Thomas Embling Hospital

Thomas Embling Hospital is a secure forensic mental health hospital, located adjacent to extensive parklands in suburban Melbourne. The hospital provides acute and continuing care programs and includes a dedicated women’s unit.

Patients are generally admitted to the hospital from the criminal justice system under the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997, Mental Health Act 2014 or the Sentencing Act 1991. A small group of patients is admitted each year from other public mental health services under the Mental Health Act 2014.

Hospital programs

The hospital was purpose designed and built to further the delivery of advanced clinical programs in the treatment of patients suffering from acute mental health issues.

A comprehensive range of therapeutic programs are provided which are innovative and provided within a recovery framework. They are designed to provide purposeful, meaningful and individual and socially valued activities.

Education and recreation programs are provided through Kangan Institute and Healthstream respectively, both external contracted providers.

Care is taken to collaborate with patients, staff, carers, other service agencies and the community to forge partnerships to ensure that the hospital meets the needs of consumers.

Accessing Thomas Embling Hospital: Important changes for visitors

Change to our Main Entrance 

Carparking and pedestrian access at Thomas Embling Hospital has changed due to construction, relating to the Thomas Embling Hospital Expansion Project.

Currently, all visitors, staff and consumers enter the hospital through the Administration Building (see the yellow outlined building in the image below). However, with our redevelopment construction work well under way, our new Main Entry Building (see red outlined building in the map below) will open on the 17th October 2024, and will house the reception desk, security checkpoint, Inpatient Services leadership team and Clinical Administration.

The Main Entry Building includes a new family and carers lounge near the main entrance that is light, bright and includes soft furniture and a kitchenette. There is also a parents’ room off the main waiting room and restrooms.

If you are a regular visitor, other than a new entry point, you will not undertake any new processes – please proceed to the reception desk who will process your entry, issue a lanyard and call your escort to collect you. Once your escort arrives you will be taken through security screening and biometric verification before meeting you on the other side of the screening point. When you leave, your escort will bring you back to the main entrance, into the airlock. Once inside the exit airlock, please return your lanyard to security, have your biometric verification completed, and then you are able to leave.

Lockers are available for visitors in the main entrance, located just behind reception and next to the exit airlock. The reception team (during business hours) or security (on weekends or after hours) will provide access to lockers.

Change to our car parking 

Visitors are requested to use the Fairlea East Carpark (the green tick car park in the image below) until construction is complete. Access to this carpark is via boom gate, please use the intercom on arrival, and follow the signs to the hospital.

Accessibility parking is still available at the hospital carpark, please call the intercom at the boom gate along the northern entry road (Campus Drive), for entry.

There is space to drop people off at the front of the new Main Entry Building, however as there is limited space to turn around this is strictly for people with mobility difficulties, not for general taxis and not for parking.  

Taxi pick up and drop off should happen near the front entrance of the hospital – at the driveway on Yarra Bend Road, next to the Yarra Nursery. A dedicated pick up/drop off zone will open out the front of the existing administration building entrance in 2025.

Please follow all signage and speak to reception for any clarification. Please take a look at the Map below for further details. If you have any questions, please direct them to TEHBedExpansion@forensicare.vic.gov.au

COVID-19: Important changes for visitors to Forensicare

To ensure the safety of everyone at Thomas Embling Hospital,  we have made changes to the way visitors can access the hospital during COVID-19.

For more information about our visitor policy changes during COVID-19 visit our COVID-19: Important changes for visitors to Forensicare page.

Please check back regularly to ensure you have the most up-to-date information as our policies may change.

Visitor information

Visitors to Thomas Embling Hospital are required to provide 100 points of identification before entering the hospital for the first time. More information about visiting the hospital is available on our Visitor Information Sheet which provides all you need to know about visiting the hospital.

Visiting Hours 

HOW TO FIND US

Thomas Embling Hospital is located on:
Yarra bend Road
Fairfield Vic 3078
T: +61 3 9495 9100