Hospital Operations | Forensicare

Our Hospital Operations are provided from the Thomas Embling Hospital.

Thomas Embling Hospital is a secure forensic mental health facility providing specialist assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation for individuals with complex mental health needs, who often interface with the Criminal Justice System. The hospital delivers acute and continuing care programs, including dedicated services for women, within a structured recovery framework.

Patients are admitted under the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022, and Sentencing Act 1991, or for those requiring specialized forensic care, from public mental health services,

Our approach is collaborative and recovery-focused, ensuring patients receive the care, support, and structured opportunities needed for rehabilitation and community reintegration.

Visiting Thomas Embling Hospital:

Visiting Hours are Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

We recommend you confirm your visit with our Unit staff before coming on (03) 9495 9100 to ensure it does not interfere with consumer programs or appointments. Where necessary, alternative arrangements can be discussed with Unit staff. Entry may not be granted if the visit was not pre-arranged.

Note: There is significant construction a the Thomas Embling Hospital site. Please take care and follow signs and instructions from traffic controllers.

How to find us

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

Your first visit

First-time visits must be scheduled on a weekday (Monday–Friday, and not on weekends or public holidays) to ensure we have the right support available to you. If you are unable to visit during the week please talk to our staff, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your situation.

On your first visit, you will be asked to enrol in our security and visitor registration systems. This process involves:

taking your photo
scanning your irises, and
capturing a fingerprint.
You will need to provide 100 points of identification.

Identification Requirements
The more common and accepted forms of identification you can provide are:

100 Points – Victorian Drivers Licence (hard copy or digital), Interstate Driver Licence (hard copy only), current Passport

50 Points – Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Australian Citizenship Certificate

25 Points – Medicare Card, Credit Card, Student Card, Senior or Social Services Card

Unfortunately, we are unable to accept four items from the 25-point category. At least one document from the 50-point list must be provided.

Your details are confidential and are used only for the purposes of registration and entry into the hospital. Our systems are not linked to any external bodies or organisations. Children (under 18) are not registered.

If you are unable to provide any of the above-mentioned forms of identification, please let us know. We have a comprehensive list of acceptable forms of identification which we can work through with you.

What you can Expect

Entering the Hospital

To ensure a smooth and safe visit for all, all persons and items entering the hospital are scanned and may be subject to manual inspection by our Security staff.

Each time you visit you will need to:

visibly wear the provided ‘Visitor Pass’ at all times.

A staff member will collect you from the waiting area and support you through any screening processes.

There may be times you experience a delay in entering the hospital. This is usually due to operational requirements.

Visiting with Children (under 18)

All visits involving children must be pre-approved by the treating team. They are to be arranged with the Unit Social Worker and usually take place in the Family Visitor Room. It is a requirement that a staff member remain with you for these visits. Please enquire with a member of staff about this process or speak to a Social Worker.

Bringing Items into the Hospital

For everyone’s safety, the following are not allowed into the hospital:

Drugs, weapons, alcohol, cigarettes, lighters, and matches.

Mobile phones, computers, and cameras.

Items that could pose a safety risk, like glass objects and metal cutlery.

If you’re bringing something into the hospital that is not mentioned above, please check with the treating unit or Unit beforehand to make sure it’s allowable.

Lockers are available in the main entry foyer, which you are welcome to use to store any personal belongings while inside the hospital.

Our Right to Deny Entry

For the safety of all, we may deny entry into the hospital if:

Entry into the hospital is restricted for emergency, medical or security reasons.

Persons engage in behaviour that is unsafe, aggressive or disrespectful prior to, or during, a visit.

The person you would like to visit does not wish for the visit to occur.

There are legal orders that prohibit contact between yourself and persons you’ve nominated to visit.

If You Feel Unsafe or Experience Aggression

Your safety is our priority. If you feel threatened or experience aggressive behaviour during your visit, please report it to a staff member right away. If you’re unable to do so at the time, feel free to contact the unit staff after your visit.

Infection Control

In the case of an infectious outbreak in the hospital, such as flu or Covid, we may implement extra safety measures. This could mean limiting access to certain areas of the hospital temporarily and you may be asked to:

Answer health screening questions before entry.

Wear a mask.

If in-person visits are not possible, staff can arrange phone or video contact via FaceTime, Teams, or Skype.

Access and Parking

Parking: Use the Fairlea East Carpark on Fairlea Road (enter via the boom gate and follow signs to the hospital).

Accessible Parking: Available at the hospital carpark—use the intercom at the boom gate for access.

Taxi drop-off: Located at the Yarra Bend Road entrance near the Yarra Edge Nursery.