Ambermere Psychiatric Clinic history in brief
In the late 1920s, the private home Ambermere, at Shepparton became a private hospital.
In 1967, clinical services were established at Ambermere Psychiatric Clinic, auspiced by the Mooroopna Base Hospital. Two sessions were held every fortnight, and a steady flow of new referrals continued to be seen, as well as a considerable number of reviews of patients previously treated. A part-time social worker was attached to Ambermere.
Throughout 1968, one outpatient session was held per week at the Mooroopna Base Hospital. Many inpatients of the Base Hospital received treatment from the Psychiatrist Superintendent of Ambermere in his capacity as Honorary Visiting Psychiatrist to the Base Hospital.
Only outpatients continued to be assessed and treated at Ambermere. Building renovations continued throughout 1968. The new combined occupational therapy and outpatients building was completed in November, and during December the clinic activities were transferred to this building.
In late August 1968 a full-time Secretary, akin to an executive officer, was appointed to Ambermere, allowing for much more detailed planning for the future development of the unit. Day-to-day administration became more flexible and efficient than had previously been possible when Ambermere depended on periodic visits from the Secretary at Beechworth.
In 1968, Ambermere had no medical staff apart from the Psychiatrist Superintendent. In 1969, Ambermere and the other clinics held regularly at Mooroopna, Echuca and Benalla, had nearly 3,000 out-patient attendances, with about 400 new cases. During the year a Medical Officer was appointed to take over a number of cases requiring repeated visits to the clinic.
The Psychiatrist Superintendent continued to see all new referrals, as well as all patients at the outlying clinics. An occupational therapy program was established during the year, and two charge nurses were appointed to work with the occupational therapist, conduct domiciliary visits in association with the social workers, and perform general clinic duties.
Once a full-time social worker and a case aide were appointed, it was possible to establish the elements of a day hospital. The Echuca and Benalla Clinics continued to be conducted twice per fortnight.
In 1987, Ambermere Hospital, Shepparton became an approved psychiatric hospital. In 1995, this approval was revoked and ‘transferred’ to the Ambermere Unit, Goulburn Valley Base Hospital.
In 1996, Ambermere Unit, Goulburn Valley Base Hospital ceased to be an approved psychiatric unit.
Warning about distressing information
This guide contains information that some people may find distressing. If you experienced abuse as a child or young person in an institution mentioned in this guide, it may be a difficult reading experience. Guides may also contain references to previous views, policies and practices that are regrettable and do not reflect the current views, policies or practices of the department or the State of Victoria. If you find this content distressing, please consult with a support person either from the Department of Health and Human Services or another agency.
Disclaimer
Please note that the content of this administrative history is provided for general information only and does not purport to be comprehensive. The department does not guarantee the accuracy of this administrative history. For more information on the history of child welfare in Australia, see Find & .
Source
- Department’s record accession registers.
- Report of the Mental Health Authority for the year ended 31 December 1968.
- Report of the Mental Health Authority for the year ended 31 December 1969.
- Victoria Government gazette, 14 September 1995 and 25 July 1996.
List of records held by the department
For information relating to the central management of care leavers and wards of state, please consult the guide to Central department wardship and out-of-home care records. These collections date back to the 1860s and include ward registers, index cards and ward files.
Patient information
PLEASE NOTE: Patients could be admitted to a Receiving House for short-term treatment and care, but were not permitted to remain longer than two months.
Patients still needing treatment after two months could be sent to a Psychiatric Hospital, in the same institution/complex or another. Hence, there could be more than one set of records for any one person. Please check each location for former patient records.
Admission and discharge authority forms (1992-94)
Document; Temporary
Contents: Different forms including request for admission of a person as an involuntary patient to a psychiatric inpatient service, recommendation for admission of a person as an involuntary patient to a psychiatric in service and consent on behalf of an involuntary patient to psychiatric treatment.
The files include the following:
- request for admission as an involuntary patient form
- recommendation for admission
- examination by a psychiatrist
- consent on behalf of an involuntary patient for psychiatric treatment.
The files are arranged in alphabetical order by patient’s family name.
Admission register (1989-92)
Volume; Permanent VPRS Number 17785/P0001
Contents: This handwritten volume was used to record the details of patients who were admitted to and discharged from Ambermere Hospital.
