Public health complaints
The Health Protection Service investigates complaints about issues that present a public health risk in the ACT.
Complaints can include:
- Food safety including food poisoning, foreign matter and contamination, pests, food handling, cleanliness and premises.
- Infection control businesses that penetrate the skin such as dentists, podiatrists, acupuncturists, beauty therapists, colonic irrigation clinics, cosmetic skin clinics, nail salons, tattooists, body piercers, medical practices, pathology collection centres, infusion therapy and also hairdressers.
- Medicines and poisons including forgery, theft, storage, supply errors and unauthorised prescribing, possession or supply.
- Radiation safety including the use of ionising radiation (such as X-rays) and the storage and use of radioactive substances.
- Environmental health issues including offensive odours, garbage, water quality, mould, residential overcrowding, insanitary conditions, boarding houses, sewerage chokes and health issues at regulated businesses including swimming pools and spas.
How to make a complaint
You can make a complaint to the Health Protection Service by:
- phoning 02 5124 9700
- emailing hps@act.gov.au
- posting to: Locked Bag 5005, Weston Creek ACT 2611.
What to include
1. The name and address of the premises, if applicable.
2. The nature of the public health issue.
3. Your name and contact details (phone number, email, postal address) you can be contacted for more details on the outcome of your complaint. You can make a complaint anonymously if you prefer.
4. For food poisoning or food contamination complaints, tell us if you have kept a sample of the food.
Other types of complaints
If your complaint is not about a public health issue, another agency may be able to investigate:
- Domestic Animal Services – dog attacks, animal nuisance matters, injured animals, impounded dogs and lost/found animals.
- Environment Protection Authority – water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution, waste, litter and chemical pollution.
- City Rangers – sharps removal, illegal activities, line of sight problems and use of unleased Territory land.
- Access Canberra – tobacco and liquor licensing and smoke-free area enforcement.
If your complaint is about the Health Protection Service
The Health Protection Service is committed to providing quality customer service.
If you have a concern or issue with the service you have received from the Health Protection Service or a staff member there are multiple ways to raise your concern:
- Informally with the staff member providing the service or their manager.
- Formally with the staff member’s manager.
- By contacting us by phone, email or post.
- Through the ACT Health customer feedback form.