Open doors. Open minds.
For too long, people with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions have fallen through the gaps in treatment services. The Hamilton Centre seeks to change that, working on solutions to deliver integrated care, through open minds and open doors.
Learn moreThis Centre came from renewed investment by the Victorian Government into integrated care for people living with mental illness and substance use or addiction. This was a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System (2021), recognizing that many people with co-occurring problems had difficulties accessing holistic care and navigating a complex treatment system.
Join usClinical Network
The Hamilton Centre Clinical Network delivers clinical addiction specialist care across the state of Victoria.
The initial services forming this collaborative network are St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Eastern Health, Western Health, Austin Health and Goulburn Valley Health.
These services will provide addiction specialist care to consumers with co-occurring mental health and the highest-intensity addiction needs, initially supporting tertiary Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services to deliver integrated care for consumers.
Services will provide primary and secondary consultations, supporting clinicians as well as offering in-person and telehealth appointments. Services will be delivered across metropolitan and rural and regional Victoria.
Referrals to the Hamilton Centre Clinical Network can be made by mental health clinicians through our e-referral portal or by contacting 1800 517 383.
Referral Form
Hamilton Centre Consultation
The Hamilton Centre partnered with Monash University Design Health Collab to undertake consultation with individuals, carers, clinicians and peak bodies across the mental health and addiction sectors in Victoria.
The first phase of this work involved exploration of what we mean by integrated care, and key barriers and enablers to delivery of good integrated care in contemporary practice.
Read the reportMargaret Hamilton
The Hamilton Centre is named in honour of Professor Margaret Hamilton AO, one of the most influential figures in public health in Australia.
Professor Margaret Hamilton has more than 50 years’ experience in the drug and alcohol field. Her background is in social work and public health, and her broad range of work has included alcohol and drug epidemiology and policy research.
Professor Hamilton was Founding Director of Victoria’s Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre. In addition, she has held executive member and board director positions across the state and federal healthcare sector. This includes roles with the Prime Minister’s Council on Homelessness (2010-2015), the Australian National Council on Drugs (1998-2015), VicHealth and Cancer Council Victoria. More recently, Professor Hamilton sits as a Community Member of the Mental Health Tribunal and was Chair of the Victorian-based Medically Supervised Injecting Room Review Panel.
Throughout her career, Professor Hamilton was never afraid to push for change, fight for better outcomes, or put bold ideas in motion – and her innovative approach helped transform thousands of Australian lives.
Associate Professor Shalini Arunogiri is Clinical Director of the Hamilton Centre, bringing a wealth of experience as an addiction psychiatrist and clinician-researcher.
She is an Associate Professor at Monash University and Turning Point. Following completion of a PhD in methamphetamine-associated psychosis, her research has focused on innovation in treatment of co-occurring mental health and addictive disorders, with a recent NHMRC Investigator Grant on trauma/PTSD and co-occurring addiction.
Her work includes over 50 publications, and over $18M in competitive grant funding, including several clinical trials in novel treatments for addiction. She is a passionate advocate for women in medicine and STEMM fields.
A/Prof Arunogiri is committed to driving change in the mental health and addiction sector, looking to a future where individuals and families can access care without stigma or fear of judgement.
Do you need urgent help?
24/7 telephone and online support services
| In an emergency, call Triple Zero | 000 |
|---|---|
| LifeLine Australia | 13 11 14 |
| Suicide Callback | 1300 659 467 |
| Access Victorian Area Mental Health Services |
1800 250 015
National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline.
counsellingonline.org.au
For 24hr online alcohol and other drug counselling.