❓ Hon. Ljiljanna Ravlich asks about the design, stakeholder involvement, and timeline of the court diversion program for people with mental illness at Perth Magistrates Court. The Minister provides details on the program's development, steering committee formation, and pilot commencement.
AnsweredQoN 876Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL HEALTH — COURT DIVERSION PROGRAM
876. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to the Minister for Mental Health :
I refer to the court diversion program at the Magistrates Court for
people with mental illness.
(1) Who designed the
model court diversion program to be piloted at Perth's Magistrates
Court?
(2) Is there a
stakeholder reference group; and, if so, who is on it?
(3) If no to (2), why
is there no stakeholder reference group?
(4) When will the
pilot be completed?
876. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to the Minister for Mental Health :
I refer to the court diversion program at the Magistrates Court for
people with mental illness.
(1) Who designed the
model court diversion program to be piloted at Perth's Magistrates
Court?
(2) Is there a
stakeholder reference group; and, if so, who is on it?
(3) If no to (2), why
is there no stakeholder reference group?
(4) When will the
pilot be completed?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for some notice of the question.
(1) A preliminary model based on the
recommendations of the Law Reform Commission of WA was designed by the staff of
the Mental Health Commission and the Department of the Attorney General in
consultation with key stakeholders, including the judiciary. This preliminary
model was presented to a forum of consumers and carers, who provided input that
resulted in modification of the design.
I would like to also note that during his address to the Mental Health
Law Centre (WA) annual general meeting last night, Hon Wayne Martin, AC, Chief
Justice of Western Australia, stated —
T he establishment of the WA Mental Health Court is an important
milestone in the recognition of the needs of persons suffering from mental
illness within our community. The government is to be commended for providing
the resources to enable the court to be established. The methodologies and
procedures to be adopted by the court will no doubt be refined with the benefit
of experience, and to that extent the court should be regarded, in its early
years at least, as a work in progress. In my view, there is every reason to
think that the court will improve both the quality of justice and outcomes for
those referred to it.
(2) A steering committee is in the process of
being established. It will be chaired by the Chief Magistrate. The other
expected members will be consumer representatives, a carer representative, and
representatives from agencies involved, in particular the Department of Health,
the Department of the Attorney General, WA Police, the Legal Aid Commission and
the Mental Health Commission.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) The pilot is expected to commence in the
first quarter of 2013 and it is likely to run for approximately 20 months.
for some notice of the question.
(1) A preliminary model based on the
recommendations of the Law Reform Commission of WA was designed by the staff of
the Mental Health Commission and the Department of the Attorney General in
consultation with key stakeholders, including the judiciary. This preliminary
model was presented to a forum of consumers and carers, who provided input that
resulted in modification of the design.
I would like to also note that during his address to the Mental Health
Law Centre (WA) annual general meeting last night, Hon Wayne Martin, AC, Chief
Justice of Western Australia, stated —
T he establishment of the WA Mental Health Court is an important
milestone in the recognition of the needs of persons suffering from mental
illness within our community. The government is to be commended for providing
the resources to enable the court to be established. The methodologies and
procedures to be adopted by the court will no doubt be refined with the benefit
of experience, and to that extent the court should be regarded, in its early
years at least, as a work in progress. In my view, there is every reason to
think that the court will improve both the quality of justice and outcomes for
those referred to it.
(2) A steering committee is in the process of
being established. It will be chaired by the Chief Magistrate. The other
expected members will be consumer representatives, a carer representative, and
representatives from agencies involved, in particular the Department of Health,
the Department of the Attorney General, WA Police, the Legal Aid Commission and
the Mental Health Commission.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) The pilot is expected to commence in the
first quarter of 2013 and it is likely to run for approximately 20 months.
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