From 1 September, Advance Statements of Preferences will become easier to complete for consumers accessing mental health and wellbeing services.
This change corresponds to the introduction of Victoria’s new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022, which comes into law on this date.
What is an Advance Statement of Preferences?
An Advance Statement of Preferences is a document that allows consumers to outline their treatment choices and care preferences if they become unwell and need mental health treatment. Statements also allow consumers to tell their care team important information about other circumstances surrounding their care, such as family relationship details and arrangements for the care of children, pets, or property.
Advance Statements of Preferences are an important document that empowers consumers through self-advocacy, and at the same time, supports care teams in understanding each person’s unique needs.
What is changing on Friday 1 September
From Friday 1 September, Advance Statements of Preferences will be easier to complete with any adult able to act as a witness. Previously, an Advance Statement of Preferences could only be witnessed by an authorised witness, such as a nurse, doctor, or other mental health practitioner.
This change is about encouraging patients to be active participants in their care by reducing the barriers to completion.
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 puts the views, preferences and values of people living with mental illness at the forefront of service design and delivery.
Under the new Act, the Advance Statement of Preferences will be central to advocating for patient-led care.
Start the conversation
We encourage teams to talk with patients, families, and carers about the important benefits of completing an Advance Statement of Preferences to guide their care should they become unwell in the future.
Discussions about Advance Statements of Preferences should be documented and may need to take place more than once during an episode of care. All Statements need to be saved in our Scanned Medical Records (SMR) and should be checked as part of the initial assessment, before commencing care.
When should someone complete an Advance Statement of Preferences?
Any person living with mental illness can complete an Advance Statement of Preferences at any time. Statements take time and the focus should be on completing them in a measured and considered way, ideally, when the person is well.
Who can witness an Advance Statement of Preferences?
From 1 September, Statements will be easier to complete with any adult able to act as a witness. Previously, a Statement of Preferences could only be witnessed by an authorised witness, such as a nurse, doctor, or other mental health practitioner.
Training is coming soon
Face-to-face training on changes relating to the Advance Statements of Preferences will be delivered shortly and information will be sent to impacted teams. In the meantime, please contact our Mental Health and Wellbeing Act Embedded Practitioner, Leah Walton, with any queries at Leah.Walton@monashhealth.org or 0419 847 096.
You can find all resources including FAQs about the new Act, and Advance Statement of Preference forms on our Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 resources page.
Approved by Andrew Perta, Interim Chief Operating Officer, Aged, Community and Mental Health