The ACT’s Chief Psychiatrist, Dr Dinesh Arya, has begun a review into the attacks at ANU on 18 September.

24-year-old Alex Ophel, a former ANU student, allegedly stabbed two women students, hit a male student on the head with a frying pan, and punched another in the face. He was charged with attempted murder and other offences. The ANU increased safety measures.

The Chief Psychiatrist’s investigation includes a clinical review, with a focus on the incident on 18 September; and an expanded review, focusing on how mental health services can best manage individuals found not guilty due to a mental impairment by the courts and transfer them from custody into their care.

A Special Purpose Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) will undertake the clinical review. Membership of the Clinical Review Panel includes experts from outside the ACT, including a forensic psychiatrist and a consumer advocate from Victoria; and a forensic mental health nurse from Queensland.

The QAC report will be provided to the responsible Director General before the end of 2023. However, it will not be released publicly, due to the strict privacy of protected information provisions under the Health Act 1993.

Advice will be sought from the Chief Psychiatrist to consider what information can be released publicly without compromising the privacy and confidentiality of people involved.

The Chief Psychiatrist’s expanded review should be completed by January 2024. It will include experts in forensic practice and mental health law. Its membership will be finalised shortly.

The Chief Psychiatrist and experts will seek input from stakeholders, which may include police, ambulance, and carers.

The external experts will advise the Chief Psychiatrist on processes in other jurisdictions and research, so the Chief Psychiatrist can make recommendations for the ACT, Emma Davidson, ACT Minister for Mental Health, said.