Your HealthCare Right

The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights describes the right of patients and other people using the Australian health system. These rights are essential to make sure that, wherever and whenever care is provided, it is high quality and is safe.

• Access

  – Healthcare services and treatment that meets my needs

• Safety

  – Receive safe and high quality health care that meets national standards
  – Be cared for in an environment that is safe and makes me feel safe

• Respect

  – Be treated as an individual, and with dignity and respect
  – Have my culture, identity, beliefs and choices recognised and respected

• Partnership

  – Ask questions and be involved in open and honest communication
  – Make decisions with my healthcare provider, to the extent that I choose and am able to
  – Include the people that I want in planning and decision-making

• Information

  – Clear information about my condition, the possible benefits and risks of different tests and treatments, so I can give my informed consent
  – Receive information about services, waiting times and costs
  – Be given assistance, when I need it, to help me to understand and use health information
  – Access my health information
  – Be told if something has gone wrong during my health care, how it happened, how it may affect me and what is being done to make care safe

• Privacy

  – Have my personal privacy respected
  – Have information about me and my health kept secure and confidential

• Give feedback

  – Provide feedback or make a complaint without it affecting the way that I am treated
  – Have my concerns addressed in a transparent and timely way
  – Share my experience and participate to improve the quality of care and health services