Make a complaint

What is your complaint about? Please click on the topic that best describes what you are complaining about.

State Government Department, Statutory Authority, or agency

You should try to resolve your complaint with the public authority before contacting us. You can contact us if your complaint is not resolved, if there is an unreasonable delay or if there are special reasons why you do not wish to contact the public authority. A list of agencies and information about making a complaint to them can be found here.

Before you lodge a written complaint with us, we encourage you to discuss your concerns with a member of our team. You can contact or visit us Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 5:00pm. See Contact Us for our details.

To make a complaint, you can complete our online complaint form. Alternatively, print out a complaint form and write to us, or visit our office.

Local Government City, Town or Shire

You should try to resolve your complaint with the local government before contacting us. You can contact us if your complaint is not resolved, if there is an unreasonable delay or if there are special reasons why you do not wish to contact the local government. A list of local governments can be found here.

Before you lodge a written complaint with us, we encourage you to discuss your concerns with a member of our team. You can contact or visit us Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 5:00pm. See Contact Us for our details.

To make a complaint, you can complete our online complaint form. Alternatively, print out a complaint form and write to us, or visit our office.
University (UWA, Murdoch, Curtin or Edith Cowan)

You should try to resolve your complaint with the university before contacting us. You can contact us if your complaint is not resolved, if there is an unreasonable delay or if there are special reasons why you do not wish to contact the university. A list of universities and information about making a complaint to them can be found here.

Before you lodge a written complaint with us, we encourage you to discuss your concerns with a member of our team. You can contact or visit us Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 5:00pm. See Contact Us for our details.

To make a complaint, you can complete our online complaint form. Alternatively, print out a complaint form and write to us, or visit our office.

Electricity, gas and water services providers

The Ombudsman WA is also the Energy and Water Ombudsman. 

Please visit the Energy and Water Ombudsman website at http://www.ombudsman.wa.gov.au/energyandwater for more information or to make a complaint.

Health care and disability services

For complaints about the services or standard of care provided by a doctor, hospital or health service, or disability service provider, please contact the Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO) at www.hadsco.wa.gov.au.

We may be able to take your complaint about a public hospital or the Department of Health. For more information, see What you can complain to us about.

Before you lodge a written complaint with us, we encourage you to discuss your concerns with a member of our team. You can contact or visit us Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 5:00pm. See Contact Us for our details.

To make a complaint, you can complete our online complaint form. Alternatively, print out a complaint form and write to us, or visit our office.

Centrelink, Family Assistance Office or Australian Taxation Office

Please contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman at www.ombudsman.gov.au.
Phone, Mobile or Internet

Please contact the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) at www.tio.com.au.
Bank, Credit Union, Building Society or Loan Provider

Please contact the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) at www.fos.org.au or the Credit Ombudsman Service Limited (COSL) at www.cosl.com.au.
Private Business, Company, Retail Shop, Builder or Tradesperson

Please contact Consumer Protection at www.commerce.wa.gov.au/consumerprotection.

Insurance

Please contact the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) at www.fos.org.au.

Lawyers, Barristers or Solicitors

The Ombudsman WA cannot consider complaints about magistrates or judges, and cannot consider a matter that has been before a court or tribunal.

To appeal a decision of a court or tribunal, please seek legal advice. You can contact Legal Aid on 1300 650 579 or www.legalaid.wa.gov.au or visit the Citizen’s Advice Bureau at www.cabwa.com.au.

To make a complaint about the conduct of a magistrate or judge, write to the Chief Magistrate or Chief Justice of the relevant court.

Real Estate Agent or Tenancy matters

Please contact REIWA on 9380 8200 or www.reiwa.com.au or Consumer Protection at www.commerce.wa.gov.au/consumerprotection.

Employment and Industrial Relations matters

Please contact the Labour Relations at the Department of Commerce at www.commerce.wa.gov.au/LabourRelations/.

Discrimination, disability or racial discrimination and Human Rights

Please contact the Equal Opportunity Commission at www.eoc.wa.gov.au or the Australian Human Rights Commission at www.humanrights.gov.au.

 

Not listed?
If what you want to complain about is not listed above, visit the Complaint Line website (www.complaintline.com.au) or contact us.

Representatives
In most cases the Ombudsman can only deal with complaints from the person who is personally affected by a decision or action taken by an agency. However, if for any reason you are unable to act for yourself the Ombudsman may accept a complaint form from:

  • A legal or other adviser; or
  • A family member or other personal representative.

The Ombudsman may ask the person affected to confirm in writing that they are happy for the representative to act for them. see the Authority to Act Form.