27 November 2006

"The criminal justice system and the integration of community services"
Forensic mental health symposium at UC

The need to combat clashes between justice and punishment for mentally ill offenders is being discussed on Friday 24 November at the University of Canberra. Hosted by Dr David Tait, University of Canberra Governance Research Group, the symposium brings together legal practitioners, politicians, health practitioners and frontline community representatives.

The symposium will focus on the need for community services to be further integrated with legal, political and medical professions to address the issues surrounding mental illness in the criminal justice system.

Speakers include Mary Porter, Labor Member for Ginninderra, Dr. Peggy Brown, ACT Chief Psychiatrist, Vivienne Topp, lawyer from the Mental Health Legal Centre Victoria, Zoe West, Forensic Services Mental Health ACT, Barry Petrovski, Mental Health Community Coalition and John Mendoza, CEO of the Mental Health Council of Australia. They will draw on their experiences of real trials and real problems.

Attendees will include members of the public, legal practitioners, politicians, community organisations, health practitioners, academics and students.

The symposium includes two sessions of speakers who will introduce topics from their professional perspective and a panel discussion to conclude. A period of question time will follow.

When:   Friday 24 November, 1:30pm to 5:00 pm

Where:   Room 6C35, University of Canberra

Free Entry, Afternoon Tea Provided

UC Communications

Gaye Morrison
T: 02 6201 5855
M: 0409 470 755

Kaddie Pass
T: 02 6201 2681

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Last Updated on August 1, 2005