Child and family services
Under the Community Services (Complaints, Reviews and Monitoring) Act 1993 (CS CRAMA), we have a broad range of functions in relation to community and disability services. We:
- handle complaints, and look at ways to improve how services resolve complaints
- review the situation of an individual, or a group of people, in care
- review the causes and patterns of the deaths of people with disabilities in care, and the deaths of certain children; and look at ways to stop or reduce preventable deaths
- monitor and review the delivery of community and disability services; and make recommendations to improve the delivery of services and to promote the rights and best interests of service receivers
- inquire into matters affecting services and people eligible to receive community and disability services
- promote and assist in the development of standards for the delivery of community services; and educate people and services about those standards
- promote access to advocacy support for service receivers, to ensure adequate participation in decision-making about the services they receive
Under CS CRAMA, we also:
- convene the Child Death Review Team
- manage the Official Community Visitor scheme
Our work in relation to community and disability services is undertaken by our Community Services Division, headed by a Deputy Ombudsman, who is also the Community and Disability Services Commissioner.
Also see Types of community service complaints and Who complains to us and why?
