Consumer Advocacy Service

CONTACT US
Telephone info & advocacy service

Opening Hours: 9AM – 4.30PM, Monday – Friday
Phone: (03) 9380 3900
Email: reception@vmiac.org.au
Mail: PO Box 59 Somerton VIC 3062

 

If you or someone you know are using hospital based mental health services in Victoria, click here to find out how to get support!

This free service is for people with lived experience of mental health challenges, who want information or short-term, non-legal advocacy about:

  • Issues with mental health services
  • Issues with community organisations related to your experience of mental health or emotional challenges
  • Your rights in relation to your mental health

VMIAC’s Consumer Advocacy Service directly works with consumers. If you are a support worker or carer, please have the person you are supporting contact us so we can help them

All of our advocates have lived experience as mental health consumers, so we really get it.

To access this service, you need to:

  • Live in Victoria
  • Identify as someone who has a lived experience of mental health challenges and/or emotional distress

Additional Resources

Looking to find out more about your rights as a voluntary consumer, check out our Just Saying Resources, by clicking here!

If you wish to make a complaint about a public mental health service in Victoria, MHCC have great resources.

You can also access the Health Complaints Commissioner here

Other Advocacy Organisations

If you are carer looking for advocacy and support, click here to contact contact Tandem.

if you are on a compulsory treatment order, click here to get in touch with IMHA.

The Victorian Homeless Line is open 24/7 contact them on 1800 825 955. The aim is for consumers who are homeless or at risk of homelessness can call this number and be linked directly into their local housing service provider.

We may not always be the best advocacy service for every issue, but if needed, we can refer you to other advocacy agencies with expertise, or check out this online list of disability advocacy organisations across Victoria.

Our General Consumer Advocacy team is experiencing increased demand in 2024 so is accepting referrals for regionally based consumers only at this time. Consumers from metropolitan areas are encouraged to contact us in late January, when we expect to have improved capacity.

However, please note that the wait time for support after this period is expected to be a minimum six weeks. We appreciate your understanding and suggest using the Ask Izzy search tool to find other advocacy services in the consumer’s area if support is needed more urgently.

These are some common advocacy issues we can support you with:

  • Making sure your choices are considered by your doctor, psychiatrist or treating team and other support organisations
  • Navigating complaints processes with mental health services
  • Making an advance statement

Note: We are not able to advocate about personal matters between individuals.

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