Industry ombudsmen and regulators
There are consumer regulators for specific industries. Some of these regulators can also assist with complaints.
Some industries have a national ombudsman that provides dispute resolution services. Examples are the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and the Australian Financial Complaints Authority.
Other industries, such as energy, have an industry ombudsman and dispute resolution offices in each state and territory.
Aged care
Aged Care Complaints Commissioner
Charities
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
Disability
National
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
National Disability Insurance Agency
Australian Human Rights Commission
Australian Capital Territory
ACT Human Rights Commission
New South Wales
Ombudsman New South Wales
Northern Territory
Health and Community Services Complaints Commission
South Australia
Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner
Tasmania
Health Complaints Commissioner Tasmania
Victoria
Disability Services Commissioner
Western Australia
Health and Disability Services Complaints Office
Education
Higher education
Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency
Vocational education
Australian Skills Quality Authority
International students dealing with private education providers in Australia
Commonwealth Ombudsman
Energy and water
Australian Energy Regulator
State and territory energy ombudsmen
Financial products and services
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) enforces consumer credit laws and consumer protection laws in relation to financial products and services. ASIC does not resolve individual disputes but can give you information about your rights and next steps. ASIC also uses the information from reports to inform its education, compliance and enforcement work.
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority is the dispute resolution scheme for financial products and services. It considers complaints about credit, finance and loans, insurance, banking deposits and payments, investments and financial advice, and superannuation.
Small business - national
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman
ASBFEO dispute assistance
Small business – state and territory
New South Wales
Office of the NSW Small Business Commissioner
Queensland
Office of the Queensland Small Business Commissioner
South Australia
Office of the South Australian Small Business Commissioner
Victoria
Victorian Small Business Commission
Western Australia
Western Australian Small Business Commissioner
Postal services
The Commonwealth Ombudsman can investigate complaints about Australia Post and StarTrack.
Privacy
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
Private health insurance
Commonwealth Ombudsman
Rental tenancy
Queensland
Residential Tenancies Authority
Other states and territories
In other states and territories, the rental tenancy regulator is the local consumer protection agency.
Telecommunications
The Telecommunications ombudsman handles complaints about telecommunications providers, where you have already tried to resolve the issue with the provider first.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority handles complaints about specific telecommunications issues it regulates. This includes spam, online gambling and complaints about TV and radio broadcasting standards.
Therapeutic goods
The Therapeutic Goods Administration regulates the supply, import, export, manufacturing and advertising of therapeutic goods, medical devices and medicines.
