Chief Psychiatrist's Treatment Planning Forums

In July 2006 and August 2009, the Chief Psychiatrist hosted an interactive forum to discuss treatment plans. Both forums were attended by around 140 consumers, carers, clinicians and others, including representatives from the Mental Health Review Board, who together discussed the practicalities of developing treatment plans.

Participants discussed their experiences of developing and implementing treatment plans since they were introduced into the Mental Health Act 1986. They discussed different approaches to developing treatment plans and were challenged to think about their own practice and potential areas for improvement.

The second forum also explored issues arising from the introduction of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities. Key presentations from the forum held on 26 August 2009 included:

Program (PDF File 22KB)

Welcome and Introduction (PDF File 73KB)
Dr Ruth Vine, Chief Psychiatrist

Review of the Mental Health Act: Update and Next Steps (PDF File 70KB)
Ms Emma Montgomery, Department of Health

Mental Health Review Board Practice and Process (PDF File 123KB)
Mr John Lesser, Mental Health Review Board

Mental Health Review Board - Consumer Perspectives (PDF File 52KB)
Ms Sophie Delaney, Mental Health Legal Centre

Treatment Plans and Consumer Participation (PDF File 54KB)
Ms Lisa Brophy, North West Mental Health Program

Treatment Plans: What was Intended? (PDF File 62KB)
Mr John Hickey, Department of Health

Treatment Planning: MHRB Perspectives (PDF File 199KB)
Mr John Lesser, Mental Health Review Board

Mental Health Services and the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities (PDF File 158KB)
Ms Carmel Benham, Department of Health

Key presentations from the forum held on 19 July 2006 include:

Program (PDF File 31KB)

Treatment Plans: Can we do better? - Chief Psychiatrist Opening Address (PDF File 160KB)

Supplementary Notes (PDF File 40KB)
Associate Professor Amgad Tanaghow
Chief Psychiatrist
Department of Human Services

Treatment Plans: An Inpatient Clinician’s Perspective (PDF File 182KB)
Dr David Muirhead
Deputy Director of Clinical Services
North West Area Mental Health Service

Treatment Plans: A Consumer Consultant's Perspective (PDF File 39KB)

Supplementary Notes (PDF File 40KB)
Mr Mark Lacey
Consumer Consultant
Ballarat Health Services

Treatment Plans: A Carer's Perspective (PDF File 33KB)

Supplementary Notes (PDF File 31KB)
Ms Liz Ward
The Network for Carers for People with a Mental Illness & ARAFEMI

Examples of Treatment Plan Templates (PDF File 1.96MB)
Please note the content of the templates was created by the Mental Health Branch for the purposes of the forum. The content is fictional and is only intended to demonstrate the functionality of the different templates.

A summary of the feedback from the forum is included here:
Treatment plans: Can we do better? Feedback from the Chief psychiatrist's forum. April 2007(PDF file 61KB)