The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission (MHWC) deals with complaints about Victorian publicly funded mental health and wellbeing services.
Complaints to the MHWC are often about difficulties in accessing publicly funded mental health and wellbeing services, or the treatment and care provided by them.
You have the right to make a complaint to the MHWC, or to contact the service directly. Every publicly funded Victorian mental health and wellbeing service must have its own process to help you speak up and raise your concerns. We can support you to do this.
If you’re not sure whether the MHWC can help you, contact us. There is ‘no wrong door’ at the MHWC. Even if we can’t help with your concerns, we will do our best to connect you with people who can.
Differences between the public and private mental health and wellbeing systems
Complaints about publicly funded mental health and wellbeing services in Victoria are dealt with by the MHWC.
For more information on Victoria’s public mental health and wellbeing system, visit:
- Department of Health - About Victoria's Mental Health Services
- Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System
The private mental health and wellbeing system in Victoria includes private hospitals and private psychiatrists, psychologists and general practitioners (GPs). The Health Complaints Commissioner deals with complaints about private mental health and wellbeing services and providers in Victoria including GPs.
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra)
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) can also deal with complaints about the practice or behaviour of practitioners registered by it (such as doctors, nurses and psychologists). See: Ahpra complaints.
The MHWC and Ahpra have different roles. The MHWC will usually be the appropriate body to seek to resolve a complaint about a publicly funded mental health and wellbeing service. Ahpra's role is to protect the public by ensuring only staff who have the appropriate skills and behave appropriately can work as registered health practitioners.
The MHWC is required by law to notify Ahpra if we receive a complaint about a registered health practitioner and to share a copy of the complaint with Ahpra. The MHWC and Ahpra decide which organisation should deal with the concerns. Sometimes the MHWC and Ahpra deal with different aspects of the same complaint.
Updated