Emma Montgomery
Deputy President of the Mental Health Tribunal (Victoria)
Emma Montgomery is Deputy President of the Mental Health Tribunal (Victoria). Emma was first appointed as Senior Legal Member to the Mental Health Tribunal in July 2014. In 2015 Emma led the establishment of the Tribunal Advisory Group (TAG) which consisted of four consumers (a person who has experienced mental health issues and received public mental health services including compulsory mental health treatment) and four carers (a non-paid person, usually a family member or friend, who supports a consumer). The TAG provides advice to the Tribunal about its processes and services to improve the consumer and carer experience and has co-designed documents, guidance and processes including the Tribunal’s Notice of Hearing; brochures and videos about what to expect at a Tribunal hearing; information on how to appeal (revoke) a Treatment Order; and the design of the Tribunal’s Statements of Reasons pro forma. In 2015 and 2017 the TAG co-designed and co-hosted Community and Carer Forums on improving access to Tribunal services and improving the experience of consumers and carers in hearings before the Tribunal.