Quality Assurance Committee (QAC)

The Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) was established in June 1999 under section 106AC of the Mental Health Act to oversee and monitor standards of mental health services.  At the time, it was considered that greater statutory provision was required to support systemic quality assurance activities such as clinical review, and that a body such as the QAC should be established to auspice these activities.

In addition, it was considered that systemic quality assurance activities should be the subject of stronger confidentiality controls than those contained in the Mental Health Act.  As such, the QAC was declared a consultative council by the then Minister for Health in 2000 under section 24 of the Health Act 1958 and identifiable data obtained by the QAC as part of its functions is now governed by strict confidentiality controls additional to those contained in the Mental Health Act.

The QAC has been in operation since July 2000 and meets on a quarterly basis.  It consists of the Chief Psychiatrist and authorised officers appointed by the Chief Psychiatrist pursuant to section 106 of the Act.  Authorised officers are senior and experienced clinicians selected from area mental health and statewide services.  They are appointed to the QAC for a three-year period and undertake a range of specific activities requested by and under the direction of the Chief Psychiatrist.

Information about clinical reviews conducted between 1997 – 2003 can be found in The Protocol for Clinical Review of Area Mental Health Services 1997-2003 (2004) (PDF file 190KB). Part one of the protocol provides a guide to the scope and purpose of clinical reviews, the relevant legislative and policy frameworks and review methodology. Part two contains criteria considered during a review.

The QAC recently formed a partnership with the Victorian Quality Council (VQC) to support the development and implementation of the Creating Safety: Addressing Seclusion and Restraint Practices project to enable clinicians to apply best available evidence to clinical practice.