About us

The Victorian Spinal Cord Service (VSCS) provides services to people from Victoria,Tasmania, and the Riverina district of New South Wales.

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

Our team is made up of many different healthcare workers who can support a person’s recovery.  We aim to help clients to return to a full and active life after SCI.  We offer lifelong follow-up to clients of the VSCS.

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

We also support a range of research projects, designed in collaboration with people with lived experience of spinal cord injury.

Our services

We provide the following services:

• Acute medical care following traumatic spinal cord injury
• Rehabilitation following the first presentation with traumatic spinal cord injury
• Support for community re-integration after leaving hospital
• Community programs and specialist services to support clients with long term SCI and their local care teams

Related services

Access to these services will require direct referral to another team.

• Spinal surgery

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

• 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 the Victorian Spinal Cord Service.

For health professionals

Find out more about referring your patient to our Victorian Spinal Cord Service.

Contact us

Victorian Spinal Cord Service

Contact the VSCS team

Locations

Acute Spinal Ward

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

Spinal Rehabilitation & Community Services

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

VSCS Administration

Level 7, Harold Stokes Building
Austin Hospital
145 Studley Road
Heidelberg Victoria

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