Expert advisory group

​An Expert Advisory Group has been established to inform the review. Membership ensures that there is representation that maps to the different sections of the community referenced in the Mental Health Commission Act, section 12(2)(e), whose views and needs the Commission is to consider when undertaking its functions.

The Terms of Reference for the Advisory Group are below:

Advisory Group to the Review of the Mental Health Commission of New South Wales

Terms of Reference

Background

• The Minister for Mental Health, the Hon Rose Jackson has commenced a review of the Mental Health Commission, consistent with section 20 of the Mental Health Commission Act 2012.
• The Mental Health Commission Act (Section 20) requires that reviews of the work of the Commission are undertaken at least once every 5 years after the first review, which was completed in 2018.
• This review will consider the work of the Commission, taking into account its functions and the principles governing its work, as outlined in the Mental Health Commission Act 2012. The review will assess the performance of the Commission since the last review and make recommendations for functional improvement, if required, giving consideration to the enabling power of the Act.
• Dr Richard Matthews AM and Mr David McGrath have been appointed as the reviewers on behalf of the Minister for Mental Health.
• The reviewers will report to the Minister for Mental Health.
• The Act requires that the Minister table a report on the outcomes of the review in Parliament.

Functions

An Expert Advisory Group is being established to provide advice and input to the review. This will include advice on the review process, a discussion paper, consultation outcomes and a draft final report.

Responsibilities

The Expert Advisory Group will:

• Provide advice on the review's overall approach.
• Provide commentary on the themes emerging from consultations and submissions.
• Provide commentary on the draft findings of the review.
• Provide advice on the review outputs, particularly a discussion paper and the draft review report.

Schedule of meetings

The Advisory Group will meet three times during the course of the review, at the commencement (11 April), and approximately 3 months (June) and 6 months (August) after commencement.