The Department for Education has been advised the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Connect will preference referrals from:
- General Practitioners
- relevant health professionals
- Student Wellbeing Leaders
- Educators
- Student Support Service staff
- or mental health community organisations
Rather than directly from parents or guardians.
If the child or young person is under 16 years of age consent from the legal guardian must be obtained in order to proceed with an assessment.
Parents and guardians can still contact CAMHS Connect directly. However their first point of consultation should be with their GP, or relevant health professionals already supporting the child or young person.
For children or young people with an immediate risk parents and guardians can contact CAMHS Connect and have their concerns heard and assessed. Non-urgent enquiries, with some exceptions for vulnerable groups, will be redirected to their GP or a primary health care provider in the first instance.
Examples of circumstances where parents should connect with CAMHS directly without first consulting with their primary health provider include:
- families living remotely where there are difficulties accessing the primary health provider
- families who’ve had previous CAMHS involvement
- Aboriginal children and young people
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse community groups.
A discreet pathway within CAMHS Connect has been established for referrals received from the Department for Child Protection.
More information is available on their website https://www.wchn.sa.gov.au/our-network/camhs.