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The TeamThe Rethinking Mental Health Laws project team includes the Australian Research Council Federation Fellow, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, an Adjunct Professor, two Research Fellows, seven Doctoral Students, a Masters Student, Research Assistants and an Executive Officer.
Professor Bernadette McSherryAustralian Research Council Federation FellowIn 2007, Bernadette was awarded a prestigious Federation Fellowship from the Australian Research Council for her project entitled "Rethinking Mental Health Laws: An Integrated Approach". The main aim of this research program is to explore the role the law has and should have in improving access to optimal mental health care and promoting and maintaining good mental health. The program will bring together international and Australian mental health experts from a range of disciplines as well as consumer representatives to develop model frameworks for both civil commitment laws for those with serious mental illnesses and sentencing laws for mentally ill offenders. Bernadette is a Legal Member of the Mental Health Review Board of Victoria and the Psychosurgery Review Board of Victoria. She researches in the areas of Criminal Law and Mental Health Law. She is the co‑author of two major texts on Criminal Law and has published widely in refereed journals. She is on the editorial Boards of the journals Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, the International Journal of Forensic Mental Health and the Monash Bioethics Review and is the co‑editor of the Legal Issues Column for the Journal of Law and Medicine. In 1999, she received a Monash University Vice‑Chancellor's Award for Distinguished Teaching. Phone +61 3 9905 3353
Dr Penny WellerPostdoctoral Research FellowPenny commenced as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Rethinking Mental Health Laws project in February 2008. Penny's research interests include health law, public health law and mental health law, international human rights law, theory and practice and modern forms of regulatory governance. Penny has lectured in Human Rights Law and Administrative Law at Victoria University, and Health Law and Ethics in the School of Public Health at Latrobe University. She is a member of the steering committee for the ‘Living Wills’ research project conducted by the Metal Health Legal Centre, is an independent member of the Health Services Review Council and a member of the Department of Justice Human Research Ethics Committee. Phone +61 3 9905 5319
Professor Ian Freckelton SCIan is a senior counsel in full-time practice at the Melbourne Bar. His advocacy work at trial and on appeal is principally in relation to personal injuries, criminal law and administrative law matters. Ian was the lawyer member of the Victoria’s Medical Practitioners Board between 2000 and 2006, the Psychologists Registration Board between 1999 and 2007, and the Psychosurgery Review Board between 1998 and 2005. He was also a member of Australia’s Social Security Appeal Tribunal for four years. He is currently a member of Victoria’s Mental Health Review Board, its Disciplinary Appeals Board, its Suitability Panel and its Investigation Review Panel. He is a member of the Expert Advisory Panel on the review of Victoria’s Mental Health Act. Ian holds professorial appointments at Monash University in the Faculty of Law, the Department of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the National Institute of Public Health and Mental Health Research at the Auckland University of Technology. He has held adjunct and honorary professorial positions at Sydney, Macquarie, La Trobe, and Deakin Universities and has been a Visiting Professor at Otago University and the University of Iceland. Ian is the Victorian and former Transnational President of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, the Australasian Vice-President of the International Academy of Forensic Studies, and the Vice-President of the International Institute of Forensic Studies. He was a long-time Board member of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Health, Law and Ethics and is a Board Member of Bond University Centre of Forensic Excellence. He is the founding editor of theJournal of Law and Medicine and is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal, Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. Ian is currently running the reference on reform of the Coroners Act for the Western Australian Law Reform Commission. He has written more than 350 peer reviewed articles and chapters of books and is the author and editor of some three dozen books on medical law, mental health law, therapeutic jurisprudence, disciplinary law, criminal injuries compensation, policing, criminal law, expert evidence, and causation. His Oxford University Press book, Death Investigation and the Coroner’s Inquest was short-listed as the Australian Scholarly Book of the year in 2006. The 4th edition of Expert Evidence: Law, Practice, Procedure and Advocacy (Thomson, with Hugh Selby) and the 5th edition of Indictable Offences in Victoria (Thomson), as well as Appealing to the Future: Michael Kirby and His Legacy (Thomson, with Hugh Selby) are currently in press. Phone +61 3 9225 7666
