ANMF Member Rally To Save Hobart Clinic

What: Media Opportunity
When: 11:30-12:30, Thursday 2 October, 2025
Where: Cnr Davey & Murray Street; followed by Speeches at The Executive Building
Who: ANMF Member Operations Manager Phoebe Mansell and ANMF Members

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch will today join members of the Health and Community Services Union (HACSU), and Community in rallying to save the Hobart Clinic, which recently announced its closure after well over 30 years of service to the community in supporting those with mental health conditions.

ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary, Emily Shepherd said the impending closure will mean a loss of 28 inpatient mental health beds from the State which will result in catastrophic consequences for access to inpatient mental health services.

“The Tasmanian Government has reassured the community that patients who would have sought support at the Hobart Clinic will be able to do so through Peacock House or the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH), it is clear this is not a feasible alternative,” Ms Shepherd said.

“We know that the Tasmanian Health Service (THS) has relied on the Hobart Clinic’s in-patient beds when the THS have not had capacity.

“To suggest the THS can somehow now absorb the needs of an additional 28 in-patents with no additional bed stock than was already in use along with the Hobart Clinic, is ingenuous at best.”

Ms Shepherd said the patient cohort that has accessed the Hobart Clinic services is unlikely to even meet the high acuity criteria required for an admission into the RHH, nor are they likely to have been accessing services through the Statewide Mental Health Service which is required to be admitted to Peacock House.

“The patients most at risk are likely to be those with moderate mental health concerns that possibly might required a longer in-patient admission but are not acutely unwell enough to warrant admission at the RHH.

“Some patients have had regular admissions into the Hobart Clinic over many years as required to seek support in managing illness such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, for example.

“Tasmania cannot cope with the loss of 28 in-patient mental health beds and these in-patient beds must be retained.”

Ms Shepherd said the ANMF is calling on the State Government to intervene to keep the in-patient beds open and to seek the support of the Federal Government, if required, to ensure that these critical services are not lost on October 31 this year.

“The ANMF will continue to advocate for the Hobart Clinic to remain open.

“We will continue to provide support to members who work at the Hobart Clinic and who are deeply distressed by the prospect of losing such a vital service to the many patients whom they have provided treatment and care to over many years.”

Media contact:
Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.Shepherd@anmftas.org.au