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What is a complaint?
A complaint can be about anything happening you are not happy with or that makes you feel unsafe. This could be an organisation's service, the way staff or another child or young person behaves, or the way a problem or situation was handled.
You should say something to someone if you ever:
- Don't feel safe.
- Are being hurt.
- Feel unhappy with the way you're being treated.
It takes courage to make a complaint. It doesn't have to be a negative experience.
How can I go through a positive complaint process?
Following this process will help you have a positive and supported experience talking
1. Find support.
This person/s will be someone you can trust, like a parent, friend, carer, teacher or coach. This person will be able to help you make a complaint.
2. Tell your support person.
Have a yarn with your support person about why it is that you aren’t feeling safe or happy.
Share with them how the problem has made you feel and how it is affecting your life.
It would also be very helpful to talk to them about what you feel would help to fix it.
3. Make your complaint.
Have a go making the complaint yourself.
It is always good to ask what will happen next, who will get back to you and how long it will take.
You have a right for adults to always listen to you, answer your questions and treat you with respect.
What can help me make a complaint?
Here are some resources made for young people to help you tell someone about your problem and what might happen.
- Top tips on how to make a complaint video from the Commissioner for Children and Young People Western Australia.
- Please note the contact information contained withing this video is targeted at young people from Western Australia.
- How to make a complaint leaflet
- This leaflet is available in Arabic, Chinese, Filipino, Hindi, Greek, Italian, Punjabi, Spanish and Vietnamese on the National Office for Child Safety website.
- Complaints poster by Aboriginal young people
Where can I make a complaint about a service or organisation?
Check the website of the organisation
Most organisations have complaint forms on their websites to help you make a complaint. To find a form on a website look for the words feedback, comments or contact us.
The Queensland Ombudsman
The Ombudsman provides advice and information to help people make complaints to QLD Government organisations and to understand what happens after a complaint is made.
Making a complaint about anyone at the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC)
The Principal Commissioner, Commissioner and QFCC staff are happy to listen to whatever you want to say to us.
If your complaint is about us, please phone us on (07) 3900 6000 or complete the QFCC Contact Us Webform.
Other help
There are also other ongoing support and information services that are there to help you:
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
- Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
- Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
- 1800 Respect 1800 737 732
- 13 YARN - 13 92 76 - for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- headspace 1800 650 890
- Queensland Health 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
- Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) 1800 177 833
- Counselling online (drug and alcohol) 1800 888 236
- Quitline 13 78 48
- SANE Australia 1800 18 7263
- youthbeyondblue 1300 22 46 36
- PANDA (perinatal anxiety and depression) 1300 726 306
- Butterfly Foundation (eating disorders) 1800 334 673
- Eating Disorders Queensland (07) 3844 6055
- QLife (LGBTIQ+) 1800 184 527
- Griefline 1300 845 745
- Grow Australia (support through peer groups) 1800 558 268
- and many more