Member Competencies Framework

Section 714 of the Mental Health Act 2016 (MHA2016) sets out the functions of the President, including that the President must ensure the Members are adequately and appropriately trained to enable the MHRT to perform its functions effectively and efficiently. To that end, the President must develop competencies in the following:

• administrative law.
• the operation of the Act.
• mental health and intellectual disability issues, including forensic mental health and forensic disability issues.

Section 707 provides that a person is only eligible for appointment as a Member if, amongst other things, the Minister is satisfied the person has the competencies developed by the President.

The Administrative Review Council’s ‘A Guide to Standards of Conduct for Tribunal Members’ has been adopted by the MHRT as the code of conduct for MHRT Members and relevant information may be found in the Tribunal Members’ Handbook (both available here).

The Member Competencies Framework lists the behavioural and knowledge indicators expected of a Member of the MHRT. Members should be familiar with the Member Competencies Framework (as updated from time to time) as these competencies will form the basis for all recruitment, performance management and professional learning and development activities related to the MHRT.