Parkville (Psychiatric Unit 1966-1984; Adolescent Unit 1984-1991)

Full description

In 1966, following the foundation of the Cato Chair of Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne, the Parkville Psychiatric Unit was opened under the auspices of the Mental Health Research Institute.

The purpose of the Unit was to provide inpatient cases for postgraduate psychiatrists in training as it was closely associated with the Department of Psychiatry at Melbourne University. In its first year the Unit had 36 admissions with an average number of 13 residents during the year. A wide range of research was conducted at the Unit.

In 1970, the Research Institute formerly acknowledged their role at the Parkville Unit by renaming itself the Institute of Mental Health Research and Postgraduate Training.

The Parkville Unit continually developed. By 1975, facilities included inpatient treatment (36 beds), day patient attendance, outpatient care and individual and group therapy. It continued, however, to provide a facility for teaching of post-graduate doctors and medical students.

Due to its teaching role, patients admitted to the Unit have represented the whole spectrum of psychiatry. Excluded, however, are children and adolescents, demented elderly patients, chronic alcoholics and patients with certain types of drug addictions.

Parkville Psychiatric Unit services have since changed. As of 1984, it was a 12 bed psychiatric hospital providing inpatient and outpatient care, especially for adolescents from the North-West zone. In fact, its title was changed to Parkville Adolescent Unit. The Parkville Unit ceased functioning as an inpatient service in 1991.