Author: Victoria. Mental Health Tribunal

Publisher:

Published: 2018

Total Pages: 50

ISBN-13:

Victoria's new Mental Health Act 2014 represents a dramatic shift in both the legal framework governing compulsory treatment for severe mental illness and the way in which service providers engage with people who are on compulsory orders. As with many significant reforms, it reflects change that is already occurring while also seeking to be a catalyst for further change. In a jurisdiction such as the Mental Health Tribunal, a member's role is not simply about applying the "black letter" of the law; rather, it is about actively facilitating an approach to hearings that promotes the objectives of the Act, includingt o promote the recovery of persons who have mental illness and to enable and support persons who have mental illness to participate in decisions about their treatment and recovery. Adopting a solution-focused approach greatly enhances a member's ability to fulfil this broader role.