A new era in care for children in Victoria has begun with the announcement of Monash Children's as the public identity for Southern Health's paediatric services.

Monash Children's encompasses the integrated children’s program of Southern Health across three locations - Monash Medical Centre Clayton, Dandenong Hospital and Casey Hospital.

Monash Medical Centre Clayton is the only designated tertiary paediatric service in Victoria other than the Royal Children’s Hospital. Together with our children’s wards at Dandenong and Casey Hospitals we form the second largest children’s hospital service in Victoria, and the third largest in Australia, located where care is needed in one of the fastest growing parts of Australia.

Our tradition of care dates back for over one hundred years to our origins as the Queen Victoria Hospital in Melbourne, as well as the proud history of the children’s wards at Dandenong and our newest facility Casey.

The new Monash Children's logo uses our dandelion symbol to represent our desire for all children to grow, to wish, and to live their lives to the fullest.

We hold children in our care and release them into the world with our wish for a healthy, fulfilling life. All parents, families and friends will be reminded of the special time of hope that is childhood and the importance of giving the very best of care.

Shelly Park
Chief Executive

The Child Protection Unit is based in the Crisis Care Unit of the South Eastern Centre against Sexual Assault (SECASA) at Monash Medical Centre's Clayton campus.

The Unit is staffed by paediatricians and forensic physicians from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and provides paediatric forensic medicals for infants, children and adolescents up to the age of seventeen who are suspected of being physically or sexually abused. A full paediatric assessment can be provided for children who have been seen in the unit previously for physical or sexual assault or who have a long history of involvement with the Department of Human Services.

In addition, there is a Social Worker attached to the unit who can arrange referrals, follow up appointments and provide counselling for children, parents and anyone else involved with the family who require assistance.

Referrals can be made between 9 am and 5.30 pm by telephoning 9550 2289 and requesting the Duty Worker. Appointments can usually be given for the same day.

In the case of Medicals for a suspected recent sexual assault, there is a twenty-four hour service which can be accessed after hours, at weekends and on public holidays by telephoning 9349 1212.

The Child Protection Unit, whilst based at Monash Medical Centre in Clayton, is part of a metropolitan-wide system with the Royal Children's Hospital, Gatehouse Centre. The Gatehouse Centre provides medicals for children and young people resident north of the Yarra river and the Child Proection Unit provides medicals for children and young people resident south of the Yarra River.

Both Centres are flexible if a family is already known to a particular Centre or geographically they live closer to one centre, even though they fall into the other's catchment area.

• Angela Taylor Child Protection Unit
• Health Services for Abused Children (Vic)
• SECASA

 
Physical and Sexual Abuse

Monash/SECASA - Business hours : Telephone 9550 2289 and request the duty worker. The Duty worker will arrange for the child to be seen .
After Hours : Telephone 9349 1212 (for police contact and anyone requiring immediate assistance).  Request SECASA worker to be paged. After hours Medical Roster available and will be activated by SECASA worker if required.

Royal Children's Hospital Gatehouse Centre - Business hours : Telephone 9345 6391 and request the duty worker. Duty Worker will arrange for the child to be seen.
After hours : Telephone 9345 5522 and request on-call Gatehouse Centre Social Worker. After hours Medical Roster

Monash Children’s Cancer Centre (CCC) located at Monash Medical Centre in a purpose built facility provides a refreshing and innovative approach to paediatric cancer care for patients and families in the region without traveling to the City.

Day treatment and general anaesthetic procedures in the special “GA” room are all handled within the centre and include: chemotherapy, lumbar punctures, bone marrow, dressings, nasal gastric tube changes etc.

The centre maintains linkages with the Royal Children’s Hospital and some staff work across both sites. The overall feel of the centre is friendly, relaxed and caring with a group of dedicated and passionate staff.

Referrals
GPs with concerns about suspected cancers in paediatric patients can contact the centre to discuss their cases between 9am – 6pm Monday to Friday. Triaging is provided at this point and patients will be seen as soon as required – for urgent cases this can be the same day or early the following day. Patients do not need to attend ED and can present directly to the CCC (after GP referral).

Exclusions
The centre cannot accommodate patients with orthopaedic tumours, those requiring intensive chemotherapy with stem cell support, or those requiring bone marrow transplants.

Key Contacts