About
The Mental Health Law Centre was established in 1997 as a result of recommendations made in the Report of the Ministerial Taskforce on Mental Health in March 1996.
The Centre opened at the same time the Mental Health Act 1996 came into operation and provided advice and representation to clients with mental health issues who had been made involuntary under the Act.
The Centre has continued to expand to provide legal advice and representation in a variety of areas of law that impact on people with a mental illness.
For further information on the free and confidential services the Centre provides please see Our Services.
The Centre is also part of the network of community legal centres located throughout Western Australia and Australia.
To learn more about the Mental Health Law Centre we’ve created a video that explains who we are and what we do. View the video here.
Our Objectives
The objectives of the Centre are to:
- Provide legal advice and legal services to Consumers, including representation before tribunals and courts;
- Providing information and referral services to Consumers;
- Providing legal education for Consumers about their legal rights;
- Promoting an understanding of the legal and mental health systems in the community at large;
- Providing community education, training and resources on mental health and the law to groups, professional, workers and individuals;
- Evaluating and monitoring existing laws, legal and mental health services standards, policies and procedures and work towards reform in areas of relevance to consumers.
Intake and Services Guidelines
Please see the below document for a guide to our eligibility requirements and the services we offer.
MHLC Intake and Services Guidelines
Support
To support the Mental Health Law Centre through a tax-deductible donation, donate today.
Make a DonationOur Vision
To be an expert and valued legal service for people with mental health issues in our community.
Our Mission
To engage with the community and provide effective legal services that supports the principles of recovery and consumer centred care.
Our Values
The values which we seek to demonstrate in our services, management practices and stakeholder relations are:
- Respect;
- Compassion;
- Excellence;
- Integrity; and
- Collaboration.
Our Commitment to Diversity
We are all better off, as a community, as a society, if we are all connected. At MHLC we believe true connection comes from a place free from judgement and discrimination, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People are welcomed and treated with respect and their culture is celebrated.
Where everyone regardless of ability, age, culture, gender, race, sexual identity or intersex status are free to be themselves. Free to celebrate our differences.
We are building a workplace where difference is embraced and encouraged – and to do this, we need people on our team who are representative of the clients we work with, who are passionate about change and courageous enough to stand up for what is right.
Everyone is welcome. Everyone belongs.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan
In 2019 Mental Health Law Centre merged with Ruah Community Services and in so doing joined with their vision for Reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
MHLC is committed to enhancing their response to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community by providing access to culturally secure services and building a culturally competent workforce. The Reconciliation Action Plan has been constructed to provide opportunities for the organisation to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, achievements and contributions and to consider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives.
To view the Plan, please click here.