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PTSD treatment programs for veterans and serving personnel

There are programs funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in every state and territory, except the Northern Territory. Based in hospitals and community facilities, the programs have been accredited by ACPMH to provide high quality treatment for veterans, peacekeepers and current serving personnel with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related problems. The provides inpatient/outpatient/ models, day hospital programs and less intensive community based treatments.

Click on any state below or select from the text menu for further information on PTSD treatment programs in your state.

ACT

Hyson Green, Calvary Private Hospital

Cnr Belconnen Way and Haydon Drive
BRUCE ACT 2614

TEL: (02) 6201 6003
FAX: (02) 6251 5700

Hyson Green offers an 11-week day-patient PTSD-treatment program for Veteran and Service Personnel. It consists of an Orientation day in the first week, followed by an intensive phase of 3-days per week for 6 weeks, reducing to 2-days per week for 2 weeks, then 1-day per week for 2 weeks. The program includes group and individual therapy and a program for partners. Other in-patient and day-patient services are also available at Hyson Green.

Clinical Director: Dr Brian White bkwhite@dynamite.com.au
Program Coordinator: Ms Judith Collett judy.collett@calvary_act.com.au

New South Wales

Northside Cremorne Private Hospital

3 Harrison Street,
CREMORNE NSW 2090

TEL: (02) 9909 8577
FAX: (02) 9953 0765

Northside Cremorne Private Hospital offers a 11-week day-patient PTSD-treatment program conducted on an outpatient basis. It consists 3 days-per-week for 7 weeks, followed by 2 days-per-week for 4 weeks.

Clinical Director: Dr Graham Altman
Program Coordinator: Helena Ellard ellardh@ramsayhealth.com.au

St John of God Hospital, Richmond

177 Grose Vale Road
NORTH RICHMOND NSW 2754

TEL: (02) 4588 5088
FREE CALL: 1800 808 339
FAX: (02) 4571 1552
email: richmond.reception@stjohnofgod.org.au

St. John of God Hospital, Richmond offers a 25-day inpatient treatment program, followed by 6 to 12-day hospital sessions of outpatient treatment over a six month period.

Clinical Director: Dr Levinia Schmidtman
Program Coordinator: George Blundel

Wesley Private Hospital

91 Milton Street
ASHFIELD NSW 2131

TEL: (02) 9716 1400
FAX: (02) 9799 6585

Wesley Private Hospital offers an outpatient program 2 to 3 days per week over 15 weeks, plus follow-up days. This facility also provides a specific alcohol treatment program prior to the PTSD treatment.

Clinical Director: Dr Patrick Morris fourmorris@optusnet.com.au

Northern Territory

As of yet, there are no PTSD programs accredited in the Northern Territory.

Inquiries regarding veterans who reside in the Northern Territory should be made initially to the VVCS - Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service in Darwin on (08) 8927 9411 or to Daw Park Hospital in Adelaide on (08) 8276 9666.

Queensland

Greenslopes Private Hospital

Newdegate Street
GREENSLOPES QLD 4120

TEL: (07) 3394 7111
FAX: (07) 3394 7322
Web Site: www.gph.ramsayhealth.com.au

Greenslopes Private Hospital offers two types of PTSD-treatment program: a 7-week Residential program and a 10-week Outpatient program. The Residential program consists 4 weeks of 5 days-per-week followed by 3 weeks of 2 days-per-week. The Outpatient program consists 10 weeks of 2 days-per-week.

Clinical Director: Dr John Gibson
Programme Co-ordinator: Ms Trish Mossop

Mater Misericordiae Hospital Townsville Ltd

21-37 Fulham Road
PIMLICO QLD 4812

TEL: (07) 4727 4399
FAX: (07) 4725 1034

Mater Misericordiae Hospital offers an 8-week day-hospital PTSD-treatment program conducted on an outpatient basis. The program consists an Entry phase (2 weeks of 2 days-per-week) followed by an Intensive phase (4 weeks of 4 days-per-week) then an Exit phase (2 weeks of 2-days-per-week).

Please note this is a non-residential program, however out of town residents are booked into a nearby Motel.

Clinical Director: Dr John Rogers
Ms Martha Landman

Palm Beach Currimbin Private Hospital

37 Bilinga Street
CURRUMBIN QLD 4223

TEL: (07) 5534 4944
FAX: (07) 5534 7752

Palm Beach Currumbin Private Hospital offers an innovative 8-week residential PTSD-treatment program. The program consists 2 weeks of 2 days-per-week followed by 6 weeks of 4 days-per-week.

Also offered is a continuous entry 12-week day-patient program (1 day-per-week) for veterans with other psychiatric diagnoses.

Clinical Director: Dr Chris Danesi cdanesi@bigpond.com.au
Programme Coordinator: Ms Anne-Marie Elias

Toowong Private Hospital

496 Milton Road
TOOWONG QLD 4066

TEL: (07) 3721 8000
FAX: (07) 3721 8099
Email: tph@toowongprivatehospital.com.au
Web Site: www.toowongprivatehospital.com.au

Toowong Private Hospital offers a range of day treatment programs, some of which are suited to people in full or part-time employment. Programs include Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Alcohol and Drug, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Other programs specific to the needs of veterans are also offered.

There are two outpatient PTSD-treatment programs offered. The first is a 12-week program consisting 6 weeks of 4 days-per-week (Mon-Thur) followed by 6 weeks of 2 days-per-week (Tues and Wed). The second is a 27 week program run 1 day-per-week for 24 weeks, followed by a single follow-up day 3 weeks later.

