Western Australia - Get help

Abuse and neglect

If you are in immediate danger, call Triple Zero 000 for police assistance.

The National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline is a telephone service for reporting the abuse or neglect of people with disability.

Phone the hotline Monday to Friday on 1800 880 052 from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm.

Callers who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment can contact the National Relay Service (NRS) by calling 1800 555 677 then ask for 1800 880 052

Email the National Disability Abuse and Neglect hotline at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Reporting child abuse and neglect in Western Australia

If you are concerned about a child’s well-being, please contact the Central Intake Team on 1800 273 889 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To report a concern out of business hours please contact our Crisis Care Unit on 9223 1111 or Country free call 1800 199 008

If you are a referrer from a government or non-government agency reporting concerns about a child's well-being please complete the Child Protection Concern Referral form.

For more information visit Child Protection website

Advocacy

CYDA does not provide individual advocacy. Individuals and families can contact one of the organisations listed below for assistance or they can contact CYDA for other providers of individual advocacy.

It is vital that young people and families of children and young people continue to contact CYDA and tell us about their experiences. This insight and knowledge inform us about change that is occurring and identifies areas where systemic changes are required. CYDA can be contacted by phone on 03 9417 1025 or 1800 222 660 (regional or interstate) or via the contact us section of this website.

Discrimination

You can make a complaint about discrimination to the Equal Opportunity Commission WA.

You can complete the online complaint form

Please be aware that you must lodge your complaint within 12 months of the discrimination. If your complaint is more than 12 months old, it will only be investigated if you can satisfy the Commissioner that there is good cause why it should be investigated.

You can also download the complaint form or request a hard copy of the complaint form by calling 08 9216 3900 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and send the completed form by post to PO Box 7370

Cloisters Square Perth WA 6850, hand, fax or email. Visit www.eoc.wa.gov.au

You can also make a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission no matter where you live in Australia.

Visit Make a complaint page where you can complete the online complaint form or download the form

Telephone: (02) 9284 9600

National information service: 1300 656 419

Disability legal services

You can get free legal advice for disability discrimination.

Sussex St Community Legal Centre

Phone: (08) 6253 9500
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: Sussex St Community Legal Centre

Education

Complaints about child care services

The Department of Communities approves and monitors education and care services through the Education and Care Regulatory Unit. Phone (08) 6551 8333, FreeCall 1800 199 383 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Complaints about governments schools

Contact first the school directory of public schools or contact the education regional office to try to resolve the issue or concern.
You can also contact the Department of Education on 9264 4111

Complaints about non-governments schools

If you have a complaint about a registered non-government school, you should first contact the school directly, or check the school's website or handbook for details about the school's complaints policy.

For Complaints about Governments school, you can contact Non-Government School Regulation (NGSR) about a complaint or concern by telephone on 9441 1900, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Complaints about higher education

Make a complaint directly with the Tafe or university
You can lodge an external appeal with the WA Ombudsman, for further information contact 08 9220 7555 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Visit WA Ombudsman website to find out about the complaint process.

Employment

You can make a complaint about discrimination related to employment to the Fair Work Commission. Discrimination occurs in the workplace when an employer takes adverse action against an employee or prospective employee because of a protected attribute.

Discrimination can happen:

to someone applying for a job as an employee
to a new employee who hasn't started work
to an employee at any time during employment.

If you've lost your job, contact the Fair Work Commission first if you think you were sacked because of:

discrimination
a reason that is harsh, unjust or unreasonable
Another protected right.

You can contact the Fair Work Commission by telephone between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday, on 1300 799 675 or out of hours emergency number on 0438 244 996

The Fair Work Commission has offices in all capital cities and some regional areas where you can write, visit or email them. Visit Fair Work Commission Western Australia for more information.

Western Australia office: Floor 16, 111 St Georges Tce,Perth, WA, 6000
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Complaint about a disability employment service provider

The Complaints Resolution and Referral Service is a free service for people with disability. Complaints can be made by clients of services funded by the Department of Social Services (DSS) under the Disability Services Act (1986). These services include:

Disability Employment Services (DES)
Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs)
Advocacy Services (funded by DSS).

To make a complaint:

Call 1800 880 052 (toll free)
Callers who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment can contact the National Relay Service (NRS) by calling 1800 555 677 then asking for 1800 880 052
Callers from a non-English speaking background can use the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) by calling 13 14 50
Submit your complaint via Online Complaint Form

Complaint about Job Active providers

Talk to your Jobactive provider first to try to resolve your concerns.

