HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES COMPLAINTS ACT 2004 - SECT 57
HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES COMPLAINTS ACT 2004 - SECT 57
57—Complaints received by Commissioner that relate to registered service
providers
(1) If the
Commissioner receives a complaint that involves a registered service provider,
the Commissioner should consult with the relevant registration authority about
the management of the complaint unless—
(a) the
matter is resolved through informal mediation under Part 4 Division 2; or
(b) the
Commissioner determines to take no further action on the complaint under Part
4 Division 3.
(2) If the
Commissioner and the registration authority agree, the complaint may be
referred to the registration authority.
(3) Subject to
subsection (4), if the Commissioner and a registration authority fail to
reach an agreement as to whether the Commissioner or the
registration authority should deal with the complaint—
(a) the
party (either the Commissioner or the registration authority) that considers
that the complaint warrants investigation will be responsible for conducting
such an investigation under the provisions of this Act or the relevant
registration law (as the case may be) and the other party must take no further
action pending the outcome of that investigation; or
(b) if
both parties consider that the complaint warrants investigation, the
registration authority must comply with the written decision of the
Commissioner on the matter.
(4) If the
registration authority is of the view that without further investigation there
are sufficient grounds for the matter to be heard as a disciplinary proceeding
in accordance with the relevant registration law, the Commissioner must refer
the complaint to the registration authority and take no action (other than
under section 64) unless or until the registration authority refers the
matter (or any aspect of the matter) back to the Commissioner.
(5) If a complaint
relates to a nationally registered health practitioner, the matter will
proceed under Part 8 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law
(South Australia) rather than under a preceding subsection.
(6) The Commissioner
and a registration authority may agree on protocols that relate to—
(a) the
consultation processes referred to in subsection (1); and
(b) the
referral of complaints between the Commissioner and the registration authority
after taking into account the principles reflected by this section and the
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (South Australia) , as may be
relevant.