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Complaints

If you have concerns that your practitioner may have acted unethically while providing mental health services, you have the right to make a complaint.

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The VMHPAA Code of Ethics, Practice and General Conduct provides detailed information about the required standards for ethical practice. 

How do I lodge a complaint about a VMHPAA member?

  • I am a member of the public and I am seeking advice on the requirements of ethical conduct of VMHPAA registered members; or

  • I am wanting to find out how to make an ethics related complaint against a VMHPAA counsellor.

  • I am a registered VMHPAA member and I wish to lodge an ethics related complaint against another VMHPAA member.

Complaints to VMHPAA about a member

VMHPAA can only hear complaints against currently registered members of the VMHPAA who were registered with the VMHPAA at the time the therapy was provided.

What is the process to lodge a complaint?

1.   In every state of Australia, it is appropriate to lodge your formal complaint with the governing health complaints body in your state.  Please select your state below to be directed to the website of the health complaints body in your state.​​​​​​​

State Complaints Commission Links

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​​​​​2.   VMHPAA addresses all legitimate formal complaints (complaint) lodged in accordance with the VMHPAA Code of Ethics, Practice and General Conduct.

 

3.   Should you wish to raise your ethics related complaint about one of our members with the VMHPAA, please contact our office at ethics@vmhpaa.org.au to ensure the member is currently registered with the VMHPAA and was registered with us at the time the therapy was provided.

  • If the member you wish to lodge complaint about is confirmed as being currently listed on the VMHPAA register and were so registered at the time the therapy was provided, our admin team will promptly email you a link to complete a Complaint Form to register your formal complaint.

  • Receipt of your registered formal complaint will be acknowledged immediately.

  • A VMHPAA staff member will contact you to discuss your complaint as soon as possible. 

  • The VMHPAA staff member will also advise you if the legitimate complaint you have lodged needs to be escalated to the governing body in your state, if you have not already done so.

  • The VMHPAA staff member will notify you of the outcome of your complaint once our process is completed. 

What happens if the therapist I want to complain about is not on the VMHPAA register?

  1. If the therapist you wish to make a complaint about was not listed on the VMHPAA register at the time the therapy was conducted, it is most likely that they may be registered with another professional association.

  2. In all cases, you can contact the health complaints body in your state or territory here

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