CLIENTS RIGHTS

These are your rights as a client of the Mallee Domestic Violence Service.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT:

• To quality care from appropriately trained and experienced staff, respectful of your privacy and dignity regardless of social status, disability, a huge, sex, race, religion all political belief. 

• To expect that information concerning you will be treated confidentially.

• To request any information required to assist your understanding of services including a written information on consumer rights at the time of first contact with staff. 

• To make informed decisions on right to consent will refuse to dissipation in educational research programs, and the right to refuse treatment from students. 

• To have an advocate (friend, family member and / or interpreter) present when attending the service.  An interpreter can be provided by the Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs, telephone: (03) 9416 9999

• To request the transfer to another staff member by speaking with your worker or the coordinator. 

• Be aware that, depending on the type of service you are attending for, a record may be created for you and that details of services you receive may be recorded in that record.  If you wish to remain anonymous please discuss this with your worker.

• To be aware that in order to provide the best possible level of care, it may be necessary for appropriate staff to discuss some or all of your situation with other staff.  This will only be done after agreement with you.  Also, from time to time, it may be appropriate to exchange information with other agencies and this will only be done with your written consent.  You should be aware that, whilst it is an extremely rare occurrence, records can be subpoenaed by the courts. 

• To make a complaint about the services or treatment you have received, you may speak directly to the coordinator and if you are not satisfied, send a written complaint to the Committee of Management of the service.  If necessary, an advocate can be appointed to assist you.  You also have the Loddon and Mallee Regional Office on (03) 54345555.

• To continued access to services after making a complaint.

• To tell us if you are happy with the services you have received, please let us know.