Joanna KyriakakisResearch FellowJoanna commenced a Research Fellowship with the Federation Fellowship Project in September 2008. She is also a Doctor of Juridical Science candidate at the Faculty of Law, Monash University, focussing on the subject of corporations and international criminal law. Joanna received Arts/ First Class Honours Law degrees from Flinders University in South Australia in 2001, receiving a Chancellor’s commendation for overall academic achievement. She has worked as a Legal Officer with the South Australian Crown Solicitor’s Office and as a Solicitor in both private and community legal practice, specialising in criminal, family and administrative law. Her current research focus is international criminal law, comparative criminal law and international human rights law. Phone +61 3 9905 3351
Steven YannoulidisResearch FellowSteven commences a Research Fellowship with the Federation Fellowship Project in December 2008. He is a graduate with first class honours from Monash University. He has written articles on various aspects of mental impairment in academic journals both here and overseas. His special area of interest is the relationship between models of criminal responsibility and the defence of mental impairment. Phone +61 3 9905 3361
Danielle AndrewarthaPhD CandidateDanielle is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Law, Monash University preparing an interdisciplinary psychology/law thesis. Danielle obtained a Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice and a Bachelor of Science from Flinders University; a Graduate Diploma of Laws (Intellectual Property) from Monash University; a Master of Laws (Industrial and Intellectual Property) from the University of Technology, Sydney; and a Master of Laws in Global Business Law from LaTrobe University, for which she received the Dean’s Commendation for Academic Excellence. Danielle was also awarded the Professor Anastasios Dontas Travelling Fellowship (Legal) in 2007. Danielle has worked as a paralegal and solicitor in South Australia and Victoria handling commercial and insurance litigation matters. She is now pursuing her PhD in a full-time capacity, in addition to working as a research assistant. Email: dmand2@student.monash.edu.au
Dr Laura BreedonPhD CandidateLaura is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Law at Monash University. Her thesis will examine the role of the law in the prevention and remedy of elder abuse. Laura completed a Bachelor of Laws with first class honours in 2007 at Monash University, and received the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Performance. Laura is also a registered Medical Practitioner, having graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery for the University of Melbourne. Laura has several years of clinical medical experience, and worked predominantly within Western Health, where she developed an interest in the care of the elderly and the legal issues surrounding the promotion of healthy ageing. Her other interests include the Right to Health in International Law and Maternal and Reproductive Health. Laura combines her academic life with the responsibility of raising three young children. Email: lgbre1@student.monash.edu
Annegret KämpfPhD CandidateAnnegret is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Law, Monash University and a researcher involved with two projects funded by the Australian Research Council: a Discovery project on “Confidentiality in Therapeutic Relationships” and a Federation Fellowship project awarded to Professor Bernadette McSherry entitled “Rethinking Mental Health Laws: An Integrated Approach”. She is a qualified lawyer and graduated from Mannheim University, Germany. She also has a Master of Bioethics and Health Law from Otago University, New Zealand where she worked as a Research Fellow investigating international approaches to incapacity principles in mental health care. Phone +61 3 9905 3394Fax +61 3 9905 5305 Email Annegret.Kaempf@law.monash.edu.au
Elizabeth RichardsonPhD CandidateLiz is a PhD Candidate at the Faculty of Law, Monash University – her thesis will examine the operation of mental health courts and diversionary programs in Australia and overseas. Liz completed her Arts/Law degrees at Monash University in 1997 and a Master of Criminology degree from the University of Melbourne in 2003, for which she received the JV Barry Medal 2003. Since being admitted to practice in 1998 Liz has worked predominately in courts and tribunals as an associate, legal researcher, legal policy officer and recently as Assistant Director of the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration. Liz’s research interests are sentencing, mental health, criminal justice, judicial and court administration, and self-represented litigants. Phone +61 3 9905 8680
Ronli SifrisPhD CandidateRonli received her LLB in 2003 from Monash University where she graduated first in her class and received the Supreme Court Prize. Whilst at university, Ronli was the editor of the Monash University Law Review. Ronli has published numerous articles including a feature article in the Melbourne Journal of International Law and a recent article in theFederal Law Review. In 2003, she interned with the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Whilst completing her Articles of Clerkship at Baker & McKenzie's Melbourne office in 2004, she chaired the Young Lawyers' Community Issues Committee for the Law Institute of Victoria. In 2005-2006, Ronli completed an LLM in International Legal Studies as a Hauser Scholar at NYU School of Law, after which she worked as a Fellow and then a Consultant with the International Center for Transitional Justice in New York. She is currently completing a PhD at Monash University as part of the Federation Fellowship Project: Rethinking Mental Health Laws. Phone +61 3 9905 8023
