Dr Steven Chau is one of the few psychiatrists in Victoria who has significant experience in supporting the mental wellbeing of elite athletes. He has cared for current and former players of national codes such as AFL/AFLW and NRL. Dr Chau is happy to accept referrals from club doctors, GPs or relevant player associations. Dr Chau is acutely aware of the importance of privacy and would be happy to discuss with referrers directly if desired.

We understand that recovering from mental health can take time, so all clinicians are here to be part of your journey no matter how long it takes. Their long term approach ensures you are cared for in a safe and consistent environment so that they are alongside you every step of the way.

Medicare Item 291 is a specific referral for an Assessment and Management Plan. This type of assessment generally applies to patients who do not require ongoing psychiatric care and the General Practitioner will be the treatment provider. The report provided to the referring General Practitioner is very detailed with specific recommendations. A psychiatrist cannot conduct an assessment under Item 291 unless it has been specifically requested by a General Practitioner. The patient must not have had a 291 assessment in the last 12 months.

If you are a General Practitioner and are unsure whether your patient requires assessment under Item 296 or 291, you can simply write in your referral ‘for assessment and management under item 291 if appropriate’ and the treating Psychiatrist can discuss these options with the patient at the time of consultation.

Psychological therapy also known as ‘talk therapy’ involves having regular sessions with a trained therapist to explore ways to help improve your mental health. There are many types of psychological therapies ranging from deeper, “insight-oriented” therapies that explore your past experiences (such as family upbringing) and how it affects you currently, to more practical ‘here and now’ therapies that help you change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours to improve your coping skills.

Here at Melbourne Mental Health, we believe in making psychiatric care as accessible as possible and therefore, all clinicians are more than happy to provide assessment and treatment via secure video link. If you prefer to have telehealth sessions, please inform our administrative team at the time of booking and we will happily guide you through the easy process.

We understand that one of the most important factors in your recovery is your trust and connection with your treating clinician so face-to-face support is available to all patients who prefer this. We respectfully encourage you to wear face masks during your consultation, utilise our freely available hand sanitisers and consider changing your appointment to telehealth if you are feeling unwell.