The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights are the rights of everyone receiving healthcare in Australia. It applies to all people and all places where healthcare is being received and CAHS is committed to upholding these rights at all our sites across the metropolitan area.
Children's and young people's rights in healthcare services
We ensure that every child and young person has a right to:
1. Consideration of their best interests as the primary concern of all involved in his or her care.
2. Express their views, and to be heard and taken seriously.
3. The highest attainable standard of healthcare.
4. Respect for themselves as a whole person, as well as respect for their family and the family’s individual characteristics, beliefs, culture and contexts.
5. Be nurtured by their parents and family, and to have family relationships supported by the service in which the child or young person is receiving healthcare.
6. Information, in a form that is understandable to them.
7. Participate in decision-making and, as appropriate to their capabilities, to make decisions about their care.
8. Be kept safe from all forms of harm.
9. Have their privacy respected.
10. Participate in education, play, creative activities and recreation, even if this is difficult due to their illness or disability.
11. Continuity of healthcare, including well-planned care that takes them beyond and paediatric context.
Read more about the Australian Charter of Children and Young People in Healthcare Services.
Your responsibilities
- To help us provide better care, we need our patients, families and carers to:
- Tell staff about their health history and that of their family
- Tell staff about treatment or medication they are receiving when admitted to the health service
- Tell staff about any change in their condition or any problems they may have with their treatment
- Let staff know about any special needs they have, particularly any cultural, religious or access needs
- Be courteous and respect the role of health service staff
- Follow treatment instructions or let health service staff know if they cannot or do not wish to do so
- Keep appointments or let health service staff know as soon as possible if they are unable to attend
- Know that the health service has a special role in training health care professionals. Each person’s treatment may provide an opportunity for such training.
Making a complaint
We have a process for making a complaint about the service you have received at CAHS.
Making a complaint will not impact negatively on any future service or treatment you may receive.
Find out more about Compliments and complaints.
No smoking
To protect patients, visitors and staff, all CAHS sites are a smoke-free environment.
Filming and photography
You can film and photograph your child while they are a patient a CAHS.
However, any photography or filming of CAHS staff (all staff), other children or their family/carers without their permission is prohibited to ensure their privacy.