The Cottage program has helped young people build their confidence and capacity to return to school or other programs.
05 September 2024
In brief:
- The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services ‘Cottage’ program will relocate.
- It will move to a brand-new facility in Lyons in 2026.
- This is the first step in preparing the site at North Canberra Hospital for demolition, ahead of building a new northside hospital.
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) ‘Cottage’ program at North Canberra Hospital will relocate to the southside.
It will move to a new purpose-built facility in Lyons in 2026.
The CAMHS Childhood Early Intervention Program and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Program will also relocate to Lyons.
CAMHS Cottage program
The Cottage is a day program for teens with moderate to severe mental health issues. These issues impact their ability to attend school.
The program has been successful in supporting young people to make functional gains.
It also helps build their confidence and capacity to return to school or other programs.
The new location
The new Lyons location offers young people easy access to:
- public transport
- active travel networks
- green space
- recreation activities
- other services.
The ACT Government has appointed Billard Leece Partnership Pty Ltd as the design partner for the new facility.
Design input from young people, carers, clinicians and the local community will help ensure it meets the needs of staff, patients and their families.
The facility is expected to be complete in 2026. Until then, the Cottage will continue to operate at its existing site at North Canberra Hospital.
Preparing for the new hospital
This planned move represents the first step in preparing the site for demolition ahead of construction of the new northside hospital.
The ACT Government is working with clinical services on the North Canberra Hospital campus to:
- understand current and future needs
- explore suitable locations for services that will have to move over the next few years.
Find more information on the Northside Hospital Project at builtforcbr.act.gov.au.
Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:
