Southern Forensic Services
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Southern Forensic Services provides clinical expertise in forensic mental health assessment, treatment and recovery. This often occurs during or after people have interacted with the criminal justice system.
Contact us
Wakari Hospital
Opening hours 8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
- phone 03 476 9680
- freephone 0800 443 366
Southland Hospital
Opening hours 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
- phone 03 214 5786
- freephone 0800 443 366
Where to find us
Wakari Hospital
Street address
369 Taieri Road
Dunedin
Postal address
Forensic mental health services
Private Bag 1921
Dunedin 9054
New Zealand
Southland Hospital
Street address
Kew Road
Invercargill
Postal address
Forensic mental health services
PO Box 828
Invercargill 9840
New Zealand
Services we provide
Community Forensic Mental Health Team (CMHT)
Our CMHT provides forensic mental health assessment and support for people based outside of hospital.
Where our referral criteria are met, we provide forensic mental health advice and input for:
- People based in Southern region prison.
- People engaging with the Court system.
- People recovering in independent living or supporting accommodation environments.
In select other situations where forensic expertise is requested.
Inpatient forensic mental health services
Wakari Hospital in Dunedin offers a medium secure inpatient forensic mental health service, Ward 9A.
Referral information
Southern Forensic Services has referral pathways with Corrections (for people residing in prisons) and with the Ministry of Justice (for people referred for Justice Liaison Nurse input or health assessor reports).
Within the health system, we are a tertiary service and we generally provide input where people are already under the care of a secondary mental health service.
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