Jamie WalvischPhD CandidateJamie completed his undergraduate degrees in arts and law at Monash University in 1999. Whilst at Monash, he received numerous awards and prizes, including the Supreme Court Prize. Upon completion of an articled clerkship at Holding Redlich, he commenced work as a Research and Policy Officer at the Victorian Law Reform Commission. At the Commission he worked on a number of references, including those on Defences to Homicide, Privacy and Co-ownership of Property. He was subsequently employed as a Research Analyst for the Australian Institute of Criminology, where he worked on projects related to Road Rage, Fraud and Electronic Commerce, and Biometrics. Most recently he has worked as Senior Research Officer at the Judicial College of Victoria. In this role he was responsible for developing and drafting the new Victorian Criminal Charge Book, for use by judges in criminal jury trials. He continues to work part-time as a consultant editor on this project. Phone +61 3 9905 8023
Sarah McHutchisonSJD CandidateSarah is a Senior Project Officer with the Victorian Government working on a review of the Mental Health Act 1986. She commenced an SJD at the Faculty of Law, Monash University in 2009. Her thesis will examine supported decision-making measures in civil mental health laws, with a particular focus on advance directives. Sarah was admitted to practice in 2001. Since then, she has worked in community legal centres, as a judge’s associate and as a legal policy officer. Her current research interest is the intersection of contemporary civil mental health laws and international human rights law. Email: rmhl@law.monash.edu.au
Lei NingMasters of Philosophy CandidateLei has worked in the Victorian forensic mental health system for a decade and has developed a strong interest in forensic mental health laws. Currently, Lei is undertaking a socio-legal research project which focuses on the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997 using a case study approach. Lei has a variety of qualifications and experiences within the mental health field. He is the Deputy Director of the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council and manages the Consumer Research and Evaluation Unit. Lei has been battling with a serious mental health problem for more than 15 years. As an active consumer representative, Lei sits on a number of national and state mental health committees.
Email: rmhl@law.monash.edu.au
Susan KlauberResearch AssistantSusan began her working life in the Royal Australian Navy as a Musician. She was the first female trumpet player to successfully complete her training at the Defence Force School of Music and enter the Victorian Naval Band. Years later she moved to Florida, USA where she commenced an Associate Diploma in Legal Studies at Palm Beach Community College, achieving Phi Theta Kappa honors (ie. the international honour society of two-year colleges and academic programs, particularly community colleges). She has four children and is currently nearing completion of her LLB at Monash University. Email skla1@student.monash.edu.au
Prasanna VenkataramanResearch AssistantPrasanna is currently in his 6th year of a Medicine/Law degree at Monash University. He has completed seasonal clerkships at DLA Phillips Fox and Maddocks. At university, he has been involved in mooting competitions and represented Monash as a debater and adjudicator at international debating tournaments. Prasanna is also a volunteer telephone counsellor and completed psychological medicine at Alfred Hospital. In 2004 he was involved in a health promotion campaign regarding iodine deficiency in Indian women. He has been on the executive of both the Monash Associations of Debaters and Monash University Medical Undergraduate Society. Email pvven1@student.monash.edu
Kay WilsonResearch AssistantKay commenced as a research assistant in the Rethinking Mental Health Laws Project in February 2009. She graduated from Monash University with first class honours in Law and in Psychology in 1999. She has published psychological research based on her honours thesis in Personality and Individual Differences and Behaviour Change and has been editor of the Monash Law Review and an editorial assistant for Kyrou's Administrative Law. Kay completed her articles of clerkship at Mallesons Stephen Jacques and has practiced in commercial dispute resolution and as a corporate solicitor. This role combines her interest in law and psychology with a focus on human rights and comparative law. Email Kay.Wilson@law.monash.edu.au
Kathleen PattersonExecutive OfficerKathleen graduated with a Bachelor of Computing (Information Systems) from Monash University and has worked in the Monash's Law faculty since 2004; most recently as the Personal Assistant to the Associate Dean of Research. Prior to that she was employed as IT Systems Administrator in the USA, New Zealand and Australia. Phone +61 3 9905 3303 |
