Mental health services for children and young people in Western NSW
In Western NSW, we offer a range of hospital and community based mental health services for children and young people aged up to 25 years. These services also provide support for their families and carers, as well as working with other doctors, service providers, agencies and schools to provide the care needed.
Services and supports in the community
There are a number of services provided by Western NSW Local Health District to support the mental health of children, young people and their families and carers in a community setting. These services do not involve them being a patient in hospital.
Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Community CAMHS offer specialist assessment and care for children and young people (0-18 years) with complex mental health challenges.
The service works with children and young people when other treatments have not worked, or when a mental illness is having a big impact on their health and wellbeing.
Referrals and contact details:
Community CAMHS accept referrals on weekdays, from young people, their parents or carers, other NSW Health services, GPs, schools, and other service providers.
- Bathurst: (02) 6330 5410
- Cowra: (02) 5338 5700
- Dubbo and region: (02) 6881 4000
- Mudgee: (02) 6371 9700
- Orange: (02) 6369 7320
- Parkes and Forbes: (02) 6861 2570
Youth Mental Health Initiative (YMHI)
The Youth Mental Health Initiative (YMHI, said “you-me”) will open in early 2026, as a pilot service. The service is for young people (12-25 years old). It will work with headspace, at their centres in Cowra, Dubbo and Orange.
The YMHI service offers specialist mental health care for people who present to headspace with complex mental health needs.
Referrals
Talk to your local headspace centre, or Western NSW LHD Mental Health Services, if you believe this service could help you, or a young person you support.
- headspace Cowra: (02) 6941 9022
- headspace Dubbo: (02) 6941 9023
- headspace Orange: (02) 6941 9025
Supporting schools and students
Western NSW Local Health District has programs to assist schools to support the mental health of children, young people and their families and carers.
Getting On Track In Time! (Got It!)
Getting on Track in Time – Got It! is a specialist early intervention mental health program, for children in Kindergarten to Year 2 (ages 5-8 years) and their parents and carers.
Got It! is delivered in partnership with NSW Department of Education at local public schools. It is a 9-week program run during the school term and is designed to reduce the rate of early behavioural, social and emotional concerns in young children.
Contact details
Schools need to apply through an expression of interest process to be considered for this program. Please email the team at WNSWLHD-GOTIT@health.nsw.gov.au for more information.
School-Link
The School-Link Coordinator helps health care workers, school staff and other services work together to support school-aged children and young people. School-Link aims to promote good mental health and wellbeing for students, so they can take part in education and learning.
Contact details
Health care workers, schools and other services can contact School-Link by email at WNSWLHD-School-Link@health.nsw.gov.au.
Services in hospital
Western NSW Local Health District provides the following hospital-based services to support the mental health of children, young people and their families or carers.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) inpatient unit
The Gaagumarra Ngu-mambinya CAMHS inpatient unit is based in Orange, but accepts patients from across NSW.
The unit provides voluntary and involuntary care in a hospital setting, for young people aged between 12 and 17 years. The unit is for short term, specialist assessments and recovery. It offers care when community-based treatments have not helped, or when a mental health crisis or mental illness cannot be safely treated in the community.
Referral and contact details
Speak to your local community CAMHS team (local details above, or phone the NSW Mental Health Line if you live in another part of NSW) if you think you or your child needs help from the CAMHS inpatient unit.
To speak to a patient in the unit, please phone (02) 6369 7315.