DISABILITY SERVICES ACT 1993 - SECT 40
DISABILITY SERVICES ACT 1993 - SECT 40
40 . Investigation of complaints and referred matters
[(1), (2) deleted]
(3) The Director may
at any time during an investigation try to encourage the settlement of a
complaint.
(4) The purpose of an
investigation is to enable the Director to decide whether or not any
unreasonable conduct referred to in section 33(2) or (4) has occurred and in
so deciding, the Director is to have regard to the following —
(a) the
principles in Schedule 1 and the objectives in Schedule 2;
(ba) in
the case of an investigation in relation to the provision of a resident
service, the following —
(i)
the principles and objectives set out in the Declared
Places Act Part 2;
(ii)
any relevant individual development plan as defined in
section 3 of that Act;
(iii)
each applicable minimum standard under section 46 of that
Act;
(iv)
the provisions of any relevant contract;
(b) any
agreement entered into by the service provider under section 25, or contract
entered into under section 26B or assigned to the service provider under
section 26C;
(c) any
disability access and inclusion plan prepared under section 28;
(d) the
generally accepted quality of service delivery expected of a service provider
or the Commission, as the case may be;
(e) the
Disability Services Standards;
(f) the
Carers Charter.
(5) In conducting an
investigation the Director —
(a) must
proceed with as little formality and technicality and as speedily as the
requirements of this Part and proper investigation of the matter permits; and
(b) is
not bound by the rules of evidence but may inform himself or herself of any
matter in such manner as he or she considers appropriate; and
(c) may,
subject to this Part and the rules of natural justice, determine his or her
own procedures.
(6) In conducting an
investigation the Director may make use of a member of the staff.
(7) If the
conciliation process is successful in the settlement of a complaint between
the complainant and the respondent, the conciliator must make a final report
to the Director on the result of that process.
(8) A report made
under subsection (7) is to include details of any agreement reached.
[Section 40 amended: No. 44 of 1999 s. 18 and 22;
No. 37 of 2004 s. 29; No. 57 of 2004 s. 26; No. 33 of 2010 s. 45; No. 40 of
2012 s. 16; No. 4 of 2015 s. 79.]