Mental disorder or impairment and drug dependency are common in people appearing in the criminal justice system. Yet they often don’t get the support they need.
Continuing our popular 2023 Twilight series on mental disorder, drug dependency and the law, in this seminar you will build your knowledge of personality disorder and its intersection with complex trauma.
You will learn about the range of supports and resources available to help you confidently respond in cases involving these issues.
You will also explore:
- forensic assessment and diagnoses
- connection between personality disorders and complex trauma
- treatment and/or behavioural change options
- what to consider when sentencing people with personality disorders
- courtroom interactions with people with personality disorders.
Speakers.
County Court of Victoria
Judge Paul Higham
His Honour Judge Paul Higham was appointed as a Judge of the County Court on 15 August 2017. In January 2018 his Honour took on the role of Head of the Sexual Offences List at the Court. In May 2021 his Honour was gazetted as the Inaugural Head of the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court.
Prior to his Honour’s appointment, he had career in the law spanning more than 35 years. Judge Higham was admitted to the Bar of England and Wales in 1982 where he practised solely in crime, appearing in many criminal trials, including international drug trials, money laundering and corporate fraud matters and murder trials.
He also practiced nationally as a defence advocate in numerous sexual offence cases, including those alleging historic abuse, and has lectured in this area.
While in England, he was a founding member of the Bar Lesbian and Gay group, which received the official endorsement of the British Bar Council.
His Honour relocated to Melbourne in 2005 and was admitted in 2006, practising as in-house Counsel for a large Melbourne criminal law firm, before signing the Bar Roll in 2007.
His Honour practised exclusively in the field of criminal defence work and ancillary human rights law, and appeared in numerous trials in both the County and Supreme Courts. His Honour also appeared in the Victorian Court of Appeal.
County Court of Victoria
Judge Paul Higham
His Honour Judge Paul Higham was appointed as a Judge of the County Court on 15 August 2017. In January 2018 his Honour took on the role of Head of the Sexual Offences List at the Court. In May 2021 his Honour was gazetted as the Inaugural Head of the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court.
Prior to his Honour’s appointment, he had career in the law spanning more than 35 years. Judge Higham was admitted to the Bar of England and Wales in 1982 where he practised solely in crime, appearing in many criminal trials, including international drug trials, money laundering and corporate fraud matters and murder trials.
He also practiced nationally as a defence advocate in numerous sexual offence cases, including those alleging historic abuse, and has lectured in this area.
While in England, he was a founding member of the Bar Lesbian and Gay group, which received the official endorsement of the British Bar Council.
His Honour relocated to Melbourne in 2005 and was admitted in 2006, practising as in-house Counsel for a large Melbourne criminal law firm, before signing the Bar Roll in 2007.
His Honour practised exclusively in the field of criminal defence work and ancillary human rights law, and appeared in numerous trials in both the County and Supreme Courts. His Honour also appeared in the Victorian Court of Appeal.
Co-director, Our Curious Minds
Associate Professor Andrew Carroll
Assoc. Professor Andrew Carroll is a forensic psychiatrist who has worked in public mental health for more than 25 years in both Australia and the UK. He has extensive forensic psychiatric experience working in a range of services including inpatient units, crisis teams, community teams and prison clinics. Currently, he works for Forenisicare as the visiting psychiatrist to Hopkins Correctional Centre, Ararat and as an assessor for OPP matters. Assoc. Professor Carroll has also carried out consultancy work in New South Wales, Tasmania, the ACT and in the Northern Territory. He also has a busy private practice, which involves forensic assessment work. In addition, he is Co-director of ‘Our Curious Minds’ – a mental health training enterprise. He is an Associate Professor (Adjunct) at the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science at Swinburne University of Technology and holds an honorary role at the University of Melbourne Department of Psychiatry.
Co-director, Our Curious Minds
Associate Professor Andrew Carroll
Assoc. Professor Andrew Carroll is a forensic psychiatrist who has worked in public mental health for more than 25 years in both Australia and the UK. He has extensive forensic psychiatric experience working in a range of services including inpatient units, crisis teams, community teams and prison clinics. Currently, he works for Forenisicare as the visiting psychiatrist to Hopkins Correctional Centre, Ararat and as an assessor for OPP matters. Assoc. Professor Carroll has also carried out consultancy work in New South Wales, Tasmania, the ACT and in the Northern Territory. He also has a busy private practice, which involves forensic assessment work. In addition, he is Co-director of ‘Our Curious Minds’ – a mental health training enterprise. He is an Associate Professor (Adjunct) at the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science at Swinburne University of Technology and holds an honorary role at the University of Melbourne Department of Psychiatry.
Co-director, Our Curious Minds
Brett Bridges
Brett is a practising mental health clinician, mental health consultant, educator, trainer and therapist. His extensive experience includes the specialist fields of personality disorder, acute mental health, complex care, forensic mental health, alcohol and other drugs, intellectual disability and corrections. He has previously held senior clinical roles at Spectrum (Personality Disorders Service for Victoria) and Forensicare (Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health). Brett is highly skilled in engaging multiple service providers in complex care scenarios where hostile or fractured work practices, systemic anxiety, dysfunction and paralysis have emerged. His services include: education, training, consultation, supervision and primary intervention.
Co-director, Our Curious Minds
Brett Bridges
Brett is a practising mental health clinician, mental health consultant, educator, trainer and therapist. His extensive experience includes the specialist fields of personality disorder, acute mental health, complex care, forensic mental health, alcohol and other drugs, intellectual disability and corrections. He has previously held senior clinical roles at Spectrum (Personality Disorders Service for Victoria) and Forensicare (Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health). Brett is highly skilled in engaging multiple service providers in complex care scenarios where hostile or fractured work practices, systemic anxiety, dysfunction and paralysis have emerged. His services include: education, training, consultation, supervision and primary intervention.