13 December 2023
PACFA is pleased to share an invaluable new external learning resource now available on the website: the recording of the “What is a mental health clinician’s duty of care? Implications of the new mental health and wellbeing act” webinar.
Victoria has ushered in a new era of mental health care with the recent enactment of the Victorian Mental Health and Wellbeing Act on 1 September 2023. This new legislation replaced the Mental Health Act 2014 and came into operation as a result of a key recommendation from the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System Final Report. This landmark legislation brings about profound changes to the legal responsibilities of clinicians in the state. Understanding these changes and their wider implications is crucial for professionals, consumers, carers and stakeholders.
PACFA President Nigel Polak attended this insightful webinar, hosted by the La Trobe Law School in Context Cluster on 2 November 2023. His feedback emphasises the depth of information provided, its practical application, and how this knowledge can contribute to members’ broader understanding of legal responsibilities in mental health care.
Webinar overview
The recorded webinar offers a comprehensive overview of the Victorian Mental Health and Wellbeing Act, providing an opportunity for participants to engage with expert insights and deepen their understanding of the shifting landscape of mental health care in Victoria. We invite you to view the recording and join the ongoing conversation informed by this significant development.
Expert panellists include:
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Flick Grey: A former member of the Independent Review Panel, Flick centres lived experience of involuntary treatment, alongside a critique of how the rhetoric of ‘duty of care’ is invoked to (extra-legally) detain and coerce people subjected to mental health law.
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Dr Tina Popa: Based at RMIT University as a Senior Lecturer, Dr Popa has extensively researched negligence law, psychiatric harm and the evolution of non-adversarial approaches in health law. Her insights into the Act's implications will shed light on its transformative potential.
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Dr Christopher Ryan: As both a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales and the Director of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry at Sydney’s St Vincent Hospital, Dr Ryan’s blend of academic and practical knowledge offers a contextual understanding of the Act's clinical implications.
Accessing the webinar
You can find both the video and audio-only recordings of the webinar on our website. These resources can be accessed below: