Family counselling
• Group programs for adolescents
• Parent education
• Medication therapy
• Liaison Service to Sydney Children’s Hospital
• Programs designed for schools, hospital and other community agencies.

The service is available to young people of high school age (Year 7 - Year 12) who live or go to school in the Eastern and South Eastern Suburbs and patients of Sydney Children’s Hospital. A referral may be made by the adolescent themselves, family members, school counsellors, GPs or other professionals. Adolescents 16 years and older can attend the Adolescent Service independently; those under 16 years require parental consent.

After initial contact has been made, an appointment will be offered when available or another service suggested if it is more appropriate.

Adolescent ward

The Adolescent Ward (C3South) manages adolescents 12 – 18 years with a range of conditions. This includes general medical and surgical, eating disorders and adolescent mental health programs.