Disability Act 2006

On an application under section 191, VCAT may—

if it is satisfied that the matters specified in subsection (1A) and section 191(1)(a) to (c) apply in respect of the person who is the subject of the application, make a supervised treatment order; or

subject to subsection (2) or (2A), if it is satisfied that the matters specified in subsection (1A) and section 191(1)(a) to (c) apply in respect of the person who is the subject of the application but considers that the treatment plan should be varied, make a supervised treatment order subject to the treatment plan being varied as specified by VCAT; or

if it is not satisfied that the matters specified in subsection (1A) and section 191(1)(a) to (c) apply in respect of the person who is the subject of the application, dismiss the application.

VCAT may only make a supervised treatment order if VCAT is satisfied that—

the person has previously exhibited a pattern of violent or dangerous behaviour causing serious harm to another person or exposing another person to a significant risk of serious harm; and

there is a significant risk of serious harm to another person which cannot be substantially reduced by using less restrictive means; and

the services to be provided to the person in accordance with the treatment plan will be of benefit to the person and substantially reduce the significant risk of serious harm to another person; and

the person is unable or unwilling to consent to voluntarily complying with a treatment plan to substantially reduce the significant risk of serious harm to another person; and

it is necessary to detain the person to ensure compliance with the treatment plan and prevent a significant risk of serious harm to another person.

VCAT must not make a supervised treatment order under subsection (1)(b) unless VCAT is satisfied that the disability service provider or registered NDIS provider, as the case requires, can implement the supervised treatment order and the variation of the treatment plan.

On an application under section 191(1) in respect of an NDIS participant who will be subject to the use of restrictive practices by a registered NDIS provider under a treatment plan attached to a supervised treatment order that is to be used as the NDIS participant's NDIS behaviour support plan, VCAT must not specify that the treatment plan of the NDIS participant be varied—

with respect to any regulated restrictive practices; or

in such a manner that the treatment plan would not be able to be implemented.

In deciding whether to make a supervised treatment order, VCAT may consider any relevant information including—

the information described in section 191A(3); and

any assessment report produced under section 191A(4); and

any relevant information obtained in an earlier proceeding relating to the person in respect of whom the supervised treatment order is proposed to be made.

A supervised treatment order must—

state that the Authorised Program Officer for the primary service provider is responsible for the implementation of the supervised treatment order;

require the person to whom the supervised treatment order applies to reside in accommodation—

of the type specified in the certificate referred to in section 191A(1)(a); or

of a type specified in section 191(1)(b) and approved in writing by the Senior Practitioner;

refer to the treatment plan which must be attached to the supervised treatment order;

specify the period for which the supervised treatment order is to continue in force, being a period not exceeding 1 year.

A supervised treatment order may—

specify conditions to which the person is subject;

require the person to participate in treatment specified in the treatment plan or in treatment specified in the supervised treatment order;

state the intervals at which the supervised treatment order is to be reviewed.

Subsection (3)(d) does not prevent the making of another supervised treatment order before the expiry of the current supervised treatment order.

There is no limit on the number of applications that can be made for a supervised treatment order.