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Social Work
Copied from the official Gold Coast Health condition page (27 Aug 2026). Hospital triage assigns the official category. Live source: Refer Your Patient — Social Work.
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Cat 1 · 30 days
appointment within 30 calendar days. Intervention within 3-5 working days
- Psycho-social adjustment issues - counselling for new or changed diagnosis/prognosis.
- Past and Recent Trauma - impact on current health re: anxiety, depression, panic attacks etc.
- Complicated loss/grief associated with changed health conditions
- Bereavement following death of significant other and preparatory/anticipatory grief for life limiting illness
- Complex social circumstances where short term Social Work intervention will assist with hospital avoidance and where an achievable (not appropriate for homeless patients nor patients who do not have decision-making capacity), resolution is possible
Intervention within 6-14 working days
- Psycho-social adjustment to chronic health condition.
- Adjustment to health - counselling for chronic health conditions.
- Brief therapeutic interventions for: Mild/Moderate Depression.
- Brief therapeutic interventions for Mild/Moderate Anxiety.
- Complex stress.
- Carer stress and carer support.
- Social Isolation impacting health status.
- Complex family dynamics e.g. carer relationship breakdown (not DFV situations).
- Cognitive decline and Capacity Issues- Assessments and diagnosis have been completed and recommendations have been made for social work assistance in key areas to assist the client to manage identified deficits and difficulty on a short-term basis.
- Future Care Planning counselling (Refer onward to CNC ACP)
Intervention within 15-28 working days
- Time4Me- 5-week Self-Care Program for chronic disease clients and carers
Please note that patients will be assessed individually by the senior social work clinician prior to entry into this program
Cat 2 · 90 days
appointment within 90 calendar days. - No category 2 criteria
Cat 3 · 365 days
appointment within 365 calendar days. - No category 3 criteria
Essential referral information
Referral will be returned without this. If a mandatory test cannot be obtained, say so in the referral.
- Patient consent to referral
- Reason for referral
- Date of diagnosis
- Does the client have any cognitive decline or capacity issues?
- Has the client received a definite diagnosis to do with their cognition or is the client currently being assessed?
- Can the client participate in the counselling process?
- Are there any concerns regarding client participation or engagement?
- Known mental health history
- ETOH or other drug history
Out of scope / wrong door
- Patients under 18 years of age
- Workcover patients
- Patients residing in a Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF)
- Patients accessing NDIS
- From 1 November, 2025 - Patients accessing Levels 4 to 8 - Support @ Home Programme package through My Aged Care (MAC)
- Prior to 1 November, 2025- Patients accessing Level 3 or 4 Home Care Package through My Aged Care (MAC)
- DVA Gold Card Holders
- Patients currently receiving inpatient services including HITH or GEMITH
- Do not provide services in conjunction with GP Management Plan or Team Care Arrangement
NB: Individual services within the Post Acute suite can consider accepting the above patients on a case-by-case basis
Social Work:
- Patients who are experiencing acute homelessness
- Patients who are experiencing financial hardship that is urgent in nature
- Patients with no decision making capacity
- Patients accessing Specialist Palliative Care Services-Community
- Patients requiring completion/filling out of paperwork
- Acute Mental Health conditions
- Acute Elder Abuse
- Domestic and Family Violence (DFV), Sexual Assault
- Acquired Brain Injury
- Relationship and family counselling
Physiotherapy:
- Referrals for ongoing care for a chronic condition are not eligible
- Patients currently being seen by a private Physiotherapist are not eligible
- Patients accessing Physiotherapy through Community providers
Dietetics:
- Patients seeking Antenatal care
- Patients accessing an Eating Disorder Management and Treatment Plan
- Head and Neck Cancer (non-palliative)
Occupational Therapy:
- Driving Assessments
- Vascular Intervention
- NDIS Access Request Reports
- Acute Hand Management
- Splints
Speech Pathology:
- Patients currently accessing speech pathology outpatient services
- Therapy of communication impairments secondary to aphasia, cognitive communication impairments, dysarthria and apraxia of speech: Forward referrals to Speech Pathology Service, Communication Outpatients, Gold Coast University Hospital - Tel. 5687 3001
- Assessment and therapy of voice disorders: Forward referrals to Speech Pathology Service, Voice Outpatients, Robina Hospital – Tel. 5668 5962; Fax 5668 6685
- Assessment and implementation of LSVT program for Parkinson’s disease patients (individualised): Forward referrals to Speech Pathology Service, Outpatient LSVT Clinic, Robina Hospital – Tel. 5668 5969
Parent service: Post Acute Programs
Send outpatient referrals to
- Smart Referrals preferred (Best Practice or Medical Director)
- Medical Objects GQ42150009Z (lookup qh → QHEALTH, GOLD COAST HEALTH OUTPATIENT)
- HealthLink EDI Qldgchsd
- Fax (07) 5687 4497 — Booking and Referral Centre
- Post: Booking and Referral Centre, Gold Coast University Hospital, 1 Hospital Boulevard, Southport QLD 4215
- Clinic enquiries 1300 559 083
How to refer — full order
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