Dr Michael Beech is a forensic and general psychiatrist with extensive experience in clinical practice, medico-legal assessment, and expert witness testimony. His expertise includes forensic mental health, risk assessment, and psychological injury evaluations. He has held senior leadership roles in both public and private mental health services, contributing to training, policy development, and clinical governance.
Dr Beech has been involved in medico-legal psychiatry for over 20 years, regularly providing assessments in criminal and civil matters, including issues of criminal responsibility, fitness for trial, and personal injury claims. He has served as Director of Child Psychiatry at Mater Children’s Hospital, Director of Medical Services at Toowong Private Hospital, and a Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry at the University of Queensland.
Qualifications
- 1979 Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, The University of Queensland
- 1985 Diploma, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- 1989 Certificate in Anaesthetics
- 1989 Fellowship, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
- 1995 Fellowship, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (FRANZCP)
- 1996 Membership, Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, RANZCP
Current Positions
- Medicolegal Psychiatrist in Private Practice
Previous Positions
- Director of Child Psychiatry, Mater Children’s Hospital
- Director, South Brisbane Child and Youth Mental Health Service
- Director of Medical Services, Toowong Private Hospital
- Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry, University of Queensland
Areas of Expertise
- Assessment of psychiatric impairment under workers’ compensation frameworks
- Forensic psychiatry, including risk assessment and criminal responsibility
- Paediatric Forensic Psychiatry
- Psychological injury and trauma assessments
- Evaluation of fitness for trial and mental health defences