The values we bring to our work

The values we bring to our work

The Mental Health Review Tribunal is an independent tribunal that plays an important role in safeguarding the civil rights of persons under the Mental Health Act 2007 and in ensuring that people living with mental illness receive the least restrictive care that is consistent with safe and effective care. In exercising its functions and its jurisdiction under the law, the Tribunal adopts the following values:

  • Our independence as a decision maker is paramount and our decisions shall at all times be arrived at independently and free from improper influence. We acknowledge the importance of the Objects and Principles for Care and Treatment contained in the Mental Health Act 2007 and of our role in promoting and giving effect to those objects and principles;
  • We acknowledge and respect the dignity, autonomy, diversity and individuality of those whose matters we hear and determine and our important role in protecting their civil rights;
  • Procedural fairness is to be accorded to all persons with matters before the Tribunal;
  • Courtesy and respect are to be extended at all times to all persons that we deal with;
  • We acknowledge the importance of our procedures being transparent to the public;
  • We acknowledge the importance of open justice and also the need to balance this with considerations of individual privacy and confidentiality where appropriate;
  • Our work is specialised and requires a high level of professional competence as well as ongoing training, education and development for Members and staff;
  • We value our Members and staff and will continually strive to maintain a supportive, efficient and enjoyable working environment where the dignity and the views of all are respected and where appropriate development opportunities are available;
  • As a key stakeholder in the mental health system in New South Wales we shall, where appropriate, seek to promote, and to engage collaboratively with other stakeholders and agencies in promoting, the ongoing improvement of mental health services in New South Wales.