Insights Gidget House opens at Monash Health: integrating pathways to care

Diginostic was honoured to be invited to the official opening of Gidget House at Monash Health, a significant milestone for perinatal mental health care in Victoria. Located at Monash Medical Centre in Clayton, this is the first Gidget House to operate inside a public hospital in the state, removing key barriers to care and ensuring parents can access specialised perinatal mental health support within a familiar, trusted healthcare environment.

Monash Health is Victoria's largest maternity care provider, supporting the delivery of more than 10,000 babies each year. It cares for over 1.2 million residents across south-east Melbourne, a community that is among the fastest growing and most diverse in the state, with 47% of the catchment population born overseas and 45% speaking a language other than English at home. Bringing specialist perinatal mental health support directly into this setting means it reaches families exactly where they are, in a community where need is significant and growing.

The idea for this co-location began four years ago, following a conversation between Gidget Foundation Australia's CEO Arabella Gibson and Dr John Regan about bringing a Gidget House into Monash Health. The opening was officially marked by Eden Foster MP, Member for Mulgrave, with Professor Eugine Yafele, CEO of Monash Health, acknowledged for his support in making the service accessible to the region.

Gidget House at Monash Health offers free, specialist psychological treatment services for expectant and new parents, from conception through to 12 months postpartum. The service supports those experiencing, or at risk of, perinatal depression, anxiety, and related stress disorders, alongside care for birth trauma, perinatal loss, and partner support. Care is delivered by a dedicated, multidisciplinary clinical team, with services accessible via Medicare bulk billing with a GP referral and mental health care plan, helping remove cost as a barrier for the families who need this support most.

The opening was a moving reminder of why this work matters. Gidget Foundation Australia (GFA) co-founder Libby Bowditch shared the story and legacy behind the GFA, named in honour of a young woman known as "Gidget" who experienced severe perinatal mental illness and tragically died by suicide. Libby spoke to the enduring purpose of the Foundation in ensuring women and families are supported early and compassionately through their perinatal mental health journey. Gidget Angel Keshia Arbour also spoke with courage about her own experience with postnatal depression and anxiety, in support of other families navigating similar challenges.

The launch reflected the strength of collaboration across the perinatal sector, with representation from the City of Monash, MAV, RANZCOG, RACGP, and RANZCP, alongside corporate and community partners including Blooms the Chemist, L'Oréal, and NP Brands, among others. It was a privilege for Diginostic to be among the invited guests celebrating this achievement.

This opening is a powerful example of what's possible when health services, specialist providers, and the broader community come together to close gaps in care. Diginostic was glad to witness this milestone firsthand and congratulates Gidget Foundation Australia and Monash Health on bringing this vital service to life.