Forensic first

01 December 2006

UNSW is to offer Australia’s first postgraduate program in forensic mental health aimed at a range of health and legal professionals.

The Minister for Housing and Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health), Cherie Burton, launched the Master of Forensic Mental Health at UNSW this week.

The State Government has committed $1.7 million over five years to the program, which is aimed at improving training, skills and expertise for professionals dealing with patients in court, prison, hospital and the community.

“Experts tell us that people who suffer from mental illness are at a greater risk of falling foul of the law,” said Minister Burton. “That’s why we need specialist, highly trained mental health staff to ensure that these people are receiving the treatment they need.”

The program, which is open to medical practitioners, nurses, social workers, lawyers and correctional officers from next year, can be undertaken on a part-time basis.

“There is no equivalent course at any other university in Australia,” said Professor Phil Mitchell, head of the School of Psychiatry.

“UNSW has been working closely with Justice Health over the last five years to enhance education and research in Forensic Mental Health,” said Professor Mitchell. “The Masters program is one of the critical components of this relationship.”

The course covers areas such as the law and legislation, violence, substance abuse and the law, deviant and criminal sexual behaviour, families, children and adolescence and research methodologies in forensic psychiatry.

Ten Justice Health staff members will receive scholarships to undertake the Masters program in 2007, and 20 in the following year. Justice Health have also committed to the program for at least five years.

Contact details: Professor Phil Mitchell, 0417 675 409; Susi Hamilton, UNSW Media unit, 9385 1583 or 0422 934 024.