Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Mental Health Act 1986 - SECT 6

Functions of the Secretary

6. Functions of the Secretary

The functions of the Secretary under this Act are as follows-

   (a)  to facilitate the provision of care, protection, treatment and
        rehabilitation of people (including children) with a mental disorder;

   (b)  to facilitate the planning, co-ordination and development of a
        comprehensive and accessible range of mental health services which are
        integrated within an identifiable mental health program and which are
        provided within the organisational arrangements for general health
        services;

   (c)  to promote the development of systems and services which improve
        continuity of treatment and care and which enhance access to general
        health, mental health and welfare services;

   (d)  to oversee and monitor standards of mental health services;

   (e)  to promote the establishment of community mental health services for
        the purpose of enabling the assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and
        support of people with a mental disorder and which are conducive to
        continued participation in community life wherever possible;

   (f)  to facilitate the provision of appropriate and comprehensive
        information and education to people receiving treatment for a mental
        disorder in an approved mental health service and other people with a
        mental disorder about their mental disorder, its treatment and the
        services available to meet their needs;

   (g)  to facilitate education, assistance and consultation programs about
        mental disorders for primary health care workers in order to help them
        understand, manage and appropriately refer people with a mental
        disorder;

   (h)  to facilitate education about mental disorders to educators, police
        and other non-health professionals to enable them to recognise and
        refer people who may have a mental disorder;

        (i)    to promote, encourage and assist the development and
               maintenance of a high standard of training of people
               responsible for the care and treatment of people with a mental
               disorder;

   (j)  to support the development of services which assist carers and promote
        self-help and advocacy for people with a mental disorder;

   (k)  to facilitate the provision of information, education and support to
        carers and advocates;

   (l)  to assist in the identification of special needs groups and to
        encourage the development of mental health services which are
        responsive to the varying needs of those groups;

   (m)  to promote research into mental disorders;

   (n)  to make recommendations and reports to the Minister with respect to
        matters affecting the health, accommodation, maintenance, care,
        treatment and welfare of people with a mental disorder;

   (o)  to submit recommendations to the Minister concerning amendments to
        this Act or the regulations;

   (p)  to promote informed public opinion on matters of mental health by
        publishing reports and information and giving advice concerning mental
        disorders and to promote public understanding of, and involvement in,
        measures for the prevention, treatment and care of mental disorders
        and the care, protection and rehabilitation of people with a mental
        disorder;

   (q)  to carry out or arrange for the carrying out of any works necessary to
        provide services or facilities to give effect to this Act;

   (r)  to purchase, rent, lease, sell, renovate and maintain or otherwise
        deal with any land or buildings for the purposes of this Act in the
        name of the Secretary or any government agency;

   (s)  subject to the general direction and control of the Minister, to
        administer this Act;

   (t)  any other functions that may be necessary for the proper
        administration of this Act.