About us

The Victorian Spinal Cord Service (VSCS) provides services to all Victorians and Tasmanians, and to people in the Murray district of New South Wales.

We are recognised for our success in improving the quality of life for people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Your care is provided by a team made up of many different specialties who work together to maximise your recovery and function after SCI.

We work closely with many other Austin Health services, including intensive care, imaging, mental health and urology services, Infectious Diseases, plastic surgery and the Victorian Respiratory Support Service.

We aim to support you to return to a full and active life in the community.

We also have an extensive research program, designed in collaboration with people who have a spinal cord injury, to meet your needs.

Our services

We provide the following services:

• Emergency care following traumatic spinal cord injury
• Spinal surgery
• Acute care
• Spinal rehabilitation 
• Community re-integration
• Community programs and specialist services 

Related services

• Spinal surgery

  We perform spinal surgery for people who have an injury, cancer, deformity or nerve compression.

• Spinal community services

  We provide ongoing care to clients of the Victorian Spinal Cord Service after they leave hospital, through community programs, clinics and specialist services.

• Brain surgery

  We care for and treat people who need brain surgery, including people with epilepsy, brain tumours or who have had a stroke.

• Bone, joint & soft tissue surgery

  We care for and treat people with injuries or disorders of the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles.

Referrals

For patients

In an emergency, call 000 and ask for an ambulance.

Otherwise, you need a referral from a GP, specialist or other health professional to access this service.

For health professionals

Address referrals to:

• Professor Andrew Nunn
  Director, Victorian Spinal Cord Service

A request for admission indicates a high degree of urgency.

For urgent referrals, call Switchboard on 03 9496 5000 and ask for the spinal registrar.

Contact us

Victorian Spinal Cord Service

Location

Level 3, Austin Tower
Austin Hospital
145 Studley Road
Heidelberg Victoria

Therapy Services Building
Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre
1 Yarra Boulevard
Kew, Victoria 

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