VCAT Duty Officer

• providing independent advice to VCAT
• supporting OPA staff when they are working on cases that are heard before VCAT
• providing advice to anyone who may be attending VCAT hearings or who are the subject of VCAT applications, as well as their family, friends and service providers

The Duty Officer cannot represent an individual at a VCAT hearing. The Duty Officer can only provide advice, not legal representation. Most people do not need legal representation at VCAT hearings, which are more informal than other courts.

The Duty Officer can be contacted in person at their office on the ground floor of VCAT in Melbourne. It is advisable to make an appointment by contacting the Duty Officer between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, on 03 9628 9020.
 

Victor’s story – a case example of the work of the Duty Officer

VCAT received an application from a social worker seeking the appointment of both an administrator and guardian for Victor. Victor, a 33-year-old Tasmanian, had fled his home state because of paranoid beliefs about his family. After arriving in Victoria, Victor soon came to the attention of police. Ultimately, he was admitted to a mental health inpatient unit with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.

Victor told the mental health team he had given away his car and possessions before leaving Tasmania. He had also instructed a real estate agent to sell his only remaining asset – his home. The mental health team was concerned that Victor lacked the insight to make reasonable decisions because of his illness. They were worried that giving away and selling his assets would make it hard for Victor to recover.

To clarify the issues and the urgency of the situation, the Duty Officer:

telephoned the Tasmanian real estate agent who agreed to stop the sale of Victor’s house and wait for further advice and authorisation.
learnt from the social worker that Victor had left the inpatient facility three days previously and had not returned. It was believed he had returned to Tasmania.
confirmed that Victor had returned to Tasmania, and that an application for administration had been made to the Tasmanian Guardianship and Administration Board which had prioritised the matter.
established a link between the real estate agent and the Tasmanian Guardianship and Administration Board.

Having clarified that Victor had left Victoria, and that the Tasmanian Guardianship and Administration Board was protecting Victor’s interests, the Duty Officer helped the social worker withdraw her VCAT application.