Psychiatric Assessment & Planning Unit (PAPU)

The Psychiatric Assessment & Planning Unit (PAPU) is a short stay, six bed, mixed gender, adult mental health unit located next to the Emergency Department at Frankston Hospital.

Our PAPU is a safe and supported environment that provides you with recovery-focused, person-centred care. If you stay at PAPU you will be in a private room with ensuite and have access to the shared spaces available.

You can stay at our PAPU for up to 72 hours to receive specialist mental health assessment, planning and short-term treatment by our team of dedicated professionals including:

  • consultant psychiatrist
  • medical doctor
  • pharmacist
  • registered and enrolled nurses
  • social worker
  • psychologist
  • peer support workers with lived experience 

Our care is individually tailored to meet your self-defined physical, psychological, social and spiritual goals and needs. We work in partnership with you, your family, carers and supporters, along with other professionals involved in your care.

Who we care for

You can access PAPU if residing in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula regions between the ages of 16 – 65 years old. Sometimes people who live in other areas will access our PAPU if an appropriate service within their local hospital area can not be utilised.

To be considered for an admission to PAPU you will need to:

  • have had a mental health assessment completed
  • require inpatient care for less than 72 hours
  • be willing to enter PAPU voluntarily
  • be safe and appropriate for the environment and model provided at PAPU.

Please note, while our PAPU can accept you if you are a mother, we cannot provide care to you with your baby. If you require inpatient care with your baby a referral to the Monash Mother and Baby Unit will be made.

How to access this service

Referrals to PAPU are made following an assessment by one of our mental health teams. Most referrals for PAPU are made from within our mental health teams or for people assessed by our mental health service in the Frankston Emergency Department (MHCL ED).

If you want to know more about PAPU or need urgent mental health support please contact our Mental Health Telephone Triage  with your enquiries.

Need help now?

If you are in an emergency, or at immediate risk of harm to yourself or others, please contact emergency services on Triple Zero (000).

If you need urgent help for your mental health or would like to access specialist mental health support through Peninsula Health please contact Mental Health Telephone Triage on 1300 792 977, 24 hours, 7 days per week.

If you need immediate mental health support and are unable to utilise a telephone service please attend the Frankston or Rosebud Emergency Department in person 24 hours, 7 days per week.

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