Working with people with disability
The Ombudsman’s office can help people with disability sort out problems with Australian Government agencies.
This includes programs that are specifically for people with disability including:
- the National Disability Insurance Scheme
- the Disability Support Pension
- Disability Employment Services
We also take complaints about mainstream Australian Government programs that are delivered to or for people with disability. Some of the most common complaints to our office are about Centrelink payments, child support, Medicare, Australia Post and immigration.
Making complaints to agencies
If you think an Australian Government agency has been unfair or has done something wrong, we usually ask you to make a complaint to the agency before you contact our office. There are two main reasons why this is important:
- it lets the agency know you’re not happy
- agencies can fix most problems quickly and simply, but our investigations can take more time.
We know that some people don’t like to make complaints. There are lots of reasons, including:
- feeling scared
- feeling unsure about how to explain the problem
- feeling like there’s no point making a complaint because it won’t change anything.
Agencies are expected to have good complaints systems. They should also give you information about how to make a complaint if you tell their staff you’re unhappy.
- Making a complaint about the National Disability Insurance Scheme
- Making a complaint about the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
- Making a complaint about Services Australia (Centrelink, Child Support or Medicare)
- Making a complaint about Disability Employment Services
- Making a complaint about the Department of Home Affairs