The Office of the Health Complaints Commissioner was established in 1997 by the Health Complaints Act 1995.
The Act required the Commissioner to develop a draft Charter of Health Rights and Responsibilities. The Charter was tabled in Parliament in 1999. It sets guidelines to balance the rights and responsibilities of the providers and consumers of health services, and to strengthen the relationship between them.
Since the publication of the Charter, the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights has been published by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. The Australian Charter was endorsed by Australian Health Ministers in July 2008. With its adoption, it is likely that a State Charter will no longer be required.
These people have held the position of Health Complaints Commissioner:
Damon Thomas 1997 to 2000
Jan O'Grady 2001 to 2005
Robyn Hopcroft May 2005 to August 2005
Richard Bingham - Acting November 2005 to July 2006
Simon Allston 2005 to 2012
Richard Connock - Acting February 2012 to March 2012
Leon Atkinson-MacEwen March 2012 to March 2014
Richard Connock - Acting September 2013 to November 2013
Richard Connock - Acting February 2014 to July 2014
Richard Connock July 2014 to current
