The Charter

The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights (the Charter) explains what you or someone you care for can expect when receiving health care.

Your healthcare rights

You have a right to:

·         Access: you can access services to address your healthcare needs

·         Safety:

  • Receive safe and high quality health care that meets national standards

  • Be cared for in an environment that is safe and makes you feel safe

·         Respect:

  • Be treated as an individual, and with dignity and respect

  • Have your culture, identity, beliefs and choices recognised and respected

·         Partnership:

  • Ask questions and be involved in open and honest communication

  • Make decisions with your healthcare provider, to the extent that you can choose and am able to

  • Include the people that you want in planning and decision-making

·         Information:

  • Clear information about your condition, the possible benefits and risks of different tests and treatments, so you can give your informed consent

  • Receive information about services, waiting times and costs

  • Be given assistance, when you need it, to help you to understand and use health information

  • Access your health information

  • Be told if something has gone wrong during your health care, how it happened, how it may affect you and what is being done to make care safe

·         Privacy:

  • Have your personal privacy respected

  • Have information about you and your health kept secure and confidential

·         Give feedback:

  • Provide feedback or make a complaint without it affecting the way that you are treated

  • Have your concerns addressed in a transparent and timely way

  • Share your experience and participate to improve the quality of care and health services

For more information ask a member of staff or visit: safetyandquality.gov.au/your-rights