Rehabilitation Service, Hopetoun Street Campus, Elsternwick

I cannot praise them high enough. Absolute Angels each and every staff member. The care and compassion was more than I could have asked for. My journey towards recovery has just started and i will be back there in January 2024 to commence further treatment. I thank you all for your hard work and dedication. You are very much appreciated. Thank you

Cabrini women’s mental health is a safe haven for me. A caring and nurturing place where the nurses and doctors take a wholistic approach to care for you. I have had two stays here so far and it is a wonderful place to heal from a variety of mental health issues. I always feel safe and cared for here and I feel so lucky that we have access to such a wonderful place for women to recover in. It is LGBTIQA+ friendly and the only thing religious about it is that they have crucifixes up around the place but there’s no elements of forced religion upon you. The food is wonderful. It’s a warm environment and not very clinical. I have only wonderful things to say about it Cabrini. If you are a woman looking for a mental health facility to assist you in getting mentally well I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Cabrini Elsternwick.

Thank you Dr MJ (Cabrini Psychiatrist) for the care and support you have given my dear friend. The care, professionalism and understanding you gave my friend at our recent support meeting was exceptional. Not only did you allow time to discuss issues, you presented a plan to manage future health and medications. I rarely give reviews, but I would recommend you to anyone requiring help with their mental health and Cabrini for offering more than a revolving door.
Cabrini is fortunate to have you working in this challenging area. Thank you Dr MJ.

Zero stars if I could. Health professionals be aware if you refer a patient to Cabrini WMH- this was my experience, Compounding the trauma I was referred for. Proclaiming to be trauma informed- and to provide care for those experiencing trauma, are not just words.
I was referred and received confirmed admission date- 3 weeks wait. I acquired funding through Victims of Crime for my inpatient 2 week stay.
During the wait period- I contacted Cabrini 17 times on email and phone (all documented) to ensure they would liaise with Victims of crime to organise payment prior to my admission.
I phoned Victims of Crime the day prior to admission- Cabrini had not contacted them for the quote needed to make payment & VOCAT required 4-6 week timeframe for processing payment. My admission planned for the next day could not go ahead.
I was left with no mental health support.
I received no further contact from Cabrini- no alternative options, no welfare check, no communication.
The consequences of this negligence cannot be ignored or undermined. This could cause severe distress for and actions by patients, by being rejected in accessing mental health care due to the source of their funding. Obtaining funding through VOC is difficult and distressing enough, this was compounded by Cabrini negligence- and failure of duty of care.
Being the victim of a crime and receiving VOCAT funding should not be an obstacle in accessing what Cabrini promotes itself to provide- care and compassion.
I provided a formal complaint, Over a month now and no response from Cabrini. I have begun a external complaint process- to advocate for Victims of crime to have access to mental Health care. If you have a patient with VOCAT funding- please be mindful of my experience. Cabrini has only caused more me more trauma.

*** No response for over 5 weeks, then a reply within a few hours after a public review? All my correspondence (all documented) has already been through the channels provided by Cabrini in the Google response.

Zero stars if I could. Health professionals be aware if you refer a patient to Cabrini Women's Mental Health specifically who has Victim of Crime funding or a complex diagnosis: or if you are considering admission yourself: this was my experience; The process and failures of Cabrini only compounded the trauma I was referred for.
**update at end of review**
I received a confirmation of admission for Complex PTSD-
3 weeks wait. I had funding through Victims of Crime for my inpatient 2 week stay.
During the wait period- I contacted Cabrini 17 times on email and phone (all documented) to ensure they would liaise with Victims of crime to organise payment prior to my admission.
I phoned Victims of Crime the day prior to admission- Cabrini had not contacted them for the quote needed to make payment, failed to organise my admission & VOCAT required 4-6 week timeframe for processing payment. My admission planned for the next day could not go ahead.
I was left with no mental health support.
I received no further contact from Cabrini- no alternative options, no welfare check, no communication.
The consequences of this negligence cannot be ignored or undermined. This could cause severe distress for and actions by patients, by being rejected in accessing mental health care due to the source of their funding. Obtaining funding through VOC is difficult and distressing enough, this was compounded by Cabrini negligence- and failure of duty of care.
Being the victim of a crime and receiving VOCAT funding should not be an obstacle in accessing what Cabrini promotes itself to provide- care and compassion.
I provided a formal complaint, Over a month now and no response from Cabrini. I have begun a external complaint process- to advocate for Victims of crime to have access to mental Health care. If you have a patient with VOCAT funding- please be mindful of my experience. Cabrini has only caused more me more trauma.

*** Update*** I have sent 2 emails to SHARON SHERWOOD (Chief of Mental health & Cabrini outreach) requesting a response that addresses my issues/experience. After receiving a generic response that did not address anything about my experience, or of Cabrini's failures of process. My lawyer, Health Complaints Commissioner, Victims of Crime and medical specialists are all awaiting an adequate response. My initial formal complaint was 3 months ago. I will continue to advocate for victims of crime to have equal access to mental health care.

Edit to add - Yes Cabrini, I have provided this feedback in full, and awaiting an adequate response.

I hope Cabrini responds promptly and effectively to the clinical safety matter raised with the Healthcare Complaints Commissioner.
Can't currently recommend Cabrini due to medical safety issues however this is saddening, because the women's only setting and trauma informed treatment approaches are the most promising in Australia. Otherwise Cabrini offered a very helpful inpatient stay with caring staff, anti inflammatory food, music therapy etc.

Safest mental health facility I have experienced. Caring staff, nourishing food, calm atmosphere and excellent care. Take some of the negative reviews as a grain of salt, nothing is ever good enough for some people out there.

This my second stay at Cabrini Hopetoun Rehab in just under 6 years. I chose to return to this Rehab because my previous stay was so unbelievably good. I am extremely disappointed this time. Some of the nursing staff have absolutely no idea as to the reason you are a patient nor are they familiar with prescribed drugs. It seems as if lower qualified nurses are now being employed. Numerous nurses have told me to remind them when I require certain drugs, I always thought it was supposed to be the other way around. It can take up to 15 minutes for a nurse to show up if you ring the buzzer. The nicest people in the place seem to be the receptionist, some of the people bringing food to patients rooms and the cleaner who is always beaming. The level of care at Cabrini Hopetoun has dropped dramatically and I would suggest looking at other rehab hospitals in the area.

My name is John Sojka
Recently I had to undergo open heart surgery
I was fortunate to have chosen Cabrini Malvern for my surgery and Cabrini Hopetoun for my Rehab
The care that I received after the operation In Cabrini hospital was exceptional all the staff and nurses were very attentive and helpful.
This was my third stay in Cabrini Hopetoun and again I found everyone, be they, nurses, physiotherapist, etc etc to be absolutely caring, nothing was too much for them and it is no small measure that thanks to these dedicate professionals that I am able to resume my life
Once again thank you all
John Sojka

The physios were patient, gentle and professional. The reception staff (special mention to Molly) are lovely.