Telehealth Psychiatry Service

The Telehealth Psychiatry Service provides free consultations with psychiatrists to people who are living with severe and complex mental illness in the Central and Eastern Sydney region, who due to socio-economic barriers and other social determinants would not otherwise be able to access a private psychiatrist.

Working in collaboration with GPs and other mental health and psychosocial support providers, the key aspects of this initiative are to provide telehealth psychiatry services and to engage with GPs supporting people accessing the service to facilitate capacity building and support ongoing patient treatment plans.

Consultations will be offered to consumers via secure video conferencing either from their own or a support person’s home, or from their service provider or GP’s office.

Eligibility

• Experiencing severe and complex mental illness.
• Over 18 years of age.
• Living in the Central and Eastern Sydney region (click here to see a map of the region)
• Experiencing barriers to accessing private psychiatry consultations.
• Hold a valid Health Care Card, unable to access psychiatry services due to low income (individual income below $67,000 or family income below $140,000) or experiencing severe financial distress.
• Not currently engaged with public psychiatry services.

To use the video conferencing platform, it is necessary to have access to a device that has a stable and secure internet connection.

ADHD

From 1 February 2025, the Telehealth Psychiatry Service is no longer accepting referrals for the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. Existing appointments will proceed as normal, however, ongoing care is not available.

The following options will be offered to people referred for ADHD assessment/treatment:

1. Private Service Option: Consumers can be allocated to Dokotela’s private service (fees apply).
2. Discharge Option: Consumers can be discharged back to their GP for discussion of alternative treatment options.

Referrals

Referrals can be made:

• Directly by GPs supporting people in primary care.
• By staff supporting people currently accessing Primary Integrated Care Supports (PICS) and Connect and Thrive. These referrals will need to be accompanied by a referral letter from the consumer’s GP

Please click here to make an online referral.

Service Provider Contact Details: