links

Please note that all the links listed are external to the HCSCC website. Use of these external links will cause a new browser window to open.

Australian federal government

Department of Health and Ageing information about national health policies, programs and services
Private Health Insurance Ombudsman an independent service to help consumers with health insurance problems and enquiries
Australian Government Health Insurance Commission a statutory authority that oversees Medicare claims, benefits and payments
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care responsible for the national strategic framework and work programs to improve safety and quality across the Australian health care system
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare the national agency for health and welfare statistics and information
Commonwealth Ombudsman complaints about Australian Government agencies
Therapeutic Goods Administration safeguards public health and safety by regulating medicines, medical devices blood and tissues
healthdirect Australia provides nationwide access 24 hours a day, seven days a week to healthcare triage, health advice and health information

South Australian government

SA Health the South Australian Department of Health provides leadership on state health policy, planning and quality assurance
SA Health's Safety and Quality Unit works to improve patient safety and the quality of health care
Mental Health Triage Service (MHTS)/Assessment and Crisis Intervention Service (ACIS) open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as the main access to mental health services and provides advice and information in a mental health emergency or crisis situation
South Australian Department of Families and Communities works with those who, through circumstance, may be poor, vulnerable, at risk of harm or isolated, to connect them to choices and opportunities, including housing, care and protection of children and young people, disability and ageing
Child Abuse Report Line managed by the South Australian Department of Families and Communities assists people to report child abuse and neglect
The Office of Consumer and Business Affairs (OCBA) OCBA includes the Consumer Affairs Branch to handle general consumer complaints, including about product safety
The Guardianship Board is a tribunal with legal responsibility to make important decisions affecting the lives and property of people in specified circumstances
Multicultural SA is a statutory body that provides advice about multicultural and ethnic affairs, including interpreting and translating services
The Interpreting and Translating Centre (ITC) provides professional interpreting and translating services
South Australian Equal Opportunity Commission provides information, education and conciliation of complaints about unfair treatment based on age, gender, marital status, pregnancy, sexuality, physical or intellectual impairment and race, in specific areas of public life
South Australian Ombudsman investigates complaints about South Australian and local government agencies, Freedom of Information reviews and reviews HCSCC decisions
South Australian Coroner manages investigations and inquests into deaths, fires, accidents and the disappearance of missing persons
Office of the Guardian of Children and Young People advocates for and promotes the best interests of children and young people who are under the care, custody or guardianship of the Minister for Families and Communities
Office of the Public Advocate promotes and protects the rights and interests of people with reduced mental capacity, and if appropriate, their carers
Local Government Association of South Australia provides a listing and contact details of all South Australian councils. If your complaint is about food handling or food poisoning, ask to speak to an Environmental Health Officer or the duty officer who deals with food complaints.
WorkCover Ombudsman provides free advice and assistance to injured workers and employers who have a complaint about the way services are delivered by the WorkCover Scheme
Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia is a statewide health service offering prevention, treatment, information, education and community-based services

Other health and disability complaints bodies

Australian Capital Territory Human Rights Commission includes the Health, Disability, Community Services, Children and Young People’s Complaints Commissioners
Northern Territory Health and Community Services Complaints Commission
New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission
Queensland Health Quality and Complaints Commission
Tasmanian Health Complaints Commissioner
Victorian Health Services Commissioner
West Australian Health and Disability Services Complaints Office
Aged Care Complaints Scheme complaints about Commonwealth funded aged care services
NZ Health and Disability Commissioner
Care Quality Commission UK

Health Practitioner Regulation

SA consumer and carer advocacy organisations

Service directories

Disability Information and Resource Centre produces an annual Disability directory available online or can be ordered in a printed format
SAcommunity (formerly Infosearch) is South Australia's community information resource to find out about help available from government, non-government and community services and how you can connect with and get involved in your community
Seniors Information Service aims to maximise the independence and improve the quality of life of seniors by providing access to free information about the services and facilities available to them
South Australian government provides a series of online directories relating to a range of government, business and community services
Australian Health Directory is a gateway to the health industry

Legislation and legal information

Health and Community Services Complaints Act 2004
Code of Fair Information practice
Australasian Legal Information Institute provides free access to Australasian legal materials
South Australian Community Legal Centres is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that provides free legal advice, casework and in some cases legal representation and referral
Law Handbook Online Legal Services Commission of South Australia