How does the Council work?

The Council has two major ways of operating.

• Inspection visits of the authorised hospitals and licensed private psychiatric hostels are planned on a monthly basis and can occur at any time with or without advance notice.
• The Council also responds to requests for visits by consumers or their concerned family or guardians. The Council aims to respond to these requests within two working days. Telephone contact may also be required. Flexibility and responsiveness are important elements of how the Council operates.

Who makes up the Council?

The Council consists of a Head of Council who is responsible for the operations of the Council and a number of members, called Official Visitors, who undertake the major tasks of the Council. The Head of Council and Official Visitors are appointed by the Minister for Mental Health for up to 3 years.

The Head of Council and the Official Visitors are people from the general community. Some will have formal qualifications, other will not. They all have an understanding of mental illness and a commitment to ensuring that people receive quality care from mental health services.

There is also a Manager who is responsible for the day to day running of the Council. The Council is also supported by administrative staff. The Manager and administrative staff are not Official Visitors, nor members of the Council.

Where is the Council based?

The main office of the Council is located in Perth, Western Australia (WA).
Official Visitors are currently based in the Perth Metropolitan area and rural areas of WA where an authorised hospital has been opened (for example Albany and Bunbury).

Do Official Visitors get paid?

Official Visitors are paid a sitting fee for the work they do on behalf of the Council. They are also reimbursed for the costs incurred in the performance of their role (for example travel expenses). People who are employed by State or Commonwealth government departments or tertiary educational institutions are not eligible for payment of sitting fees but can be reimbursed for other expenses.