Cross-Border Arrangements with the ACT

Mental health arrangements with the ACT are governed by a civil and forensic ministerial agreement.

The Agreements set out the legal framework for the provision of mental health services between the State and Terrotory. They rely on the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1986 (Vic) and the Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Act 1994 (ACT).

This page contains download links to both agreements and the relevant forms.

The contact officer in the Mental Health, Drugs and Regions Division for cross-border agreements is Kristen Densley (Monday - Wednesday) telephone (03) 9096 6931, email: Kristen.Densley@health.vic.gov.au

Civil Agreement

The civil agreement applies to involuntary patients.  It provides for the planned interstate transfer of patients between Victoria and the ACT and the apprehension and return of involuntary patients who are absent without leave in either the ACT or Victoria. 

It is expected that operational guidelines will be prepared for the civil agreement in the future.

Civil Memorandum of Agreement - November 2010 (PDF File, 1.91mb)

Civil Forms

Forms used by the ACT and Victoria

Civil Transfer Request Form (Annexure 2 to the civil agreement) (84.5kb)

Civil Interstate Apprehension Order (Annexure 3 to the civil agreement) (81kb)

Forms used by Victoria

MHA 36 (Section 93G) Transfer Order (PDF file 136KB)

Forensic Agreement

The forensic agreement applies to forensic, security and certain other patients. It is confined to the apprehension and return of such patients when they are absent without leave in either the ACT or Victoria.
           
Forensic Memorandum of Agreement - July 2002 (PDF File, 4.44mb)

Forensic Forms

Interstate Apprehension Order (Schedule 2 to the Forensic Agreement) (PDF File, 1.91mb)