Our role
The Mental Health Tribunal is an independent tribunal established by the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022.
We decide whether patients need compulsory mental health treatment.
We protect patient rights by conducting hearings to identify the least restrictive way people can receive treatment they need.
Types of hearings
- Hearings to decide if a patient must have compulsory treatment subject to a treatment order
- Hearings about whether electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) can be given to a person
- Applications against the transfer of patients to another health service
- Applications to transfer patients interstate
- Applications for review of a direction to take a security patient to another health service
- Applications for review of a refusal to grant leave of absence to a security patient
- Applications to perform neurosurgery for mental illness
Our vision
That the principles and objectives of Victoria’s mental health legislation are reflected in the experience of consumers and carers.
Our values
We value lived experience and are:
- Fair
- Respectful
- Collaborative
Our strategic plan
Our service standards
These service standards describe the level of service we aim to deliver:
- Where a consumer requires a hearing, we will list a hearing within the legislative time requirements.
- We will notify consumers, nominated support persons and other parties of hearings and Orders as soon as practicable.
- Our telephone line will be open from 8:45 am to 5:00 pm each business day.
- Our staff will identify themselves by their preferred name when answering phone calls.
- Enquiries will be attended to promptly and the enquirer will be treated fairly, reasonably and with courtesy.
- Email enquiries to the general Tribunal email will be acknowledged on receipt and will be responded to within 2 business days. Where your request cannot be finalised within 2 business days you will be advised of the expected time frame for resolution.
- We will answer 90 per cent of telephone calls within 30 seconds. Where a voice mail message is left we will respond to that message within one business day.
- If it is not possible or appropriate to assist a person making an enquiry, we will provide referral information regarding agencies that may be able to assist.
Our principles of conduct
The Principles of Conduct for Tribunal members establish expectations for member behaviours and standards.
Our competency framework
Our competency framework comprehensively describes the knowledge, skills, behaviours and attitudes Tribunal members are expected to demonstrate.
Feedback and complaints
The Mental Health Tribunal welcomes feedback and complaints which provide us with the opportunity to monitor, review and improve our services.
You can contact us to provide feedback or make a complaint.
Find out more in our Complaints and Feedback policy.