Department of Health

Forensic mental health and wellbeing services provide assessment and treatment of people with a mental illness or disorder and a history of offending, or those who are at risk of offending.

With the introduction of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022, the Chief Psychiatrist’s powers and responsibilities of oversight have expanded to include more settings where forensic mental health and wellbeing services are provided.

The new settings that will be part of the Chief Psychiatrist’s expanded jurisdiction include prisons, youth justice centres as well as youth residential centres and remand centres.

This change will come into effect from 1 September 2023.

Reviewed 15 September 2023

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Office of the Chief Psychiatrist

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