Mental Health Legal

Mental health legal support

We provide legal support to people with mental health conditions to access and navigate the justice system.

How we can help

We can provide support through legal representation and tasks, negotiations, convening stakeholder meetings and warm referrals, including:

Representation at the Mental Health Review Tribunal
Representation at QCAT regarding guardianship and administration matters
Liaison with the Public Trustee or Office of the Public Guardian.

Who is eligible

People with mental health conditions.

Where we work

Townsville and surrounds, Innisfail, Charters Towers, Ayr.

Mental health review tribunal

We provide legal and advocacy support and representation for people with mental health conditions with matters related to the Mental Health Review Tribunal.

How we can help

ADA Law can assist people in South east Queensland and Townsville with their Mental Health Review Tribunal hearings about:

Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT) applications;
Forensic Order Reviews when the Attorney General’s Representative will be attending the hearing;
Treatment Support Orders;
Treatment Authorities; and
Review of Treatment Authorities for people under 18 years of age.

We can:

Speak to you privately about your hearing
Provide you confidential legal advice about your rights, responsibilities, and possible outcomes, and what to expect at the Tribunal hearing
Help you prepare a submission to the Tribunal
Attend your Tribunal hearing with you (in person in South East Queensland and Townsville, by phone in other areas)

Who is eligible

You must be referred from Legal Aid Queensland.

Where we work

Brisbane, Caboolture, Ipswich and Sunshine Coast where you must be referred from Legal Aid Queensland. We also support anyone with a mental health condition at the MHRT in the Townsville area.

How we work

Independent

Free from conflict of interest, not affiliated with statutory decision makers such as Office of the Public Guardian, the Public Trustee Queensland, Police, or with hospitals, your Attorney/s or care providers.

Confidential

We seek client permission before acting and follow strict confidentiality processes.

Privacy

Privacy is paramount and we can only communicate with our clients directly and the people they authorise us to talk to.

Client Directed

We don’t make decisions for you. We can help you understand your options and follow your direction. We don’t take direction from your Attorneys or family members.

Free

Our services are free of charge.

What we cannot help with

We are not a generalist legal service and cannot advise on:

Personal injury
Commercial matters
Immigration
Conveyancing
Criminal charges
Employment
Consumer issues
Coronial matters
Insurance matters
Family law

Resources

Go to Support for Mental Health Review Tribunal Matters resources or visit www.mhlawqld.com.au.

Get support

Mental Health Review Tribunal Case Study

Anthony’s Story

Anthony is a 28-year-old man who has had a diagnosis of Depression for 10 years. Anthony lives by himself and accesses support from family and friends, as well as community support agencies. From time to time Anthony becomes very unwell and requires hospitalisation, and sometimes Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT). When Anthony is this unwell he does not have sufficient capacity to consent to the ECT, so his treating team must apply to the Mental Health Review Tribunal for permission to provide the therapy.

Legal Aid appointed ADA Law as Anthony’s legal representative, to assist him with his Tribunal hearing. His legal representative is Tanya.

Anthony meets with Tanya prior to his hearing, either by phone or in person, and they discuss what his views and wishes are in relation to ECT, and what is important to Anthony. Tanya and Anthony attend his hearing and ensure his views, wishes and concerns are discussed with the Tribunal and Anthony’s treating team.

Mental Health Legal Support