Australia has developed a unique model of hospital-based care for adolescents with Adolescent Inpatient Units developing within most tertiary Australian paediatric hospitals. These units provide developmentally appropriate health care with routine psychosocial screening and support for young people admitted with a diverse range of conditions. A supportive ward environment for adolescents offers privacy, respects confidentiality and fosters the development of young people's self-management skills in order to support their emerging independence with health care and facilitate a smooth transition to adult care. When linked to broader Adolescent Medicine programs, these Adolescent Inpatient Units have helped drive a wider education, training and research agenda in adolescent health, and act as a focus for advocacy around hospitalised young people's health care needs.