The Forensic Tribunal conducts hearings to review restriction orders and supervision orders.
See - About us for details of other functions of the Forensic Tribunal.
Who will be present? | Who can attend? | How will I know about the Hearing? | Where will it be held? | What if I can't attend? | Will it cost anything? | What happens at the Hearing? | What if I need an interpreter? | Can the Tribunal's decision be appealed? | Cancellation, adjournment or postponement of the Hearing | What decisions can the Tribunal make?
More information on Who will be present and Who can attend the hearing
When the hearing is scheduled, you will receive a Notice of Hearing in the mail, which will provide you with the date and time of the Hearing.
Hearing notices are also sent to the consultant psychiatrist, and other members of the treating team. They are required to provide written material to the Tribunal prior to the hearing and a copy of these materials will be made available to all those requested to attend the hearing.
Wilfred Lopes Centre
If you are a patient in the Wilfred Lopes Centre, the hearing will be held in the Centre.
54 Victoria Street, Hobart
If you are living in the community in Hobart or its surrounds, the hearing will usually be held at the Tribunals offices at 54 Victoria Street, Hobart.
Videoconference / Teleconference
If you are living in the North or North-West of the state, your hearing will be conducted via videoconference or teleconference. This will usually take place either in a hospital or health service facility. Your case manager or support worker will be able to assist you with attending.
If you are unable to attend a hearing in person, you may still be able to be present for your hearing via video or teleconference. Or you may have a representative present at your hearing. This need not be a lawyer or advocate but can be any person of your choosing.
If you are unable to attend your hearing in person, but would like to participate in your hearing, please contact the Tribunal as soon as possible prior to the day of the hearing on telephone no: (03) 6233 4133.
There is no charge for the services of the Tribunal. The Tribunal is publicly funded.
Find out what happens at the hearing; or
download the Fact Sheet - Attending a Forensic Tribunal Hearing. 
Telephone the Tribunal on (03) 6233 4133 as soon as possible before the day of the hearing. The Tribunal will arrange and pay for an interpreter for the hearing.
The decision of the Tribunal can be appealed to the Supreme Court of Tasmania.
For assistance with an appeal against a Tribunal decision you should contact the Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania on 1300 366611 and ask to speak to Moya Cassidy.
Cancellation
If you are a patient in the Wilfred Lopes Centre and you are released, or your Supervision Order or Restriction Order is revoked before the hearing, you will no longer require a hearing. The hearing will be cancelled.
If you are a patient where an application for medical treatment has been made to the Tribunal whilst you were in the Wilfred Lopes Centre, the hearing may also be cancelled if the treatment is no longer required, you consent to the treatment, or you are released from the Centre.
Adjournment
An adjournment simply means to put the hearing off to another date. If you are not ready to proceed on the date that the matter has been set down for hearing you are entitled to ask the Tribunal to put the matter off to another date.
Postponement
The Tribunal has the power to say that the hearing is not ready to proceed on the day that the hearing is listed to take place.