Reviewed and updated 15 July 2026
About making a complaint
If you have a concern about a medical practitioner or other healthcare professional, you can make a complaint.
You can make a complaint about:
- quality of care and treatment provided to a patient
- the professional conduct of a health professional
- your health information or medical records
- fees and charges.
Be clear about what you would like to happen:
- an explanation
- an apology
- a refund or compensation
- access to your records or to have your records amended
- change in policy or practice at a hospital, medical or other practice, pharmacy, ambulance or community health service.
In Australia, the best organisation to contact to make a complaint depends on where you live. This is due to the complex way the health system is managed by the Australian government and the state and territory governments.
Making a complaint in the ACT
How to make a complaint in the ACT:
Step 1:
Talk to your doctor, healthcare professional or health service provider about why you are unhappy about the care or advice you received.
Step 2:
If you are uncomfortable talking to your doctor or healthcare professional, talk to another doctor or healthcare professional at the practice or a practice manager.
Step 3:
If you are unhappy with the response you received, make a complaint to the Health Services Commissioner at the ACT Human Rights Commission.
To make a complaint, you need to fill in this online form.
Step 4:
The ACT Human Rights Commission will assess your complaint and could:
- recommend conciliation
- refer a complaint to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra)
- discontinue the complaint.
Making a complaint in NSW
How to make a complaint in NSW:
Step 1:
Talk to your doctor, healthcare professional or health service provider about why you are unhappy about the care or advice you received.
Step 2:
If you are uncomfortable talking to your doctor or healthcare professional, talk to another doctor or healthcare professional at the practice or a practice manager.
Step 3:
If you are unhappy with the response you received, make a complaint to the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission.
Put your complaint in writing and explain:
- Who was involved?
- What happened and when?
- What are you concerned about?
- Have you done anything else to address this matter?
- What do you want to happen now?
Step 4:
The Health Care Complaints Commission will assess your complaint within 60 days and could:
- recommend conciliation
- refer it to another body such as the Information and Privacy Commission or the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
- investigate the complaint and refer it to another body such as the relevant health professional council
- discontinue the complaint.
Making a complaint in the NT
How to make a complaint in the NT:
Step 1:
Talk to your doctor, healthcare professional or health service provider about why you are unhappy about the care or advice you received.
Step 2:
If you are uncomfortable talking to your doctor or healthcare professional, talk to another doctor or healthcare professional at the practice or a practice manager.
Step 3:
If you are unhappy with the response you received, make a complaint to the Health and Community Services Complaints Commission (HCSCC).
Make your complaint electronically, orally or in writing and explain:
- Who was involved?
- What happened and when?
- What are you concerned about?
- Have you done anything else to address this matter?
- What do you want to happen now?
Step 4:
The HCSCC will assess your complaint. It could decide to:
- take no further action
- investigate
- conciliate
- refer it to another body help to resolve the complaint such as the Medical Practitioners Board.
Making a complaint in QLD
How to make a complaint in QLD:
Step 1:
Talk to your doctor, healthcare professional or health service provider about why you are unhappy about the care or advice you received.
Step 2:
If you are uncomfortable talking to your doctor or healthcare professional, talk to another doctor or healthcare professional at the practice or a practice manager.
Step 3:
If you are unhappy with the response you received, make a complaint to the Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO).
Make your complaint in writing or orally and explain:
- Who was involved?
- What happened and when?
- What are you concerned about?
- Have you done anything else to address this matter?
- What do you want to happen now?
Provide any supporting documents if you have them.
Step 4:
The Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO) will assess your complaint and could:
- take no further action
- investigate
- conciliate
- take immediate action (impose restrictions and bans on individual health service providers who are a risk to public health and safety)
- refer it to another body help to resolve the complaint such as the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (Ahpra)
- refer the matter to the Queensland Civil and Administration Tribunal (QCAT).
Making a complaint in SA
How to make a complaint in South Australia:
Step 1:
Talk to your doctor, healthcare professional or health service provider about why you are unhappy about the care or advice you received.
Step 2:
If you are uncomfortable talking to your doctor or healthcare professional, talk to another doctor or healthcare professional at the practice or a practice manager.
Step 3:
If you are unhappy with the response you received, make a complaint to the South Australian Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner (HCSCC).
Make your complaint in writing electronically or in hard copy and explain:
- Who was involved?
- What happened and when?
- What are you concerned about?
- Have you done anything else to address this matter?
- What do you want to happen now?
Provide any supporting documents if you have them.
Step 4:
The HCSCC will assess your complaint and could:
- request you try to resolve the issue directly with the health service
- run informal mediation between you and the health service provider
- bring the parties together to address details of the complaint.
- refer it to another body to help resolve the complaint.
Making a complaint in TAS
How to make a complaint in Tasmania:
Step 1:
Talk to your doctor or healthcare professional about why you are unhappy about the care or advice you received.
Step 2:
If you are uncomfortable talking to your doctor or healthcare professional, talk to another doctor or healthcare professional at the practice or a practice manager.
Step 3:
If you are unhappy with the response you received, you can contact the Health Complaints Commissioner Tasmania.
Make your complaint in writing online or in hard copy and explain:
- Who was involved?
- What happened and when?
- What are you concerned about?
- Have you done anything else to address this matter?
- What do you want to happen now?
Step 4:
The Health Complaints Commissioner will try to resolve the complaint through conciliation.
If the Health Complaints Commissioner decides it is a serious matter affecting standards of care, it will refer the matter to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
Step 5:
The Health Complaints Commissioner may achieve:
- an apology
- an explanation
- a refund of out-of-pocket expense
- a change in policy or procedure
- compensation.
Making a complaint in VIC
How to complain in Victoria:
Step 1:
Talk to your doctor, healthcare professional or health service provider about why you are unhappy about the care or advice you received.
Step 2:
If you are uncomfortable talking to your doctor or healthcare professional, talk to another doctor or healthcare professional at the practice or a practice manager.
Step 3:
If you are unhappy with the response you received, make a complaint to the Health Complaints Commissioner.
Make your complaint in writing, by phone, online or in hard copy and explain:
- Who was involved?
- What happened and when?
- What are you concerned about?
- Have you done anything else to address this matter?
- What do you want to happen now?
Provide any supporting documents if you have them.
Step 4:
The Health Complaints Commissioner will assess your complaint and could:
- investigate
- conciliate
- refer it to another body help to resolve the complaint such as the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
Step 5:
Your complaint could achieve:
- an explanation about what happened and why
- an apology
- access to treatment
- access or amendment to health records
- a refund or compensation
- a change in policy or practice to prevent future problems.
Making a complaint in WA
How to make a complaint in Western Australia:
Step 1:
Talk to your doctor, healthcare professional or health service provider about why you are unhappy about the care or advice you received.
Step 2:
If you are uncomfortable talking to your doctor or healthcare professional, talk to another doctor or healthcare professional at the practice or a practice manager.
Step 3:
If you are unhappy with the response you received, make a complaint to the Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO).
Make your complaint in writing electronically or in hard copy and explain:
- Who was involved?
- What happened and when?
- What are you concerned about?
- Have you done anything else to address this matter?
- What do you want to happen now?
Provide any supporting documents if you have them.
Step 4:
The HaDSCO will assess your complaint and it could:
- conciliate
- refer it to another body help to resolve the complaint such as the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
Step 5:
The HaDSCO could help you achieve:
- an explanation about what happened and why
- an apology
- access to treatment
- access or amendment to health records
- a refund or waiver of fees
- staff training
- a change in policy or procedures to prevent future problems
- introduction of new policies.
