Banks House Acute Inpatient Mental Health Unit

Banks House is a 30-bed acute adult mental health unit attached to Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital. The unit sees a diverse range of clinical problems, including the major psychoses, mood disorders, organic brain syndromes, personality and anxiety disorders. Problematic use of alcohol and/or other drugs is an issue for a significant percentage of the Unit’s clientele. First opened in 1977 the Unit was substantially refurbished in 1997. 

Consultation-Liaison Mental Health Services

The Division of Mental Health provides consultation-liaison mental health services to the Emergency Department and wards and units of Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital. The team comprises consultant psychiatrists, a registrar, a, clinical nurse consultant, and a clinical psychologist, who provide ward-based consultation and advice in relation to patients presenting with intercurrent mental health problems. The clinical psychologist works in a liaison attachment role, principally based in the Oncology and Cardiology departments. A clinical nurse consultant has a specific brief to provide consultation to the hospital’s Emergency Department. 

Bankstown Anxiety Clinic

The Bankstown Anxiety Clinic is a specialist outpatient clinic attached to Banks House. The Clinic provides specialist individual- and group-based treatment for anxiety disorders and traumatic stress using cognitive-behavioural interventions. The Clinic is an active site for research into the treatment of anxiety and related disorders with formal links with the University of New South Wales. The Clinic also provides education and training experiences for Clinical Master’s students in Clinical Psychology. 

Clozapine Clinic

An outpatient clozapine clinic operates on a weekly basis, providing clozapine treatment and monitoring to approximately n=58 clients. The clinic is provided by a staff specialist psychiatrist and registrar. 

Extended Hours and Case Management

The Case Management & Extended Hours team provides community based mental health care and case management services, and after hours support to the hospital’s Emergency Department. This multi-disciplinary team comprises nurses, psychologists, clinical psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists, and is based at the Bankstown Community Health Centre. 

Community Rehabilitation

The Community Rehabilitation team provides community based mental health care and case management services, with a focus on psychosocial rehabilitation. This team of eleven comprises nurses, psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists. 

Early Intervention

The Early Intervention Program is staffed by a clinical psychologist and clinical nurse specialist who provide assessment and intervention to adolescents and young people experiencing a first or early episode of psychosis. The unit has close links with Youth Health and Child and Adolescent Mental Health services.

Work Assessment and Retraining Unit

The Work Assessment Unit is a pre-vocational work assessment and retraining unit that operates from premises in Bankstown. The Unit is staffed by a Senior Occupational Therapist and a Vocational Instructor who provide individual assessment, and individual and group-based work assessment and retraining opportunities, including sewing, printing, gardening, woodworking and computer training. 

Recreation Club

The Recreation Club is located at Birrong and offers clients the opportunity to develop social networks while encouraging physical activity. The unit provides a range of recreation and leisure opportunities for clients and provides health education and promotion activities and programs. 

Other Specialist Positions

The Division also has a number of other specialist positions, including a Mental Health Promotion Officer position, Aboriginal Mental Health Worker positions, and an Arabic-speaking mental health professional position.