The Department of Housing and Public Works is committed to effectively handling complaints in a timely and professional manner.
Your complaints and feedback provide us with information to help improve our services.
If you have a complaint about our service or actions, we encourage you to read the following information about making a complaint:
This information can also be found in our complaints brochure (PDF, 545KB).
What can I complain about?
You can make a complaint about any aspect of the services or actions of the department or its staff, including privacy breaches.
If we cannot help you with your complaint we will give you advice about where to get help.
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If I have a complaint, what should I do first?
If you have a complaint or a concern, there are some steps you can take to help us help you.
- Go local first: Many concerns can be resolved quickly and easily by speaking with local or frontline staff.
- Act quickly: Please tell us about the problem as soon as possible. The earlier you tell us, the sooner we can act.
- Make your complaint clear: To help us assess and resolve your complaint, please advise details such as dates, details of the issue, phone calls and any other supporting information. Please also tell us the outcome you are seeking or the action that you want the department to take.
Anonymous complaints
Anonymous complaints will be accepted.
However, in circumstances where an anonymous complaint is received, the department may find it difficult to thoroughly assess or respond to the complaint if there is insufficient detail.
In this situation, the complaint may not be assessed.
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How will my complaint be handled?
In the event that you make a complaint:
- your complaint will be treated seriously and investigated promptly
- reasonable assistance will be provided to you if you wish to make a complaint
- the department will handle the complaint in a way that is culturally appropriate and responsive to any special needs you may have
- as a complainant you will not be victimised
- attempts will be made to resolve your complaint within the local area in most instances
- how the department deals with your complaint will be commensurate with the seriousness, frequency and consequences of the complaint
- confidentiality will be observed as far as possible
- you will be given timely feedback about your complaint.
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Who do I contact to make a complaint?
View information on who to contact to make a complaint.
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What if I need help to make my complaint?
We can help by:
- providing an interpreter if you have language difficulties or are visually or hearing impaired
- letting you know where you can get further help and information.
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Privacy and your personal information
In the course of investigating and taking action in response to complaints, personal information will be collected and handled in accordance with the 11 Information Privacy Principles in the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld).
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Storage of complaint information
Documentation relating to complaints is stored on a file which is retained in locked storage.
Information relating to complaints is accessible only by those staff members whose duties require them to use the information.
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How will I know what’s happening to my complaint?
The departmental staff member managing your complaint will keep you informed about the progress of your complaint and any action taken.
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What can I do if I am unhappy with the outcome of my complaint?
If you are dissatisfied with how your complaint has been dealt with, you can request that your complaint be reviewed by the department.
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What can I do if I am unhappy with how the department has handled my complaint?
If you are dissatisfied with any action taken by the department in relation to your complaint, and after you have exhausted all available avenues of review within the department, you can request that the decision be reviewed by the Office of the Queensland Ombudsman:
Office of the Queensland Ombudsman
Phone: (07) 3005 7000
freecall 1800 068 908
ombudsman@ombudsman.qld.gov.au
Breach of privacy
If your complaint is about a breach of privacy and you are dissatisfied with the department’s resolution of your complaint, you can lodge a complaint with the Office of the Information Commissioner:
Phone: (07) 3234 7373
administration@oic.qld.gov.au
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More information
For more information about how we handle complaints, please read our Complaints Management Policy (PDF, 211KB) and Complaints Management Procedure (PDF, 84KB).
For specific information relating to public interest disclosures (including complaints involving suspected official misconduct) please refer to:
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