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Page Contents: Other states' patient charters | Other patient charters | Relevant organisations | Consumer information | Health related sites | Other related sites | Online culturally and linguistically diverse resources
Other states' patient charters
New South WalesQueensland
Western Australia
South Australia
Tasmania
Other patient charters
Mental Health CharterThe Mental Health Act 1986 requires that every patient must receive a written statement of their rights under the Act when they become a patient. These statements are provided in booklets that include a list of organisations that can help with more information, assistance, advocacy, or complaints. The booklets include sections on the Mental Health Review Board and community treatment when relevant.
Private Patients' Hospital Charter
The Private Patients' Hospital Charter is a guide to what it means to be a private patient in a public hospital, a private hospital or day hospital facility.
The Private Patients' Hospital Charter is issued by the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing in accordance with Section 73F of the National Health Act 1953.
The Private Patients' Hospital Charter is issued by the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing in accordance with Section 73F of the National Health Act 1953.
Relevant organisations
Health Services Commissioner- Helps people make their concerns known to health services providers.
- Assesses and clarifies problems in health services provision.
- Conciliates formally or informally, between consumers and providers of services.
- Assists in the resolution of complaints.
- Uses information obtained and lessons learned to recommend improvements to services.
30th Floor, 570 Bourke Street,
Melbourne 3000
Phone: (61 3)8601 5200
Freecall 1800 136 066
Fax (61 3) 8601 5219
The Office of the Public Advocate
The Office of the Public Advocate represents the interests of Victorian people with disabilities. It's aim is to promote the rights and dignity of people with disabilities, and to strengthen their position in society.
It is a statutory office which is independent of government services, and can investigate and speak out about situations where people are exploited, neglected or abused. As a statutory office the offic of the Public Advocate can investigate problems and, if necessary, use special authority to make enquiries on behalf of people with disability where there are fears for their safety or concerns about their interests.
Level 5, 436 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne 3000
Phone (61 3) 9603 9500
Freecall 1800 136 829
It is a statutory office which is independent of government services, and can investigate and speak out about situations where people are exploited, neglected or abused. As a statutory office the offic of the Public Advocate can investigate problems and, if necessary, use special authority to make enquiries on behalf of people with disability where there are fears for their safety or concerns about their interests.
Level 5, 436 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne 3000
Phone (61 3) 9603 9500
Freecall 1800 136 829
Medicare Australia
Participate in Health
Health Issues Centre
Australian Resource Centre for Hospital Innovations
Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health
La Trobe University
Monash Medical Centre
Consumer information
Communicating with Consumers: Good Practice Guide to Providing InformationCommunicating with Consumers Series Volume 1 "Well Written Health Information: A Guide"
Health related sites
Effective Discharge StrategyBetter Health Channel
Other relevant sites
The Australian Heath Care AgreementThe Australian Health Care Agreements provide the basis for the Commonwealth Government's financial contribution to public hospitals. They run from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 2003, and replace the previous Medicare Agreements, which ran from 1 July 1993 to 30 June 1998.
Freedom of Information
The Health Records Act
Privacy
Online culturally and linguistically diverse resources
General health issues
Health Translations DirectoryThis directory links to over 10,000 online multilingual health resources from government departments, peak health bodies, hospitals, community health centres and welfare agencies.
NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service
The website of the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service contains around 400 articles in sixteen community languages
Multicultural Health - Queensland Health
Queensland Health has developed guides and policies to support the provision of culturally sensitive health care in hospitals and community health services. These documents can be downloaded form the above website. They include:
- Cultural Diversity - A Guide for Health Professionals
- Guidelines to Practice - Providing care to patients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
- Checklist for Cultural Assessment
- Patient Rights and Responsibilities - Multilingual Fact Sheets
- A Guide to Working with Interpreters
- Muslim Patients Handbook
Centre for Culture Ethnicity & Health
A more extensive listing of websites containing multilingual health material can be found on the website of the Centre for Culture Ethnicity & Health.
Emergency Management
Dept. of Human Services, Australia - Emergency Management: Information ResourcesThe Department of Human Services has produced a number of Fact Sheets for the purpose of assisting the community in a situation of 'wide area emergency' such as flooding or a breakdown of major utilities. These Fact Sheets are available in English and 19 community languages.
Mental health
Mental Health Branch publicationsBrochures on patient rights and psychotropic medication in twelve community languages (Arabic, Cambodian, Chinese, Croatian, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Turkish, Vietnamese) can be ordered online from the website of Mental Health Branch.
The Australian Transcultural Mental Health Network
The Australian Transcultural Mental Health Network provides links to library and information services as well as a directory of bilingual mental health professionals.
General information
The Open RoadThe Open Road website is hosted by the State Library of Victoria and was launched in October 2000. It provides a starting point for surfing web pages in eleven community languages.
National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcaster's Council - Ethnic news sources
The National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters' Council (NEMBC) provides an Ethnic News Digest in 21 community languages. The NEMBC website also provides information about radio programs in approximately 90 community languages.
Your dictionary
A portal providing over 200 online dictionaries as well as technical glossaries.
Please note that unmediated machine translation is not advisable, and that language resources such as those on the above website are not seen as in any way replacing professional assistance provided by a qualified translator or interpreter.