Hello, I’m Neil Coventry, the Chief Psychiatrist of Victoria.
I would like to welcome you to the website for the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist.
We oversee Victoria’s clinical mental health and wellbeing services. Our aim is to ensure those services provide treatment, care and support that is safe and of the highest standard.
As part of this, we support services to comply with the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act and meet best practice standards outlined in the guidelines that we issue.
We are strong advocates for people who use mental health and wellbeing services. We take action to protect the rights of consumers and promote principles that support their decision making, dignity and autonomy.
Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system is going through a major transformation as it implements the recommendations of the Mental Health Royal Commission. These changes will modernise the system and make it sustainable for the future.
We are proud to be carrying out these reforms with our partners. My office is broadening its quality and safety responsibilities to encompass mental health and wellbeing services delivered in custodial settings such as adult prisons and youth justice centres.
We are also regulating the use of chemical restraint. This will be occurring for the first time in Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system.
Our website contains the information that you require to know more about these changes and the supports available to clinicians, consumers, carers, families and supporters.
I invite you to explore our website and make the most of this resource.
Reviewed 11 August 2023