Contact points & other useful resources

CONTACT POINTS

Mental Health Law Centre
Assists consumers with information, legal advice and representation in some circumstances in matters concerning the Mental Health Act, Guardianship and Administration Act, criminal law, family law, employment law, freedom of information and criminal injuries compensation.
33 Brisbane St
Perth WA 6000
PO Box 8466
Perth Business Centre WA 6849
Ph: (08) 9328 8266
Toll-free: 1800 620 285
Fax: (08) 9328 8577
www.mhlcwa.org.au
Email: office@mhlcwa.org.au

Health Consumers’ Council
Advocates for and works with consumers to improve health service delivery. About half of the HCC’s clients are mental health consumers.
GPO Box C134
Perth WA 6839
Unit 13/14 Wellington Fair
4 Lord St
Perth WA 6000
Ph: (08) 9221 3422
Toll-free: 1800 620 780
Fax: (08) 9221 5435
www.hcc-wa.asn.au
Email: info@hcc-wa.asn.au

Council of Official Visitors
Regularly visit hospitals and other services to ensure consumers’ rights are upheld and appropriate accommodation standards are met. It is important to note that the Council is unable to assist voluntary patients unless they are living in a licensed private psychiatric hostel.
Unit 1, 1076 Hay St (cnr Harvest Tce)
West Perth WA 6005
Ph: (08) 9226 3266
Toll-free: 1800 999 057
Fax: (08) 9226 3977
www.coov.org

Mental Health Review Board
Reviews the legal status of involuntary patients, and examines applications for psychosurgery and ECT where there is a dispute between psychiatrists as to its need.
Level 8, 12 St George’s Tce
Perth WA 6000
GPO Box Y3063
East St George’s Tce
Perth WA 6832
Ph: (08) 9219 3162
Fax: (08) 9219 3163
www.mhrbwa.org.au

Office of the Chief Psychiatrist - Department of Health Western Australia
Is responsible for the medical care and welfare of all involuntary patients and has statutory power to investigate complaints about service delivery.
PO Box 8172
Perth Business Centre
Perth WA 6849
189 Royal Street
East Perth WA 6004
Ph: (08) 9222 4222
Fax: (08) 9222 4046
www.chiefpsychiatrist.health.wa.gov.au

Disability Discrimination Unit - Sussex Street Community Law Service Inc
Assists consumers discriminated against because of disability (including psychiatric disability).
29 Sussex St
East Victoria Park WA 6101
Locked Bag No. 2
East Victoria Park WA 6981
Ph: (08) 9470 2676
Toll-free: 1800 642 791
Fax: (08) 9470 1805
TTY: (08) 9470 2831 (hearing or speech impaired)
www.sscls.asn.au
Email: sscls@sscls.asn.au

West Australian Association for Mental Health – WAAMH
The peak mental health representative body in Western Australia for non-government not-for-profit agencies that operate for the benefit of people affected by mental illness.
WAAMH provides a telephone and referral service. Callers are provided with contact details for local mental health providers, community disability support services, peer-support/self help groups. Information kits available on a range of mental illnesses.
Ph: (08) 9420 7277
www.waamh.org.au
Email: waamh@waamh.org.au

ARAFMI (Mental Health Carers and Friends Association)
Ph: (08) 9228 0577
Toll-free: 1800 811 747
Fax: (08) 9228 0440
www.arafmi.asn.au

OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES

The Mental Health Law Centre publishes Information Sheets on the Mental Health Law Centre, Voluntary Patients, Involuntary patients, Psychiatric Treatment and Community Treatment Orders as well as a Self-Help Guide to the Mental Health Act called
the “Patients’ Rights Guide”.
In addition, the Mental Health Law Centre website contains useful information on the rights of mental health consumers: www.mhlcwa.org.au
The Mental Health Review Board website also contains useful information on the review process: www.mhrbwa.gov.au.