23-07-2025
'Essentially shut': health authorities deny child mental health service in crisis
More than 300 Aboriginal children and young people are missing out on mental health care in the Hunter, insiders say, but Hunter New England Health denies the specialist clinic's "effective closure".
The youngsters, aged three to 18, experience conditions like psychosis, personality disorders and extreme anxiety, along with self harm and suicidal thoughts.
They had been treated at an Aboriginal-specific service at James Fletcher Hospital.
The service, named Wiyiliin Ta, was now "essentially shut", a senior health professional said.
Insiders said most of its 10 staff had left after a dispute with Hunter New England Health management over the running of the service.
"On paper, Wiyiliin Ta appears to exist. But it's not providing direct clinical care.
"This is the effective closure of a CAMHS [Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service] site."
Dr Anand Swamy, Hunter New England Health's executive director, denied this.
"The Wiyiliin Ta mental health service continues to deliver specialised, culturally safe mental health care for Aboriginal children and adolescents," Dr Swamy said.
Hunter New England Health advertised a job last month for a "senior Aboriginal mental health clinician" at Wiyiliin Ta.
The advertisement said the role would be part of "a specialised Aboriginal mental health service".
"We are actively recruiting to vacancies within the Wiyiliin Ta mental health service," Dr Swamy said.
"We are moving to a shared leadership model between Aboriginal Mental Health and the Child and Adolescence Mental Health Service."
Wiyiliin Ta began operating in 1997.
"It was the only Aboriginal-specific service in NSW for many years," an insider said.
It had been based at Tara Lodge at James Fletcher Hospital for about a decade, but is no longer there.
The site had an Aboriginal flag and art, bush tucker garden, smoking ceremonies and an outdoor space.
"There was always a guarantee that an Aboriginal person would be involved in the treatment," an insider said.
"It was integrated into the Aboriginal community as a safe entry point. Now there is no safe entry point."
Dr Swamy said Wiyiliin Ta had been co-located with the Aboriginal Mental Health Service, "based primarily at Calvary Mater Newcastle".
This was done to "further enhance cultural safety and support".
"This move has fostered a more connected and supportive environment for our dedicated team members," Dr Swamy said.
The insiders said most of the 300 children that had been treated at Wiyiliin Ta would not use "mainstream mental health services".
"There's still a lot of fear for Aboriginal people linked to the history of racism and removal of children," one insider said.
"We're seeing a return to an antiquated model when it comes to Aboriginal access to specialist care.
"Yet there's been ongoing findings from coroners and government inquiries that Aboriginal people need specific services to meet their cultural needs."
Suicide rates among Indigenous people aged up to 24 are more than three times as high as non-Indigenous Australians.
Key causes of psychological distress for Aboriginal people are racism and intergenerational trauma.
Wiyiliin Ta provided a "connection to culture" that helped protect young people facing complex mental health difficulties.
It also helped those involved in the criminal justice system.
The insiders said the health service had not informed the Aboriginal community or consulted them about the situation at Wiyiliin Ta.
Dr Swamy said: "We continue to work with our Aboriginal partner agencies and the community".
More than 300 Aboriginal children and young people are missing out on mental health care in the Hunter, insiders say, but Hunter New England Health denies the specialist clinic's "effective closure".
The youngsters, aged three to 18, experience conditions like psychosis, personality disorders and extreme anxiety, along with self harm and suicidal thoughts.
They had been treated at an Aboriginal-specific service at James Fletcher Hospital.
The service, named Wiyiliin Ta, was now "essentially shut", a senior health professional said.
Insiders said most of its 10 staff had left after a dispute with Hunter New England Health management over the running of the service.
"On paper, Wiyiliin Ta appears to exist. But it's not providing direct clinical care.
"This is the effective closure of a CAMHS [Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service] site."
Dr Anand Swamy, Hunter New England Health's executive director, denied this.
"The Wiyiliin Ta mental health service continues to deliver specialised, culturally safe mental health care for Aboriginal children and adolescents," Dr Swamy said.
