Patients and consumers

Page contents: If you have a concern, or need support

The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights in Victoria brochure recognises that patients, consumers, healthcare services and healthcare providers all have a role in contributing to a safe and high quality system, and ensuring the realisation of healthcare rights. The brochure is available as printed brochures and Braille (order), as well as an audio file and documents to download in English and 25 community languages and accessible formats. Further resources are available for patients and consumers.

If you have a concern, or need support

Large public hospitals have a patient representative, and most have an Aboriginal liaison officer. Many mental health services have consumer and carer advocates. Your healthcare service may have listed a staff contact below.

All public health services can access accredited interpreters. They may be available on-site or accessed via the phone from outside agencies.

Many other organisations can help to resolve complaints, or support you as a consumer. The Health Services Commissioner is the primary point of contact for people who have a complaint about a healthcare service that they have not been able to resolve with that service.

Health Services Commissioner
Phone: (61 3) 8601 5200 or 1800 136 066 (freecall)
TTY: 1300 550 275
30th floor, 570 Bourke Street Melbourne Vic 3000
Website: www.health.vic.gov.au/hsc

Disability Services Commissioner
Phone: 1300 728 187 or 1800 677 342 (freecall)
TTY: 1300 726 563
Email: complaints@odsc.vic.gov.au
Address: 30th floor, 570 Bourke Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000
Website: www.odsc.vic.gov.au

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
Phone: (61 3) 9281 7100
TTY: (61 3) 9281 7110
Email: complaints@veohrc.vic.gov.au
Address: Level 3, 380 Lonsdale Street Melbourne VIC 3000
Website: www.equalopportunitycommission.vic.gov.au

The Office of the Public Advocate
Phone (freecall): 1300 309 337
TTY: (61 3) 9603 9529
ACE: 133677 (61 3) 9603 9500
Address: Level 5, 436 Lonsdale Street Melbourne VIC 3000
Website: www.publicadvocate.vic.gov.au

Residential Care Rights
Phone: (61 3) 9602 3066 or 1800 133 312 (freecall)
Suite 4B/C, 4th Floor
343 Little Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000
Email: rights@optusnet.com.au
Website: www.vic.agedrights.asn.au

Mental Health Legal Centre
Phone: (61 3) 9629 4422  or 1800 555 887 (free call from rural Victoria)
Address: 9th floor, 10–16 Queen Street Melbourne VIC 3000
Email: mental_health_vic@clc.net.au 
Free, confidential telephone advice available Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 3–5pm, Tuesday and Thursday, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Website: www.communitylaw.org.au/mentalhealth/cb_pages/contact_us.php

Disability Discrimination Legal Service Inc – Victoria
Phone: (61 3) 9654 8644 or 1300 882 872 (rural)
TTY: (61 3) 9654 6817
Address: 2nd Floor, 247 Flinders Lane Melbourne VIC 3000
Email: info@ddls.org.au
Website: www.communitylaw.org.au/ddls

Disability Rights Victoria
State Coordination – Action for Community Living
Phone: (61 3) 9489 2999
TTY: (61 3) 9489 1179
Address: 86 Herbert Street Northcote VIC 3070
Email: acl@advocacyhouse.org
Website: www.advocacyhouse.org/drv/about.html

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