Complaints by Young People
Are you a young person who is taking responsibility for their health and well-being for the first time?
Being responsible for your own health and well-being does not mean you have to manage it alone.
For help and advice on issues you have experienced with health services, disability services (not provided by NDIS) and mental health services in Western Australian and the Indian Ocean Territories, contact HaDSCO.
It’s OK to speak up if something isn’t right.
- Our help is free to everyone.
- We will listen to you.
- We will do what we can to help fix the problem.
- If we can’t help, we will help you find someone who can.
Download our information sheet for more information.
Making a complaint - tips and advice for young people
What can you complain about?
You should be treated with respect and consideration and receive a high standard of care at all times.
All treatments and fees charged to you should be clearly explained.
If you feel like that didn’t happen, it is your right to complain.
Some examples of when a health, mental health or disability service provider may have acted unreasonably include:
- Refusing to provide a service
- Not giving you access to your medical records
- Failing to keep your personal information confidential
- Charging too much for a service
- Providing a service that was not wanted or needed
- Providing a service in a way that was upsetting
- Not responding to a complaint you may have made about the service.
If you are ready to raise a complaint with HaDSCO, please go to our online Complaint Form or contact us.
Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights
For more information about your healthcare rights, download the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights (the Charter) from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
The Charter describes what you can expect when receiving health care. These rights apply to all people in all places where health care is provided in Australia. This includes public and private hospitals, GP clinics and other community health services.
My Health in My Hands
My Health in my Hands is an animation video produced by the WA Department of Health’s Child and Youth Health Network to support young people as they become more independent with their health care.
Young Carers
There are over 40,000 young carers within WA who take on additional responsibilities within their family.
A “young carer” is defined as a person under the age of 25 who provides unpaid care and support to a family member due to the family member’s:
- disability
- mental illness
- chronic health condition
- terminal illness
- alcohol or drug issue, or
- who are frail aged.
As a young carer, it is important to know that you are not alone and that there is help if you need it. Contact Carers WA - Young Carers to find out more.
What can young carers complain about?
Young carers can make a complaint:
- on behalf of the person for whom they provide care for, and/or
- on their own behalf about a failure to comply with the four principles of the Western Australian Carers Charter (see below)
- Carers must be treated with respect and dignity.
- The role of carers must be recognised by including carers in the assessment, planning, delivery and review of services that impact on them and the role of carers.
- The views and needs of carers must be taken into account along with the views, needs and best interests of people receiving care when decisions are made that impact on carers and the role of carers.
- Complaints made by carers in relation to services that impact on them and the role of carers must be given due attention and consideration.
More details about the Western Australian Carers Charter can be found in the Carers Recognition Act 2004 (www.wa.gov.au).