Meet the Ombudsman and Commissioner
Richelle McCausland is the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman and the National Health Practitioner Privacy Commissioner
Richelle McCausland is the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman and National Health Practitioner Privacy Commissioner. She is currently serving her third term as Ombudsman and Commissioner after first being appointed to the role in May 2018.
Each complaint my office receives is important. We strive not only to resolve individual concerns but to recognise the potential of each complaint to provide invaluable information about systemic issues that may also be affecting others.
Message from Richelle McCausland
I am honoured and energised to enter my third term as Ombudsman and Commissioner following my reappointment by Health Ministers in 2023–24.
My office provides a free and independent complaint-handling service that people can turn to if they have concerns about how their matter has been handled in Australia’s health practitioner regulatory system.
We continue to see rapid changes to health practitioner regulation in response to evolving workforce and community needs. This environment has highlighted my office’s unique importance as a champion of fairness and good administrative processes.
My office regularly talks about complaints as ‘gifts’ because they highlight how a process could be improved to benefit others.
I encourage you to contact my office if you would like to make a complaint about how your matter has been handled, or explore our website to find out more about how we can assist.
Richelle McCausland
National Health Practitioner Ombudsman
National Health Practitioner Privacy Commissioner
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About usAbout us
Learn more about our vision, purpose and values.
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How we can help
How we can helpOur office accepts complaints to the Ombudsman, complaints to the Commissioner and applications for a review of an FOI decision.
