Mental Health
Community Legal Centres
Your local generalist Community Legal Centre can give you legal advice about the law as it relates to mental health, eg Freedom of Information, criminal law, health complaints, discrimination, employment, privacy, guardianship and administration problems. See the Find a Local CLC section of our website.
The following CLCs have expertise in the area of mental health and the law.
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Mental Health Legal Centre The Mental Health Legal Centre is a specialist CLC that provides advice and representation to people who have had, or have been labelled with a mental illness, or have used a mental health service. They can assist in relation to a range of mental health law matters including representation at the Mental Health Review Board for people on Community Treatment Orders. Services not dependent on where you live.
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The Homelessness Clinic (Public Interest Legal Clearing House) The lawyers from this service regularly visit Crisis Accommodation services.
Other organisations
Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria
The Institute works to improve the diagnosis and treatment of the world's major mental disorders. The chemist at the Institute can advise consumers about the effects of medication. See the Psychotropic Drug Advisory Services in the Services section.
Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria (VICSERV)
VICSERV is the peak body for Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support Services in Victoria, Australia. They can give details of local psychiatric disability rehabilitation and support services which can assist with issues like getting work, studying or finding a social club or drop in centre.
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Registration body which develops ethical and clinical guidelines and handles complaints about psychiatrists who are fellows of the College.
Victoria Legal Aid’s Human Rights and Civil Law Service
Provides mental health legal services including representation at the Mental Health Review board for inpatients in hospital.
Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC)
A consumer organisation which provides support and advocacy.
Government organisations
Mental Health Review Board of Victoria
The Mental Health Review Board is a statutory tribunal established to conduct reviews of, and hear appeals by, psychiatric patients being treated involuntarily either as inpatients or on community treatment orders. The website has Appeal Forms, Selected Statements of Reasons, and Annual Reports that include additional decisions.
Government organisations - Complaints resolution
Office of the Chief Psychiatrist
The Chief Psychiatrist has responsibility under the Mental Health Act 1986 for the medical care and welfare of persons receiving treatment or care for a mental illness. The website has Mental Health Branch Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Office of the Public Advocate
Can link people up with community visitors who monitor standards in hospital, independent third persons who assist in police interviews and advocates.
Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria
This body lists registered psychologists in Victoria and hears complaints about psychologists.
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
The Commission can provide information, education, consultancy services, research, legal and policy advice, publications, a resource library and complaint resolution services related to discrimination.
Government organisations - Tribunals
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)
This body can deal with Guardianship and Administration, Freedom of Information Appeals, Appeals from the Mental Health Review Board and mediation options.
PLEASE NOTE: Information on this website does not substitute for legal advice.
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