National principles for forensic mental health in Australia

Project findings

This project was a unique opportunity to make sure that principles for forensic mental health reflect all the expertise and experience of the people who are affected by them. In total, 331 people took part in the consultation. The findings of the consultation, along with background information and next steps for this work, are described in the project report.

pdf View and download the project report here(8.78 MB)

About the project

The National Mental Health Commission (NMHC) has provided support for a consultation process to enable stakeholders to express their views on a set of principles for forensic mental health in Australia.

This was the first national process in forensic mental health in which the views of lived experience, government and non-government stakeholders was considered.

Project background

It has been 15 years since the last set of principles was developed. These were the 2006 National Statement of Principles for Forensic Mental Health Services. If you are interested in looking at the current (2006) National Statement of Principles for Forensic Mental Health you can do so pdf here(99 KB) .

Since the National Statement of Principles was agreed in 2006 a lot of things have changed in Australia which are important for forensic mental health. For example:

• There have been some major international agreements which Australia has signed up to. These include the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability. This sets out rights for people with disabilities, which can include people with a diagnosis of mental illness.
• Australia also agreed to the new United Nations Nelson Mandela Rules – these are about how people in prison should be treated, including mental health services.
• We have a better understanding of how important First Nations culture is, and that this needs to be a core part of all services, with leadership by First Nations people.
• We know that major decisions about mental health services need to be co-led by people with Lived Experience of those services. In particular this means consumers and family members.
• We have had major changes to how mental health services in Australia are planned, organised and funded.
• The NDIS has changed the way that disability services are organised and funded.

All of these things mean that it is time we thought again about what principles should be in place for forensic mental health services.

This project provides an opportunity to determine stakeholders’ views in relation to contemporary principles. It will also provide greater clarity about how future co-design work in forensic mental health can be best approached.

Project partners
The National Mental Health Commission is funding this project which took place over 2021 and 2022. The project was undertaken by a national group including researchers and facilitators from:

• The University of Melbourne
• The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
• Mental Health Matters 2 Inc (lived experience organization)
• Queensland Forensic Mental Health Service
• Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research

Contact
For more information about the project please contact Fiona Davidson.

The project team acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures and to their elders both past and present.