All people receiving Australian Government-funded residential care, home care or other aged care services in the community have rights, and Sydney Community Services respects you and your rights.

 

You have the right to:

  1. safe and high quality care and services;
  2. be treated with dignity and respect;
  3. have my identity, culture and diversity valued and supported;
  4. live without abuse and neglect;
  5. be informed about my care and services in a way I understand;
  6. access all information about myself, including information about my rights, care and services;
  7. have control over and make choices about my care, and personal and social life, including where the choices involve personal risk;
  8. have control over, and make decisions about, the personal aspects of my daily life, financial affairs and possessions;
  9. my independence;
  10. be listened to and understood;
  11. have a person of my choice, including an aged care advocate, support me or speak on my behalf;
  12. complain free from reprisal, and to have my complaints dealt with fairly and promptly;
  13. personal privacy and to have my personal information protected;
  14. exercise my rights without it adversely affecting the way I am treated.

If you have concerns about the aged care you are receiving, you can:

    • talk to your aged care provider, in the first instance
    • speak with an aged care advocate on 1800 700 600 or visit the Older Person’s Advocacy Network at  opan.com.au, for support to raise your concerns, or
    • contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822 or visit its website,  agedcarequality.gov.au The Commission can help you resolve a complaint about your aged care provider

More information on your aged care rights is available at https://agedcare.health.gov.au/quality/single-charter-of-aged-care-rights