Northern Territory Numbered Acts Northern Territory Numbered ActsSection 31
repeal, substitute
(1) The Chief Health Officer may, in writing, appoint a person to be an assessor to make assessments of persons reasonably believed to be at risk of severe harm and to exercise and perform related powers and functions under this Part.
(2) An assessor must be:
(a) a health practitioner; or
(b) a person who holds a qualification approved under subsection (5).
(3) An assessor must exercise and perform his or her powers and functions in accordance with assessment guidelines issued by the Chief Health Officer.
(4) Without limiting subsection (3), the assessment guidelines may specify the practice and procedures to be followed by an assessor in relation to the following matters:
(a) examining and making an assessment of a person;
(b) consulting a responsible adult for a child to whom an assessment application relates;
(c) preparing an assessment report;
(d) making an application for a treatment warrant.
(5) The Minister may, by Gazette notice, approve a qualification or class of qualifications for subsection (2)(b).
(1) A treatment program is a program of treatment or intervention appropriate for a person at risk of severe harm.
(2) A treatment program may provide a person at risk of severe harm with any of the following:
(a) treatment for withdrawal, stabilisation, rehabilitation or aftercare;
(b) therapeutic, health, diversionary or educational intervention;
(c) any other type of treatment or intervention intended to alleviate the severe harm;
(d) a combination of any treatment or intervention mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c).
(3) A person at risk of severe harm may participate in any component of a treatment program:
(a) at a residential facility or any other place; or
(b) by taking part in a treatment or intervention that is not specific to a particular place (for example, a diversionary intervention involving travelling through an area of the Territory).