Compliments and complaints

If you would like to compliment us on something we've done well, you can:

• send us your compliment by using the Queensland Government complaints and compliments online form
• send your feedback to the relevant area of the department.

You can make a complaint about any aspect of the services or actions of the department or our staff, including human rights and privacy breaches.

If you have a complaint or a concern, there are some steps you can take to help us help you.

1. Go local first: Many concerns can be resolved quickly and easily by speaking with local staff.
2. Act quickly: Please tell us about the problem as soon as possible. The earlier you tell us, the sooner we can act.
3. Make your complaint clear: To help us assess and resolve your complaint, please give us as much information as possible including details of the issue, dates, phone calls and any other supporting information. Please also tell us the outcome you are seeking or the action that you want the department to take.

We can help by:

• providing an interpreter if you have language difficulties or are visually or hearing impaired
• letting you know where you can get further help and information.

If we cannot help you with your complaint we will give you advice about where to get help.

We will not accept complaints about:

• matters already dealt with or currently being dealt with by the department, another department or agency, court or tribunal
• matters that are impractical to investigate, or
• matters that appear to concern frivolous matters or appear to have been made vexatiously.

Anonymous complaints

Anonymous complaints will be accepted.

However, in circumstances where an anonymous complaint is received, we may find it difficult to thoroughly assess or respond to the complaint if there is not enough detail.

In this situation, the complaint may not be able to be fully assessed. For this reason, we encourage complainants to provide their contact details. A complainant who wishes to remain anonymous may provide an alias instead.

If you make a complaint:

• it will be treated seriously and actioned promptly
• we will consider human rights and privacy as part of the handling of your complaint
• we will provide reasonable assistance to you
• we will handle your complaint in a way that is culturally appropriate and responsive to any special needs you may have
• you will not be victimised
• in most instances, we will attempt to resolve your complaint within the local area
• we will deal with your complaint according to the seriousness and consequences of the complaint
• confidentiality will be observed as far as possible
• you will be given timely feedback about your complaint.

Privacy and your personal information

In the course of investigating and taking action in response to complaints, personal information will be collected and handled in accordance with the 11 Information Privacy Principles in the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld).

Documentation relating to complaints is retained in locked storage. Information relating to complaints is accessible only by those staff members whose duties require them to deal with the information.

We will keep you informed about the progress of your complaint and any action taken.

If you are unhappy with the outcome

If you are unhappy with how your complaint has been dealt with, you can request that your complaint is reviewed by the department.

If you are dissatisfied with any action taken by the department in relation to your complaint, and after you have exhausted all available avenues of review within the department, you can request that the decision be reviewed by the Office of the Queensland Ombudsman.

If your complaint is about a breach of privacy and you are dissatisfied with the department’s resolution of your complaint, you can lodge a complaint with the Office of the Information Commissioner.

Similarly, if your complaint is about a breach of human rights and you are dissatisfied with the department’s resolution of your complaint, you can lodge a complaint with the Queensland Human Rights Commission.

For more information about how we handle complaints, please read our:

• Complaints management policy (PDF, 507.81 KB)
• Complaints management procedure (PDF, 351.01 KB).

For specific information relating to public interest disclosures (including complaints involving suspected corrupt conduct), please read our:

• Public interest disclosure policy (PDF, 233.14 KB)
• Public interest disclosure procedure (PDF, 257.16 KB)
• Corrupt conduct prevention policy (PDF, 261.5 KB)
• Corrupt conduct prevention procedure (PDF, 216.33 KB)
• DEC Section 48A policy (PDF, 190.67 KB)

In accordance with section 264 of the Public Sector Act 2022, the department is required to report on customer complaints received during each financial year.

The following is a summary of customer complaints received by the department during 2023-24:

• Customer complaints received by the department: 2
• Customer complaints resulting in further action: 2
• Customer complaints resulting in no further action: 0
• Customer complaints still in progress as at 30 June 2024: 0

The customer complaints received by the department in 2023-24 were managed pursuant to the department’s Complaints management policy and procedure.

You may submit your complaint or compliment by

• calling 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
• using the Queensland Government complaints and compliments online form.

Alternatively you can contact the relevant area of the department directly as set out below.