Chief Psychiatrist

Responsibilities and functions

The Chief Psychiatrist is responsible for protecting the rights of all patients who receive treatment or care at an authorised mental health service (AMHS) in Queensland.

This includes involuntary patients and voluntary patients including patients who receive treatment under an advance health directive or with the consent of a personal guardian or attorney.

The Chief Psychiatrist's main functions are to:

• make sure all involuntary treatment, care and detention of a person complies with the Act
• monitor and audit the compliance of authorised mental health services with the Act
• promote and educate the community on the Act
• develop policies on how to use a power or function of the Act.

The Chief Psychiatrist policies explain how authorised mental health services should use a power or function of the Act.

Find out more about treating patients under the Mental Health Act 2016 or search Chief Psychiatrist policies, forms, flowcharts and resources.

Powers and reviews

The Chief Psychiatrist has powers to make decisions about a person’s treatment in certain circumstances including when:

• there’s a serious risk to the life, health or safety of a person or the public
• particular patients need to be moved and transferred from one health service to another.

Read the Chief Psychiatrist fact sheet (PDF 496 kB) to learn more about when the Chief Psychiatrist can make decisions about a person’s treatment or care.

The Chief Psychiatrist can also appoint inspectors to investigate a matter about treatment and care provided under the Act in response to:

• notifications of a serious or significant incident
• non-compliance with the Mental Health Act 2016
• complaints about the admission, assessment, examination, detention, treatment or care of a person or persons by an authorised mental health service.

If an authorised mental health service hasn't complied with the Act, the Chief Psychiatrist can order them to improve their processes or operations.

Generally, the Chief Psychiatrist can’t be directed to perform a function of the Act by any person. However, in some situations, the Minister for Health can direct the Chief Psychiatrist to review a matter about a person's care.