Health and Community Services Complaints Committee
The Review Committee has the power to review the way the Commissioner has managed a complaint if asked to do so by a service user, service provider or the Commissioner.
The Committee has five members: a lawyer of not less than five years standing who chairs the committee; two persons who represent the interests of service users; and two persons who represent the interests of service providers. Along with reviewing the conduct of complaints on request, the Review Committee is responsible for monitoring the operation of the Health and Community Services Complaints Act 1998 and providing advice to the relevant Minister.
The Review Committee can review the conduct of a complaint to determine whether proper procedures and processes for responding to the complaint were followed. This may include a complaint that Commission staff did not keep you updated, the process took too long, or was not fair. If the Review Committee thinks fit, it may make recommendations to the Commissioner in respect of the conduct of the complaint. The Review Committee cannot review or change a decision the Commissioner has made. It also cannot investigate a complaint.
To apply to the Review Committee to review the Commissioner’s handling of your complaint email: HCSCC.reviewcommittee@nt.gov.au.
Appealing a Commissioner’s Decision
It is not possible at this time to appeal a decision that the Commissioner has made. Any person who is unhappy with the outcome of a complaint is encouraged to contact us.
If the National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers is legislated in the NT, the Commissioner will most likely have the power to make prohibition orders. If a practitioner has breached the Code and the Commissioner is convinced that the practitioner poses an unacceptable risk to the public, the Commissioner will have the power to:
- place conditions on practice or,
- prohibit a practitioner from providing specified services for a period of time or permanently.
An interim order may be made if the Commission forms the view that immediate action is required to protect the public.
Service providers who are subject to a prohibition order will be able to appeal the Commissioner’s decision to the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal.