Who we are
Mental Health Official Visitors are members of the community who visit approved facilities and the secure mental health unit at the Wilfred Lopes Centre in Risdon. They check on the way people with mental illness are being treated.
The Mental Health Official Visitors program is established under the Mental Health Act 2013 (Tas). The Official Visitors are independent from the Department of Health. To ensure their independence, they are supported by the Office of the Ombudsman, who is also Tasmania’s Health Complaints Commissioner.
The Mental Health Official Visitors program is administered by the Principal Official Visitor who is appointed by the Governor of Tasmania. The current Tasmanian Principal Official Visitor is the Tasmanian Ombudsman, Dr Grant Davies.
What we do
Mental Health Official Visitors are appointed by the Principal Official Visitor. They visit approved facilities and the secure mental health unit at the Wilfred Lopes Centre in Risdon at least once a month to:
- receive complaints from patients and complaints about patients
- check that patients are being informed about their rights and that they are not being denied their rights
- monitor the adequacy and quality of approved facilities, particularly the recreational, occupational, training and rehabilitation facilities available to patients.
Complaints can be made at any time by:
- the patient
- a representative or support person of the patient
- a person who, in the opinion of the Principal Official Visitor, has a genuine interest in the patient's welfare.
The Principal Official Visitor assesses complaints and conducts preliminary enquiries. The Principal Official Visitor can refer any matter that requires investigation to the Health Complaints Commissioner or Ombudsman.
Patients can contact us at any time and ask to speak to a Mental Health Official Visitor.
Approved mental health facilities that we visit
See facilities we visit for a list of mental health facilities that we visit.
Our history
The first Mental Health Official Visitor program was established in Tasmania in 1885, when Official Visitors were appointed to review the facilities at New Norfolk and the Cascades. They made recommendations to the Governor and promoted positive changes to mental health practice.
On 1 July 2009, the administration of the program was transferred to the Office of the Ombudsman and Health Complaints Commissioner.
The Mental Health Act 2013 (Tas) continues the role of Official Visitors.
Careers
Visit our careers page for information on becoming an Official Visitor.