Cabrini Launches First Neurodivergence Assessment Centre for Women

As the first women-only mental health facility in Australia, Cabrini’s Lisa Thurin Women’s Health Centre in Elsternwick offers gender-sensitive, acute care for conditions such as PTSD, burn-out, mood disorders, and addiction. The centre has treated more than 1,200 patients since opening in 2021, and Sharon Sherwood, Cabrini’s Chief of Mental Health, said approximately 50% of patients have either been diagnosed with or are seeking assessment for ADHD or Autism.

“The demand for ADHD and Autism assessments has remained high since COVID as more symptoms became apparent due to a sustained period of less socialisation, structure and routine,” Ms Sherwood said.

In response, Cabrini recently launched a popular 10-week community day program focused on supporting women with understanding their neurotype and using a strengths-based approach to build strategies to use in daily life. Now, thanks to the generosity of a Cabrini Foundation donor family, Cabrini Women’s Mental Health is achieving another Australian-first as it becomes the only female-focused ADHD and Autism assessment centre.

Founding Medical Director of Cabrini Women’s Mental Health, Professor Jayashri Kulkarni AM, said: “There is a strong correlation between mental health conditions, early life trauma and neurodivergence in women. However, alarmingly, women struggle to receive an integrated diagnosis and appropriate treatment. They often don’t know how or where to find the right treatment and we aim to help change that,” she said.

Cabrini Health continues to lead the way in creating female-focused mental health programs, and this next step in becoming an ADHD and Autism assessment centre means it can now support neurodivergent patients through their entire journey from diagnosis to ongoing treatment, via its tailored inpatient and outpatient programs.

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