Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age
HISTORY OF THE ACADEMIC UNIT
The Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, The University of Melbourne, was established in 1989 at Mont Park Hospital with Professor Edmond Chiu, AM, as head of the Academic Unit and the Aged Psychiatry Service, North Eastern Metropolitan Psychiatric Service (NEMPS).
In 1995 the Aged Psychiatry Service transferred from NEMPS to St. George’s Hospital as part of the mainstreaming of mental health services in Victoria. In 2001 the Aged Psychiatry Service became part of St. Vincent’s Mental Health Services. In March 2005 this service was restructured to be part of the Aged Care and Allied Health Directorate of St. Vincent’s Health. It is now known as the St Vincent’s Aged Psychiatry Service (SVAPS).
In April 2005 Professor David Ames was appointed as Director of St Vincent’s Aged Psychiatry Service, and Head of the Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, after the retirement of Professor Chiu.
In July 2008 Professor Nicola Lautenschlager took on this role, when Professor Ames became the director of the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI).