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Mental healthYour 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. |
Community Legal Centres
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Homeless Persons' Legal Clinic
Public Interest Law Clearing House)The Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic has vast experience in assisting people how have experienced or are at risk of homelessness in dealing with public transport fines. Free legal advice is available at 11 outreach services across Melbourne. |
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Mental Health Legal Centre
The Mental Health Legal Centre is a specialist CLC with expertise in family law, guardianship and administration problems. Services not dependent on where you live. |
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Government organisations
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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 |
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Courts and tribunals
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Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)
VCAT deals with discrimination complaints referred to it by the Equal Opportunity Commission and made under the Equal Opportunity Act and the Racial & Religious Tolerance Act. Complaint areas range from racial abuse to breastfeeding and sexual harassment. |
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Publications
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Advocates Guide: Hearings Before Mental Health Review Board of Victoria, 2005
Published by the Mental Health Legal Centre, this covers approaches to advocacy before, at and after a hearing. |
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Legal Planning and Dementia
Published by Alzheimer's Australia, this is a helpful guide about planning. |
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Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System in Victoria – Your Rights, 2006
Published by the Mental Health Legal Centre. |
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Patients Rights booklet, 2005
Published by the Mental Health Legal Centre. |
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Take Control – a guide to powers of attorney and guardianship
Published by the Office of the Public Advocate and Victoria Legal Aid, |
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Ombudsman schemes
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Health Services Commissioner
Health Services |
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Complaints resolution
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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. |
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Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria
This body lists registered psychologists in Victoria and hears complaints about psychologists. |
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Other
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC)
A consumer organisation which provides support and advocacy. |
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