Advocacy & rights
It is vital for the needs of the caring community to be clearly understood by those individuals and organisations sanctioned to support carers. Carers have a right to complain if they are concerned about the delivery of a service to their family or the person they support.
All services have a complaints procedure. Legally, a service cannot hold it against you if you complain.
If you have a complaint about a service or organisation, contact them or visit their website to find out their complaints procedure. There may be a specific person you need to contact or a form you need to complete.
If you have tried complaining to a person or organisation and do not feel that you have received a suitable response, there are a number of organisations who can help you to follow up your concerns.
In Western Australia
- Health and Disability Services Complaints Office
- Consumer Protection WA
- Disability Services Commission
- Mental Health Review Board of WA
- Office of the Chief Psychiatrist
- Office of Health Review
- Office of the Public Advocate
- Office of the Privacy Commissioner
- Ombudsman of WA
- Advocare Inc
In Australia
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
- Commonwealth Ombudsman
- Fair Work Ombudsman
- Australian Human Rights Commission
- Office of Aged Care Quality and Compliance
- Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
For more information
Contact Carers WA for information, advice and support to help you to advocate on your own behalf or on behalf of the person you care for.
Carers WA: 1300 CARERS (1300 227 377) 8.30am – 4.30pm
Carers Counselling Line: Freecall 1800 007 332 8.00am – 5.00pm
(Calls from mobile phones are charged at applicable rates. Carers WA welcome mobile users to leave their number for a Counsellor to contact them).