Hunter New England Health advertised a job last month for a "senior Aboriginal mental health clinician" at Wiyiliin Ta.
The advertisement said the role would be part of "a specialised Aboriginal mental health service".
"We are actively recruiting to vacancies within the Wiyiliin Ta mental health service," Dr Swamy said.
"We are moving to a shared leadership model between Aboriginal Mental Health and the Child and Adolescence Mental Health Service."
Wiyiliin Ta began operating in 1997.
"It was the only Aboriginal-specific service in NSW for many years," an insider said.
It had been based at Tara Lodge at James Fletcher Hospital for about a decade, but is no longer there.
The site had an Aboriginal flag and art, bush tucker garden, smoking ceremonies and an outdoor space.
"There was always a guarantee that an Aboriginal person would be involved in the treatment," an insider said.
"It was integrated into the Aboriginal community as a safe entry point. Now there is no safe entry point."
Dr Swamy said Wiyiliin Ta had been co-located with the Aboriginal Mental Health Service, "based primarily at Calvary Mater Newcastle".
This was done to "further enhance cultural safety and support".
"This move has fostered a more connected and supportive environment for our dedicated team members," Dr Swamy said.
The insiders said most of the 300 children that had been treated at Wiyiliin Ta would not use "mainstream mental health services".
"There's still a lot of fear for Aboriginal people linked to the history of racism and removal of children," one insider said.
"We're seeing a return to an antiquated model when it comes to Aboriginal access to specialist care.
"Yet there's been ongoing findings from coroners and government inquiries that Aboriginal people need specific services to meet their cultural needs."
Suicide rates among Indigenous people aged up to 24 are more than three times as high as non-Indigenous Australians.
Key causes of psychological distress for Aboriginal people are racism and intergenerational trauma.
Wiyiliin Ta provided a "connection to culture" that helped protect young people facing complex mental health difficulties.
It also helped those involved in the criminal justice system.
The insiders said the health service had not informed the Aboriginal community or consulted them about the situation at Wiyiliin Ta.
Dr Swamy said: "We continue to work with our Aboriginal partner agencies and the community".
More than 300 Aboriginal children and young people are missing out on mental health care in the Hunter, insiders say, but Hunter New England Health denies the specialist clinic's "effective closure".
The youngsters, aged three to 18, experience conditions like psychosis, personality disorders and extreme anxiety, along with self harm and suicidal thoughts.
They had been treated at an Aboriginal-specific service at James Fletcher Hospital.
The service, named Wiyiliin Ta, was now "essentially shut", a senior health professional said.
Insiders said most of its 10 staff had left after a dispute with Hunter New England Health management over the running of the service.
"On paper, Wiyiliin Ta appears to exist. But it's not providing direct clinical care.
"This is the effective closure of a CAMHS [Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service] site."
Dr Anand Swamy, Hunter New England Health's executive director, denied this.
"The Wiyiliin Ta mental health service continues to deliver specialised, culturally safe mental health care for Aboriginal children and adolescents," Dr Swamy said.
Hunter New England Health advertised a job last month for a "senior Aboriginal mental health clinician" at Wiyiliin Ta.
The advertisement said the role would be part of "a specialised Aboriginal mental health service".
"We are actively recruiting to vacancies within the Wiyiliin Ta mental health service," Dr Swamy said.
"We are moving to a shared leadership model between Aboriginal Mental Health and the Child and Adolescence Mental Health Service."
Wiyiliin Ta began operating in 1997.
"It was the only Aboriginal-specific service in NSW for many years," an insider said.
It had been based at Tara Lodge at James Fletcher Hospital for about a decade, but is no longer there.
The site had an Aboriginal flag and art, bush tucker garden, smoking ceremonies and an outdoor space.
"There was always a guarantee that an Aboriginal person would be involved in the treatment," an insider said.
"It was integrated into the Aboriginal community as a safe entry point. Now there is no safe entry point."
Dr Swamy said Wiyiliin Ta had been co-located with the Aboriginal Mental Health Service, "based primarily at Calvary Mater Newcastle".
This was done to "further enhance cultural safety and support".
