Our History

EPPIC began in 1988 at the Aubrey-Lewis Unit at Royal Park Hospital, with a special focus on assisting young people who were hospitalised experiencing a first episode of psychosis. It was hoped that by having a ward dedicated to young people, some of the institutional causes of secondary morbidity would be reduced.

The ward was staffed with nurses, medical, and allied health staff who wanted to work with young people. An atmosphere more suitable to young people was developed. The needs and specific issues that face young people experiencing their first episode of psychosis and the needs of their families and carers were highlighted and addressed for the first time. From this the EPPIC model was developed and officially came into being in June 1992, when the focus of treatment was transferred to the community. At the same time the catchment area was extended to include 800,000 people in the north-western and western parts of Melbourne.

This move to the community, including the opening of the Outpatient Clinic in Poplar Road Parkville, included the establishment of a number of community focused service components, such as: outpatient case managers; an outpatient group program; outpatient family support; outpatient assessment of new referrals.

The development of these targeted components lead to the provision of all services within the one organisation including: 24hr crisis care; community education; research. By 1995 the comprehensive program for young people experiencing their first episode of psychosis was enhanced by the formation of the PACE clinic for people who were thought to be 'at-risk' of developing a psychotic illness, or experiencing low grade psychotic symptoms.

The first International Conference on Early Psychosis was held in 1996 and hosted by EPPIC with the formation of the IEPA (International Early Psychosis Association) in 1997.

The EPPIC model was extended to include other young people with major mental illnesses (for example major depression) and called MH-SKY (Mental Health Service for Kids and Youth) which then lead to the development in 2001 to the comprehensive model now known as Orygen Youth Health: EPPIC is now one of the sub-clinics of Orygen Youth Health, which is a larger, and more comprehensive, clinical program that addresses the needs of young people who present with a range of emerging mental health and substance use problems.