About us
The Health Complaints Commissioner acts independently, impartially and in the public interest.
Our role
The Health Complaints Commissioner is an independent officer appointed by the Governor. The Commissioner is also the State Ombudsman (external link).
The Commissioner's role is to:
- promote and protect the rights of consumers who use health services
- help resolve problems between consumers and providers of health services
- improve the safety and quality of health services in Tasmania.
We look into complaints from health service consumers about the provision of health services in both the public and private sectors.
The Commissioner works directly with consumers and health service providers. His work includes:
- Managing complaints and enquiries
- Providing information, education and advice on health rights and responsibilities
- Encouraging and helping consumers to resolve complaints directly with providers
- Assisting providers to develop procedures for resolving complaints
- Maintaining links with health service providers and related organisations
- Working with public authorities that protect the rights of individual Tasmanians
Our services are free.
Our history
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 (external link) 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.
Find out more about previous Health Complaints Commissioners.
About the Commissioner
Dr Grant Davies was appointed Tasmania’s Ombudsman and Health Complaints Commissioner in July 2025. He brings over 25 years of experience in public service, with a strong background in complaints resolution and health oversight.
Before this role, Dr Davies served as South Australia’s Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner from 2018. He has also held senior positions in Victoria, including Deputy Commissioner and Health Services Commissioner in the Office of the Health Services Commissioner, and Director of Projects at Safer Care Victoria.
Dr Davies began his career as a registered nurse in general and radiation oncology settings, and in acute palliative care units. He later contributed to health policy development in Queensland and Victoria, and held national roles in aged care oversight, including as Investigations Manager at the Federal Office of the Aged Care Commissioner.
He joined the Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying (RePaDD) at Flinders University in 2019.
Dr Davies holds a Bachelor of Nursing (ACU), a Master of Arts (Research) (QUT), and a PhD (Melbourne) in applied ethics. He is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
As with previous Ombudsmen, Dr Davies also serves as the Health Complaints Commissioner, who acts independently of government to promote and protect the rights of consumers, and to help resolve issues between consumers and providers of health services.
In addition, Dr Davies is Tasmania’s Custodial Inspector, Ombudsman - Energy, de facto Tasmanian Information and Privacy Commissioner, Coordinator of the Official Visitors program, and Tasmania’s National Preventive Mechanism (NPM).
Careers
Any job vacancies will be advertised on the Tasmanian Government Jobs Website (external link).
We currently have no vacancies.