"This move has fostered a more connected and supportive environment for our dedicated team members," Dr Swamy said.
The insiders said most of the 300 children that had been treated at Wiyiliin Ta would not use "mainstream mental health services".
"There's still a lot of fear for Aboriginal people linked to the history of racism and removal of children," one insider said.
"We're seeing a return to an antiquated model when it comes to Aboriginal access to specialist care.
"Yet there's been ongoing findings from coroners and government inquiries that Aboriginal people need specific services to meet their cultural needs."
Suicide rates among Indigenous people aged up to 24 are more than three times as high as non-Indigenous Australians.
Key causes of psychological distress for Aboriginal people are racism and intergenerational trauma.
Wiyiliin Ta provided a "connection to culture" that helped protect young people facing complex mental health difficulties.
It also helped those involved in the criminal justice system.
The insiders said the health service had not informed the Aboriginal community or consulted them about the situation at Wiyiliin Ta.
Dr Swamy said: "We continue to work with our Aboriginal partner agencies and the community".
More than 300 Aboriginal children and young people are missing out on mental health care in the Hunter, insiders say, but Hunter New England Health denies the specialist clinic's "effective closure".
The youngsters, aged three to 18, experience conditions like psychosis, personality disorders and extreme anxiety, along with self harm and suicidal thoughts.
They had been treated at an Aboriginal-specific service at James Fletcher Hospital.
The service, named Wiyiliin Ta, was now "essentially shut", a senior health professional said.
Insiders said most of its 10 staff had left after a dispute with Hunter New England Health management over the running of the service.
"On paper, Wiyiliin Ta appears to exist. But it's not providing direct clinical care.
"This is the effective closure of a CAMHS [Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service] site."
Dr Anand Swamy, Hunter New England Health's executive director, denied this.
"The Wiyiliin Ta mental health service continues to deliver specialised, culturally safe mental health care for Aboriginal children and adolescents," Dr Swamy said.
Hunter New England Health advertised a job last month for a "senior Aboriginal mental health clinician" at Wiyiliin Ta.
The advertisement said the role would be part of "a specialised Aboriginal mental health service".
"We are actively recruiting to vacancies within the Wiyiliin Ta mental health service," Dr Swamy said.
"We are moving to a shared leadership model between Aboriginal Mental Health and the Child and Adolescence Mental Health Service."
Wiyiliin Ta began operating in 1997.
"It was the only Aboriginal-specific service in NSW for many years," an insider said.
It had been based at Tara Lodge at James Fletcher Hospital for about a decade, but is no longer there.
The site had an Aboriginal flag and art, bush tucker garden, smoking ceremonies and an outdoor space.
"There was always a guarantee that an Aboriginal person would be involved in the treatment," an insider said.
"It was integrated into the Aboriginal community as a safe entry point. Now there is no safe entry point."
Dr Swamy said Wiyiliin Ta had been co-located with the Aboriginal Mental Health Service, "based primarily at Calvary Mater Newcastle".
This was done to "further enhance cultural safety and support".
"This move has fostered a more connected and supportive environment for our dedicated team members," Dr Swamy said.
The insiders said most of the 300 children that had been treated at Wiyiliin Ta would not use "mainstream mental health services".
"There's still a lot of fear for Aboriginal people linked to the history of racism and removal of children," one insider said.
"We're seeing a return to an antiquated model when it comes to Aboriginal access to specialist care.
"Yet there's been ongoing findings from coroners and government inquiries that Aboriginal people need specific services to meet their cultural needs."
Suicide rates among Indigenous people aged up to 24 are more than three times as high as non-Indigenous Australians.
Key causes of psychological distress for Aboriginal people are racism and intergenerational trauma.
Wiyiliin Ta provided a "connection to culture" that helped protect young people facing complex mental health difficulties.
It also helped those involved in the criminal justice system.
The insiders said the health service had not informed the Aboriginal community or consulted them about the situation at Wiyiliin Ta.
Dr Swamy said: "We continue to work with our Aboriginal partner agencies and the community".
