Brophy Family and Youth Services
Education
A collaborative response to youth disengagement in regional Victoria
Case Study: Mental Health Legal Centre
ProjectAdvance Statements for Improved Recovery Journeys
Amount$250,000 over 2 years
Date2015
ProgramPast Programs | Health
| TRUST OBJECTIVES | PROJECT OBJECTIVES |
|---|---|
| This grant was approved under previous grants policy (2014-2017) | |
| Rural and regional Victoria | Provide Advance Statement best practice templates and advice to rural and regional services and extend to the state-wide telephone service |
| Building organisational capacity | Embed a core service, based on collaborative networks, across legal, health and government sectors and attract quality volunteers and students |
| Extending opportunity | Help Victorians to assert their legal rights and effectively engage in the Recovery Orientated Framework exercising these rights |
| Collaboration and partnership | Saltwater Area Mental Health Clinic, Thomas Embling Hospital, Orygen, RMIT, Ashurst, Sparke Helmore Lawyers, Department of Health |
Maximising autonomy, dignity and control
The Victorian Mental Health Act 2014 aims to ensure that people receiving treatment for mental illness are involved in all decisions about their assessment, treatment and recovery, and have their views and preferences respected through the use of Advance Statements. Mental Health Legal Centre is working to embed Advance Statements across legal, health and government sectors.
In 2014 Victoria became the first state to legally recognise Advance Statements. Advance Statements help consumers to have a greater say in how they are treated when receiving compulsory treatment. This includes information about what treatments have been effective in the past and those that have been less effective or have had unwelcome side effects. It can also include views on receiving Electro Convulsive Treatment.
Snapshot:
- The Advance Statement is based on a collaborative approach between the consumer, the treating team and legal practitioners to build a platform for treatment and recovery that considers a patient’s treatment preferences.
- The Centre provides mental health services with critical independent legal assistance and staff training to enable clients to develop their own effective, person-centred Advance Statements
- Advance Statement clinics are delivered on a fortnightly or monthly basis co-located at Saltwater Clinic, Thomas Embling Hospital and Orygen, increasing both practitioners’ and consumers’ knowledge and understanding of Advance Statements.
- Statewide telephone support services are delivered to regional mental health services and lawyers.
- RMIT is developing a technology-based solution to assist people in completing the forms.
Advance Statement Information Booklet
Updated July 2019
"Advance Statements obtained when the patient is at a stable optimal point and able to involve their carers or advocates in defining their wishes for future care, are an integral initiative established in the new Act." John Serry, Psychiatrist member, Mental Health Tribunal
