The Mental Health and Wellbeing Act and our approach to advocacy

The goals of our service and our approach to advocacy are guided by the principles of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022.

The Act promotes voluntary treatment where ever possible and focuses on recovery.

In particular, our service aligns with these principles for mental health services:

• they are to be delivered in the least restrictive way possible
• they will promote recovery and full participation in community life
• people who are subject to compulsory treatment have the right to take part in decisions about their own assessment, treatment and recovery
• respect for the rights, dignity and autonomy of people with a mental illness.

Making these principles a reality means our service aims to:

• give you every opportunity to have an active role in working towards your own recovery
• respect your dignity and autonomy
• respond to you as an individual
• support you to develop the skills and knowledge so that you will continue to be able to take control of your own treatment and recovery.

Learn more about your rights if you are on a compulsory treatment order.

A focus on recovery

Our service is also guided by the Australian National Standards for Mental Health Services approach to recovery. These emphasise hope, self-determination, self-management, and empowerment.

Recovery is defined in the Standards as:

• a unique and personal journey
• a normal human process
• an ongoing experience and not the same as an end point or cure
• a journey rarely taken alone
• nonlinear—frequently interspersed with both achievement and setbacks.

In practice this means our approach will be to support a holistic approach to recovery that is:

• led by you as an individual
• based on your individual preferences, needs, experiences, aspirations and strengths
• focused on resilience, choice, hope, empowerment and social inclusion.