What is Gatehouse?

Gatehouse is a free and voluntary specialist sexual assault service for children and their families and is based at the Royal Children’s Hospital. We provide therapeutic counselling, support, advocacy and 24/7 sexual assault crisis support. Gatehouse is committed to assisting children, young people and their families to recover from the impact of sexual harm and promote the rights of children and young people impacted by sexual harm. 

What do we do?

We provide counselling services to children and young people aged 0-17 who have experienced sexual harm and/or engaged in harmful sexual behaviour, and their family members.  

We provide services to children and their families who live in the following LGAs: Brimbank, Melton, Moonee Valley, Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Wyndham and parts of Melbourne, and children and young people who are inpatients at the RCH. 

We also provide 24/7 in person sexual assault crisis responses to any child who presents at the RCH and discloses being sexually harmed.  

Who we are

The Gatehouse team consists of social workers, psychologists, mental health nurses, family therapists, art therapists, occupational therapists, clinical neuropsychologists, a music therapist and an Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Officer. 

Where we work

Gatehouse is located at The Royal Children’s Hospital on Level 1 Reception C.  

Gatehouse also provides community-based services at:   

• Melton Youth Services – 193 Barries Road, Melton West VIC 3337  

• Wyndham Multidisciplinary Centre (MDC) at Women’s Health Hub – 236 Hoppers Lane, Werribee VIC 3030 

How to contact us

In hours:  03 9345 6391 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) To refer, to speak with your clinician and for crisis responses. 

After hours: 1800 806 292 (Monday-Friday 5pm-9am, all weekend and public holidays) This call will connect you to the after-hours Sexual Assault Crisis Line (SACL) service. 

Gatehouse acknowledges the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land on which RCH is situated, the land of Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present and emerging.

Gatehouse Centre values and celebrates diversity and is committed to providing a service that is fully inclusive.