Clinical Director: Dr Andrew Khoo - tsc@toowongprivatehospital.com.au
Day Program Manager: Ms Sue McKerlie - suellenm@toowongprivatehospital.com.au
Program Coordinator: Mr Gordon Smith GordonHS@toowongprivatehospital.com.au

South Australia

Daw Park Repatriation General Hospital

Daws Road
DAW PARK SA 5041

TEL: (08) 8275 1621
FAX: (08) 8277 8267
Web Site: www.rgh.sa.gov.au

Daw Park Repatriation Hospital offers a 12-week PTSD day-patient program. This consists of 3 days-per-week over 6 weeks and a further 1 day-per-week over 6 weeks.

Also provided is a separate program for World War II veterans held 1 day-per-week over 12 weeks. Following this program Veterans and their Partner/Carers are invited to join a popular bi-monthly support group.

Partners are included in both programs and attend on designated days.

Clinical Director: Dr Linda McCarthy linda.mccarthy@rgh.sa.gov.au
Deputy Clinical Director: Mr Sandro Positano sandro.positano@rgh.sa.gov.au
Program Coordinator: Ms Judith Fuller judith.fuller@rgh.sa.gov.au
WWII Program Co-ordinator: Ms Kathy Thomas kathy.thomas@rgh.sa.gov.au

Tasmania

Hobart Clinic

31 Chipmans Road
ROKEBY TAS 7019

TEL: (03) 6247 9960
FAX: (03) 6247 6439

The Hobart Clinic offers an inpatient program of PTSD treatment. The program consists of a 4-week intensive treatment phase (5 days-per-week) followed by 8 day-patient follow-up days. For local clients the follow-up days are spread over 7 weeks (2 days in the first week and 1 day-per-week for 6 weeks) but for those from further afield the follow-up pattern is one 4-day block (two weeks post discharge) and a second 4-day block (four weeks post discharge).

Clinical Director: Dr Stuart Hooper
Program Coordinator: Ms Elizabeth Hyslop ehyslop@thehobartclinic.com.au

Victoria

Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital

Banksia Street
WEST HEIDELBERG VIC 3081

TEL: (03) 9496 2184
FAX: (03) 9496 2418
Email: ptsd@armc.org.au
Web Site: www.ptsd.asn.au

The Veterans Psychiatry Unit PTSD Program at the Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre (A&RMC) is a specialised treatment service for veterans suffering from war-related post traumatic stress disorder. The program has been operating since 1995. In that time, almost 600 individuals have received programmatic treatment.

The program involves a mixture of individual and group therapy, typically extending over 12 weeks. Four formats of treatment are currently offered; viz.,

  • An Intensive (inpatient or residential) Program - which consists of a 4-week intensive phase (5 days-per-week) and an 8-week outpatient phase (1 day-per-week);
  • A Day Hospital Program - which contains the essential elements of the Intensive Program, but consists of a 6-week (3 day-per-week) initial phase and a 6-week outpatient phase (1 day-per-week);
  • An Evening Outpatient Program - which consists of an 8-week (2 evenings-per-week) series of evening sessions, with a focus on work stress and employment maintenance, followed by a 4-week non-intensive phase (1 evening-per-week);
  • A Country-located Program - which largely follows the Day Hospital Treatment Model (see above); and
  • A Young Veterans Program (Peacekeeper, Peacemakers & Ex ADF Personnel) - which follows the Intensive Program format, but tailors its content to the needs of this group.

In October 1997, a second PTSD Treatment Team was funded to increase services to rural and remote veterans; e.g., those resident in Mildura, Warrnambool, and Mt Gambier (South Australia). As a consequence ten Country-located Programs have been run since that time, with a minimum of two being planned for 2003.

In addition to this traditional trauma-focused work, the program has over the last several years introduced manualised treatments for problematic sleep, anxiety and depression. These treatments have proven successful and will be more regularly offered in the future.

Clinical Director: Dr Simon Howard. Tel:(03) 9496 2396
Program Coordinator: Mr Tony McHugh. Tel: (03) 9496 2184

Older Veterans' Psychiatry Program, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital

Banksia Street
WEST HEIDELBERG VIC 3081

TEL: (03) 9496 2429
FAX: (03) 9496 2083

This outpatient program is designed for older veterans (aged 60+) and operates for one day per week over 12 weeks.

Clinical Director: Dr Richard Bonwick richard.bonwick@armc.org.au
Program Coordinator: Ms Kaye Emmerson kaye.emmerson@armc.org.au

The Geelong Clinic

98 Townsend Road
WHITTINGTON 3219

TEL: (03) 5248 1155
FAX: (03) 5248 4852
Email: tgc@healthscope.com.au

The Geelong Clinic offers a 28-day program held over 10 or 14 weeks. The 10-week program has a 2-week live-in phase. The 14 -week program is conducted entirely on an outpatient basis. Follow up program offered.

Clinical Director: Dr Edmond van Ammers
Program Coordinator: Sue Menzel
Contact: Vari Mackinnon vmackinnon@healthscope.com.au

Western Australia

Hollywood Clinic

Monash Avenue
NEDLANDS WA 6009

Phone: (08) 9333-8051
Fax: (08) 9346 6597

The Hollywood Clinic offers two post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment programs, one for Younger Veterans and one for Senior Veterans.

The Younger Veterans' Program is 12 weeks in duration, consisting a 4-week inpatient phase (5 days-per-week), followed by an 8-week day-patient phase (1 day-per-week).

The Senior Veterans' PTSD Program consists of a 21-week outpatient program. This consists three phases: 8-weeks (one day-per-week) attended by the Veteran and Partner/Carer, followed by 8-weeks (half day-per-week) attended by the Veteran and Partner/Carer, then 5-weeks (half day-per-week) attended by the Veteran only.

Clinical Director: Dr Winston Chiu
Programme Co-ordinator: Doug Brewer
Program Secretary: Lesley Adams adamsl@ramsayhealth.com.au