Mental Health Legal Centre Inc.
Representation and Legal Advice
A significant proportion of the Centre's casework is assistance and representation at the Mental Health Review Board.
The Centre has an arrangement with Victoria Legal Aid whereby VLA predominantly represents inpatients and the Centre assists people on Community Treatment Orders.
So if you are inpatient at a hospital phone 92690120 and ask when the duty lawyer next visits your ward.
If you are living in the community phone the Centre and ask how you organise for representation at your Mental Health Review Board hearing.
All other inquiries should go to the Telephone Advice Line click here for advice line times.
The Centre is not in a position to advise carers or staff without the clients permission.
For urgent advice about Electroconvulsive Therapy or the CAT team you can telephone the Centre between 9:00 and 5.00pm from Monday to Friday on 96294422 or 1800555887.
The Centre will try to assist other solicitors acting on behalf of people who have a mental illness where possible.
Casework Areas
The Mental Health Legal Centre does a variety of legal advocacy work, but only if the legal problem relates directly to the mental illness.
We may be able to assist you with:
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Complaints about the Mental Health System
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Complaints about Involuntary Detention or Community Treatment Orders (CTOs) including representation of people on CTOs at the Mental Health Review Board
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Problems with Criminal Law
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Problems with Child Protection
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Disputes in Family Law
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Human Rights and Discrimination
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Complaints about Guardians or Administrators, including representation at VCAT
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Accessing Medical and other Records
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Other legal problems that relate directly to your mental illness
Support
- Victoria Legal Aid
Link to Victoria Legal Aid's offices - Generalist Community Legal Centres
List of Community Legal Centres that provide general legal advice to people in Victoria. - Specialist Community Legal Centres
List of Community Legal Centres that focus on particular groups of people or areas of law. - Court Network
Can provide emotional support and information for people going to Children's Court, Family Court, Coroners Court, Magistrates Court, County Court and Supreme Court - Legal Services Commissioner
Includes fact sheet on 'Working with your lawyer' and information on making complaints - Office of the Chief Psychiatrist
You will also find further information about legal, financial, health and other support services in our Links section.
