How does the OOHC Health Pathway Program support the health of children and young people in out of home care?
Children and young people entering statutory OOHC are referred by the Department of Communities and Justice to commence a primary health assessment as soon as possible, ideally within 30 days of a child or young person entering care.
These assessments are undertaken by a range of health care providers, including General Practitioners, Aboriginal Medical Services, Child and Family Health Nurses, and headspace and Youth Health Services where available.
After the primary health assessment, the health professional may then refer the child or young person for a comprehensive multidisciplinary health assessment. On the basis of these assessments, each child or young person has a Health Management Plan developed for/with them. The Health Management Plan identifies their state of health, recommended interventions and appropriate review process.
The program supports young people as they plan to leave care, including supporting the young person to establish and maintain an ongoing relationship with a primary health care provider. As young people grow, we seek their consent for and encourage their participation in health care and planning.
The program is a collaboration between NSW Health, Department of Communities and Justice, OOHC service providers, Department of Education, carers, and children and young people themselves.
What can carers expect?
Carers will be contacted by a health staff member from the child or young person's local health district to organise a primary health assessment after the child/young person enters care.
Immediate medical concerns
The OOHC health assessments do not replace the services offered by a GP or emergency department. If a child or young person in your care is unwell or injured, and requires attention, please seek immediate medical attention.
Contact your local OOHC Health Pathway coordinator
Each local health district has an OOHC Health Pathway coordinator responsible for managing and coordinating referrals. The contact details for each local coordinator, and information about local programs, can be found below. To find out which local health district you live in, search for your closest town using this
map locator.
| Central Coast |
Jakii Kelman |
Phone: (02) 4367 9658
Email:
cclhd-oohc@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: 169 The Entrance Road, Erina NSW 2250 |
| Far West |
Kelly McGowan
|
Phone: 08 8080 1100
Email:
fwlhd-oohc@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: PO Box 457, Broken Hill NSW 2880
|
| Hunter New England |
Ashley Owens |
Phone: (02) 4924 6386 and 0437 357 986
Email:
hnelhd-oohcintake@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: Locked Bag 9783, Tamworth NEMSC 2348 |
| Illawarra Shoalhaven |
Karmen Bond |
Phone: (02) 4224 2900
Email:
islhd-oohc@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: 42a Porter Street, North Wollongong NSW 2500 |
| Mid North Coast |
Gráinne Ducat |
Phone: (02) 6589 2578
Email:
mnclhd-oohchealthadmin@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: PO Box 126, Port Macquarie NSW |
| Murrumbidgee |
Alexandra Hamilton
|
Phone: 02 6382 8731
Email:
mlhd-outofhomecare@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: Young
Health Service, 68 Allanan Street, Young NSW 2594 |
| Nepean Blue Mountains |
Jo-ann Buhler |
Phone: (02) 4730 5100
Email:
nbmlhd-oohc@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: Cranebrook Community Health Centre, PO Box 29, Cranebrook NSW 2749 |
| North Sydney |
Lisa Dubiez |
Phone: (02) 9462 9266
Email:
nslhd-oohcintake@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: RNS Community Health Centre Level 2, 2C Herbert Street, St Leonards NSW 2065 |
| Northern NSW |
Kate Dougherty |
Phone: (02) 6603 0922
Email:
nnswlhd-outofhomecare@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: Yamba Community Health 3 Roberts Close, Yamba NSW 2464 |
| South Eastern Sydney |
Cleo Lowden |
Phone: (02) 9522 1000
Email:
seslhd-soohc@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: Caringbah Community Health Centre, Locked Bag 21, Taren Point NSW 2229 |
| Southern NSW |
Courtney Namonye |
Phone: (02) 4825 4856
Email:
snswlhd-oohc@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: PO Box 274, Goulburn NSW 2580 |
| South Western Sydney |
Erin Nicoll |
Phone: (02) 4633 0578
Email:
swslhd-oohchealthreferral@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: 59A Cumberland Road, Ingleburn NSW 2565 |
| Sydney |
Cath Dunn |
Phone: (02) 9378 1100
Email:
slhd-oohcintake@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: Croydon Community Health Centre, 24 Liverpool Road, Croydon NSW 2132 |
| Sydney Children's Hospitals Network |
Jocelyne Noonan |
Email:
schn-outofhomecare@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead NSW 2145 |
| Western NSW |
Caroline Staniforth |
Phone: 0419 512 858
Email:
wnswlhd-outofhomecare@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: PO Box 4061, Dubbo NSW 2830 |
| Western Sydney |
Sarah Radburn |
Phone: (02) 9881 1200
Email:
wslhd-oohchealthassessments@health.nsw.gov.au
Address: Mt Druitt Community Health Services, Corner Buran and Kelly Close, Mt Druitt NSW 2770 |
OOHC Health Pathway Program evaluation
Two independent evaluations of the Out-of-Home Care Health Pathway Program have been completed.
The first evaluation in 2014 found that the Program significantly improved access to health services for children and young people entering statutory (court ordered) out-of-home care. The 2014 evaluation also found that service providers and agencies reported that the program improved health outcomes for these children and young people.
The second evaluation, which concluded in 2022, examined the impact of increased Program funding that began in July 2019.
The 2022 evaluation found that the additional funding led to program improvements, such as increases in the numbers of assessments and health management plans, and in the number of staff employed under the program. The 2022 evaluation report made 16 recommendations to improve the Program. Key Program partners met in November 2022 to identify priority recommendations and actions, which are now underway.
