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Overview

Under the Standing Rules and Orders of the Legislative Assembly (Queensland) (SO 194A), the committee's functions are:

• to monitor and review the performance by the entity of the entity’s functions;
• to report to the Legislative Assembly on any matter concerning the entity, the entity's functions or the performance of the entity’s functions that the committee considers should be drawn to the Legislative Assembly’s attention;
• to examine the annual report of the entity tabled in the Legislative Assembly and, if appropriate, to comment on any aspect of the report; and
• to report to the Legislative Assembly any changes to the functions, structures and procedures of the entity that the committee considers desirable for the more effective operation of the entity or the Act which establishes the entity.

The committee is responsible for monitoring and review of the operation of the health service complaints management system, which includes:

• the Health Ombudsman
• the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra, the National Agency) and 15 health practitioner registration boards (National Boards) – regarding the conduct, performance and health of registered health practitioners who provide health services in Queensland.

The Health Ombudsman commenced operations on 1 July 2014, and replaced the former Health Quality and Complaints Commission.

In accordance with section 179 of the Health Ombudsman Act 2013, the committee’s functions are:

• monitor and review the operation of the health service complaints management system;
• identify and report on particular ways in which the health service complaints management system might be improved;
• monitor and review the performance by the Health Ombudsman of the health ombudsman’s functions
• monitor and review the National Boards’ and National Agency’s performance of their functions relating to the health, conduct and performance of registered health practitioners who provide health services in Queensland
• examine reports of the Health Ombudsman, the National Agency and National Boards
• advise the Minister in relation to the appointment of the Health Ombudsman
• report to the Legislative Assembly on matters referred by the Legislative Assembly, and any matter the committee considers should be brought to the Assembly’s attention.

The committee’s does not have the power to re-investigate complaints or reconsider a decision or finding of the Health Ombudsman, Ahpra or the national boards. The committee does not act as an appeal body in respect of decisions made by the Health Ombudsman, AHPRA or the national boards. 

PUBLIC PROCEEDINGS

See timeline below for further information.

Timeline

Further Information

Information about the Health Ombudsman, AHPRA and the national boards can be found on these websites:

• Health Ombudsman
• Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia
• Chinese Medicine Board of Australia
• Chiropractic Board of Australia
• Dental Board of Australia
• Medical Board of Australia
• Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia
• Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
• Occupational Therapy Board of Australia
• Optometry Board of Australia
• Osteopathy Board of Australia
• Pharmacy Board of Australia
• Physiotherapy Board of Australia
• Podiatry Board of Australia
• Psychology Board of Australia
• Paramedicine Board of Australia