Chief Psychiatrist

Director: Dr Ruth Vine
Enquiries: Tel (61 3) 9096 7571

The Chief Psychiatrist has responsibility under the Mental Health Act 1986 for the medical care and welfare of persons receiving treatment or care for a mental illness.

The Chief Psychiatrist's responsibilities include monitoring the clinical standards of psychiatric practice and treatment provided by public mental health services and responding to complaints from consumers, carers and others.

Key functions of the Chief Psychiatrist include:

• receive and review statutory reports relating to seclusion, mechanical restraint, electroconvulsive therapy, annual examinations and reportable deaths
• investigations concerning treatment-related issues where the Chief Psychiatrist determines such an investigation is warranted
• statewide clinical review of approved mental health services to examine the standard, quality and consistency of clinical practice
• investigation of complaints from consumers and carers
• management of enquiries and correspondence from members of the public, service providers and other organisations
• development of clinical guidelines and circulars concerning application and interpretation of the Act and establishment and maintenance of practice standards
• provision of high level advice and consultation

Branch structure

The Chief Psychiatrist is assisted by a Deputy Chief Psychiatrist, Child and Youth Mental Health, a Deputy Chief Psychiatrist, Aged Persons Mental Health and by the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist (OCP).

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Related sites

Office of the Chief Psychiatrist
Chief Psychiatrists Guidelines