If you feel you can’t talk to your Jobactive provider, or you are still not happy, you can contact the Employment Services National Customer service Line on 1800 805 260 (free call from landlines) or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

You can also fill in the Department of Education, Skills and Employment Complaints, Compliments and Suggestions form

Health

Try talking first with the service provider. If you are not satisfied with the response or feel uncomfortable speaking with your health provider you can lodge a complaint with the Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO)

Online: Fill in the complaint form
Post: download and print the complaint form and return by post to PO Box B61, Perth, Western Australia, 6838
E-mail: send the complete complaint form to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
In person: you can hand the complaint form at: reception desk, Albert Facey House, 469 Wellington street, Perth WA 6000

If you need assistance to complete the complaint form call HaDSCO on (08) 6551 7600 or Freecall: 1800 813 583

NDIS

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) website is regularly updated with new information. Visit the NDIS website.

You can also contact the NDIS directly by phone or contact Early Childhood Early Intervention providers, Local Area Coordinators, or NDIS through the NDIS directory.

If you have a concern or complaint about the NDIS, try to resolve them with the NDIA first. This is usually the quickest way to resolve a complaint.

You can complain to the NDIA via e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phoning 1800 800 110. Allow the NDIA 21 working days to respond to your complaint.

Contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman if you are not satisfied with the NDIA’s response to your complaint.

Use the online form to submit your complaint

You can also call 1300 362 072. If you are hearing, sight or speech impaired, you can contact through the National Relay Service:

TTY users phone 133 677 then ask for 1300 362 072.

Speak and Listen users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 1300 362 072.

Internet Relay users connect to the National Relay Service then ask for 1300 362 072.

Check out the Commonwealth Ombudsman page in relation to complaint process

Make a complaint about an NDIS provider, Local Area Coordinator or Early Childhood Early Intervention partner

If you are in New South Wales, South Australia, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria, and have a complaint about a support or service you have received under the NDIS, you can contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission on 1800 035 544 or you can submit a Complaint Contact Form

Existing arrangements for making complaints in Western Australia remain in place until 30 June 2020. If you wish you make a complaint about an NDIS Provider in Western Australia, you can contact the following organisations:

Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO)

Telephone: 1800 813 583
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: hadsco.wa.gov.au

Western Australia Consumer Protection

Telephone: 08 6552 9596, or 1300 30 40 54
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/consumer-protection

Commonwealth Ombudsman

Telephone: 1300 362 072
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: ombudsman.gov.au

Make a complaint about an unregistered NDIS providers

The NDIS Commission can support people to make a complaint directly to a registered or unregistered NDIS provider. Unregistered provider should have a complaint resolution process therefore ask your support or service provider about it.

The NDIS Code of Conduct applies to:

registered NDIS providers
unregistered NDIS providers
NDIA community partners - LAC and ECEI providers
providers delivering information, linkages, and capacity building activities

Redress support services

Redress Support Services have been funded by the Australian Government to provide information and practical assistance for people applying to the National Redress Scheme, and emotional support as necessary. These services can be called direct or visit their website for information on how they can assist. CYDA can also be contacted for advice on the services provided by other Redress Support Services.

National

Blue Knot Foundation - 1300 657 380 Counselling and support for people who have experienced child sexual abuse https://www.blueknot.org.au/
Bravehearts - 1800 272 831 Counselling and support for people who experienced child sexual abuse https://bravehearts.org.au
Care Leavers Australasia Network - 1800 008 774 Support and advocacy for Care Leavers www.clan.org.au
Child Migrants Trust - 1800 040 509 Social work services and counselling for Former Child Migrants https://www.childmigrantstrust.com
Child Wise - 1800 991 099 Trauma informed telephone and online counselling for childhood abuse https://www.childwise.org.au
Healing Foundation – 02 6272 7500 Service to help build the capacity of Indigenous organisations and support the development of the Link Up network https://healingfoundation.org.au
In Good Faith Foundation - 03 9326 1190 Independent advocacy, case work, referral and support for people who have experienced abuse, their families and communities responding to religious institutional abuses http://igff.org.au/
MensLine Australia - 1300 78 99 78 National telephone and online support, information and referral service for men with family and relationship concerns https://mensline.org.au
People with Disability Australia - 1800 422 015 / TTY: 1800 422 016 National telephone line to provide information and referrals to people with disability https://pwd.org.au
Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia - 1800 211 028 National telephone counselling service for people who have experienced abuse. Face to face counselling is available in New South Wales www.rape-dvservices.org.au
Tzedek - 1300 893 335 Advocacy, referral and support for people who have experienced religious/clergy abuse, with a focus on the Jewish community www.tzedek.org.au

Western Australia

Kimberley Stolen Generation Aboriginal Corporation - 1800 830 338 Counselling, healing and culturally appropriate support for Indigenous Australians https://www.kimberleystolengeneration.com.au
Relationships Australia WA - 08 6164 0255 Support, information and referral, and counselling for people who have experienced child sexual abuse https://www.relationshipswa.org.au
Yorgum Aboriginal Corporation - 08 9218 9477 / 1800 469 371 Counselling, healing and culturally appropriate support for Indigenous Australians https://www.yorgum.org.au