The volume is a self-indexing account book which is divided into two sections.
The first part of the volume comprises an alphabetical index which records the patient’s surname and first name under each letter category, with the related page and patient numbers.
The admission and discharge entries are arranged in a double page column format, with the following headings:
- patient number
- surname
- Christian [name]
- admission [date]
- manager [signature]
- marital [status]
- DOB [date of birth]
- religion
- previous abode
- occupation
- discharged [date]
- manager [signature]
- discharged rec [not used].
The volume also has a computer printout list at the back of the volume, which lists the dates of admission and related patient surname.
Contact registers (1991-93)
Volume; Temporary
Contents: Volumes recording all contacts made on the phone or in person.
The registers include details about the following types of communication:
- clients receiving over-the-phone advice
- people in crisis seeking help
- requests for marriage or relationship counselling making or breaking appointments
- relatives searching for people
- medication inquiries
- relatives seeking advice on dealing with a situation.
The staff communications with the public are recorded in chronological order.
Medical records
Clinical assessment files (1981-91)
File; Temporary
Contents: Assessments of referrals to the psychologists to establish the nature of a patient's problems.
This accession consists of clinical assessment files made by psychologists to establish the nature of the problem or disorder and possible treatment.
The files contain:
- personal notes and observations of three psychologists and results of tests carried out by them
- Rorschach ink blot test
- Wisc-Wechsler adult IQ scale
- Coopersmith inventory
- sentence completion test.
Files are from the assessment stage; they do not include treatment details. There are two sequences of files, each arranged in alphabetical order by patient’s family name.
Correspondence / patient initial assessments (1989-91)
Document; Temporary
Contents: Letters from doctors referring patients to Ambermere and initial assessments carried out on those patients when they arrived at Ambermere.
The assessment records deal with the patient’s initial contact with the hospital, and assessment and recommended treatment.
Some files have notes throughout treatment until a person is an outpatient. The information is highly detailed. Included is correspondence between the patient, psychiatrist, other health professionals and institutions. Files are arranged in alphabetical order by patient’s surname.
Electroconvulsive therapy [ECT] authorities and prescription record (1989-95)
Document; Temporary
Contents: An assortment of records documenting ECT and patients' medication.
This collection contains three different sets of material:
- ECT consent forms and authorities without informed consent. The forms are used to authorise ECT to be performed. Informed consent forms are signed by the patient; without informed consent forms are signed by the doctor or guardian
- prescription cards record medication type and dosage
- Workcare claims evaluate the injury of the claimant.
These records have been collated into groups and sorted alphabetically or numerically – the accession register contains a list of names.
Patient histories (c.1970-c.90)
File; Temporary
Contents: Case histories of people admitted to Ambermere for psychiatric treatment. These records give details of their treatment and progress. The collection list includes: family name; first names; UR number; discharge date.
Specialised treatment records (1991-94)
Document; Temporary
Contents: Records documenting the administration of specialised treatment.
The records in chronological order comprise monthly summaries of specialised treatment such as: ECT; restraint; sedation; mechanical restraint; seclusion; non-psychiatric treatment.
Medication cards (1987-93)
Card; Temporary
Contents: This card system records the type and dosage of medication given to patients. The cards are in alphabetical order by patient’s surname.
Departmental administration
Rosters, indemnity forms, assessment records, appointment books (1988-95)
Document and volume; Temporary
Contents: An assortment of records from Ambermere including rosters, indemnity forms, assessment records, and appointment books. Destroyed since 2008.
Daily returns and rosters (1987-93)
Document; Temporary
Contents: Records showing hours to be worked by staff and their contact with patients. Since 2008 two boxes have been destroyed, and one box remains.
Payroll records (1992-93)
Document; Temporary
Contents: Computer generated payroll reports including cash books, bank tape details, consolidated payroll reports and deduction reports. These records have been destroyed since 2008.
Staff files (1979-96)
File; Temporary
Contents: Records documenting the employment histories of individual employees.
Information content includes:
- dates employment began and ended
- details of positions held
- details of sick or other forms of leave
- correspondence relating to the respective employee.
Reviewed 26 August 2016