Complaint bodies
There are different bodies in NSW that deal with certain types of complaints about certain organisations and agencies.
If you want to make a complaint about a certain issue there may be a complaint body, or in some circumstances, there may be a number of different organisations that you can make a complaint to. However, you may be limited in the number of complaints you can make.
There may also be time limits for you to make a complaint to.
If you are unsure who to make a complain to, you should get legal advice.
Aged Care
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission deals with complaints against aged care service providers, including about:
- health care, for example wound care and medication
- personal care assistance, for example eating and showering
- communication
- staff roles
- living environment, for example safety, security, heating and cooling, cleaning and building maintenance
- some fees and charges.
For more information, see 
The complaints process on the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission website.
Commonwealth agencies and Commonwealth matters
Commonwealth Ombudsman
The Commonwealth Ombudsman deals with complaints about:
- Commonwealth government agencies, including ASIC, Services Australia and the National Disability Insurance Scheme
- The Australian Federal Police
- The Australian Defence Force
- immigration issues
- private education providers in Australia, where the complaint is made by an overseas student
- postal services
- private health insurance providers
- VET student loans
- Commonwealth public interest disclosure.
For more information, see How we can help on the Commonwealth Ombudsman website.
Discrimination
Anti-Discrimination NSW
Anti-Discrimination NSW handles complaints under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) in regards to the following areas:
- employment
- goods and services
- state education
- accommodation
- registered clubs.
If you want to make a complaint to Anti-Discrimination NSW, you have 12 months from the date of the discrimination to lodge your complaint.
For more information, see 
Making a complaint on the Anti-Discrimination NSW website.
Australian Human Rights Commission
The Australian Human Rights Commission investigates complaints about discrimination and breaches of human rights.
You have 12 months from the date of the discrimination to make a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission.
For more information about the complaint process, see Make a complaint on the Australian Human Rights Commission website.
Employment
Fair Work Commission
The Fair Work Commission (the Commission) is Australia’s national workplace relations tribunal.
People employed under national awards (modern awards) and national agreements are covered by the Fair Work system.
The commission has powers to deal with:
- unfair dismissal claims
- anti-bullying claims
- general protections and unlawful termination claims.
Industrial Relations Commission
The Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) is the NSW workplace relations tribunal.
People employed under state awards and agreements in the public service in state and local government organisations are covered by the NSW Industrial Relations system.
The IRC has the power to deal with:
- contract determinations that involve some private sector employment, mostly in the transport sector
- unfair dismissal claims
- public sector disciplinary appeals
- applications under the Police Act, and
- industrial disputes.
For more information, see Claims and applications on the Industrial Relations Commission website.
Health care
Health Care Complaints Commission
The Health Care Complaints Commission deals with complains about all health services and providers in NSW, including:
- health organisations, such as public and private hospitals, medical centres, imaging and radiation services
- registered health practitioners, such as medical practitioners, nurses, dentists and pharmacists
- unregistered health practitioners, such as counsellors, speech therapists, massage therapists and alternative health care providers.
For more information, see Understanding Complaints on the Health Care Complaints Commission website.
NSW agencies and NSW matters
NSW Ombudsman
The NSW Ombudsman deals with complaints about:
- NSW government agencies, such as the Department of Education, the Department of Communities and Justice, DCJ Housing and Revenue NSW
- NSW government statutory bodies – NSW Education Standards Authority and the Rental Bond Board
- NSW state owned corporations – Sydney Water and WaterNSW
- state universities
- local councils, councillors and council staff
- custodial services, including in relation to private correctional centres
- community service provides, including in relation to non-government organisations that provide home and community care services, out-of-home care services for child and young people, support accommodation and assistance program services
- public interest disclosures.
For more information, see What you can complain about to us on the NSW Ombudsman website.
Victims of crime
Victims of crime in New South Wales have a Charter of Victims Rights (the Charter) to protect and promote their right.
The Charter of Victims Rights outlines 18 rights for victims of crime in NSW.
If you believe that a NSW Government or non-government agency or contractor (excluding private legal officers and medical practitioners) funded to provide services to victims of crime has not acted in accordance with the Charter of Victims Rights, you are entitled to make a complaint.
For more information, see If your rights have not been met on the Victims Services website.