Queensland Disability Housing Coalition

A Home of Your Own

YOUR RIGHTS AND COMPLAINT MECHANISMS

QDHC affirms the notion that everyone has the right to safe, affordable housing, but often this RIGHT may be denied to you.

This section provides a listing of key organisations you can contact in the event your rights may have been violated.

The information provided by these organisations centres on your rights and the available complaints mechanisms.

These places do not provide housing. They provide information about rights and options for making complaints if you are unhappy about decisions.

QUEENSLAND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMISSION

Discrimination against someone on the grounds of disability is against the law! If you feel that you have been refused a house based on disability, a grievance can be lodged with the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commission [QADC].

For example: in the instance that an organisation is not wheelchair accessible; and provides or builds inaccessible housing, you can lodge a grievance.

HEALTH COMPLAINTS

Complaints about health services can be dealt with by the Health Rights Commission.

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING

The DOH also has a complaints mechanism if you are unhappy with their decisions or what has happened to you in public rental housing. To find out more you can contact the local area office (see page 8) and ask for information about the complaints system.

COMPLAINTS ABOUT BUILDERS or CONTRACTORS

The Queensland Building Services Authority will take any complaints you may have about builders and trade contractors in almost 30 different trade areas. If you have complaints about work done on your home you can contact them.

COMPLAINTS ABOUT SERVICES

The Qld Aged and Disability Advocacy Service Inc. is a statewide organisation that provides information, advice, support and advocacy on matters relating to Home and Community Care Services, and issues relating to residents of Commonwealth subsidized nursing homes and hostels.

PEOPLE TO CONTACT


Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commission all areas - Free Call	1300 130 670
Human Rights Commission	1300 656 419
Health Rights Commission	3234 0272
Queensland Building Services Authority	3225 2855

ADVOCACY GROUPS ACROSS QUEENSLAND


Queensland Advocacy Inc	3236 1122
Capricornian Citizen Advocacy Rockhampton	4922 7151
Gold Coast Advocacy Group Inc	5564 0355
Independence Advocacy in the Tropics	4725 2505
Regional Advocacy Toowoomba	4632 9299
Mackay Advocacy	4957 8710
North West Advocacy Organisation Mt Isa	4749 0022
Queensland Parents of People with Disability	3368 3055
Speaking up for You – Sufy	3832 0718
Sunshine Coast Citizen Advocacy	5442 2524
Queensland Aged & Disability	3637 6000

Most services should have their own internal complaints procedure. If you are unhappy with this procedure it can sometimes help to make a complaint to the Minister responsible and/or your local Member of Parliament. These phone numbers can be found in the State Government section of the White Pages.

MAKING A DECISION

If there are any of the options in this booklet that you would like to learn more about you can contact Queensland Disability Housing Coalition through the contact information on page 5.

A Home of Your Own table of contents