Preferred supplier update — May 2023
This month:
News from the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA)
The FCFCOA has requested practitioners to inform the court when a matter is legally aided so the court can make an order for the most appropriate dispute resolution event – court based, or Legal Aid Commission based.
Recent decision in the Mental Health Review Tribunal (MHRT)
On 16 May 2023, the Mental Health Court (MHC) published a judgment of an appeal of a decision by the MHRT to approve electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) – In the matter of ICO [2023] QMHC 1. This is the first published ECT appeal by the MHC since the amendments to the Mental Health Act 2016 and Justice Wilson expressed a desire for it to be provided to all legal practitioners. The decision provides clarity and guidance on the relevant test for capacity and ECT under the Mental Health Act 2016.
Grants e-learning module
Have you viewed our online training package for our preferred suppliers and their support staff? The module provides an overview on applying for grants of aid and supports compliance with requirements around applying for and managing grants of legal aid. This resource is available in Grants Online – Policies and Standards – Grants E-Learning Module.
Other resources available in Grants Online – Policies and Standards include:
- E-lodgement user manual
- instructional video - how to submit an application
- instructional video - how to submit an invoice.
Publications and resources
LAQ produces more than 100 publications and resources from factsheets to posters, brochures, wallet cards and comprehensive legal information guides on a range of topics. You can check out the publications on the LAQ website and they can be ordered online at no cost.
For more information about our publications or to order copies of the duty lawyer session report form, email publications@legalaid.qld.gov.au .
Continuing professional development (CPD)
Looking for professional development opportunities to boost your CPD points? Our CPD seminars are recorded and available on Grants Online under the Information Resources tab.
Feedback
We welcome feedback and comments from clients, the community and our suppliers. As preferred suppliers you play an important role in helping us to provide quality legal services to disadvantaged Queenslanders. If you would like to provide comments or suggestions about our services, policies, processes or staff members, you can complete a contact form or email us at complaints@legalaid.qld.gov.au at any time. We ensure a senior staff member investigates all issues thoroughly and we also analyse all feedback regularly to improve our policies, processes and services.
View our Feedback and Complaints Policy.