Whether you wish to compliment us about something or make a complaint, your feedback is very important in helping us improve our service and systems.

Compliments
Compliments are expressions of praise, encouragement or gratitude about the services we deliver.

Complaints
If you felt the service you (or someone under your care) received from us did not meet your expectations, you have the right to make a complaint.

Your complaints are recorded and help us to improve our services. All complaints are handled with sensitivity and in confidence. You can expect to be treated fairly and for your service to continue uninterrupted.

You also have the right to involve an advocate, family member or friend for support or guidance if you would like.

How to lodge a compliment or complaint

• Talk directly to the worker concerned or the service manager
• Fill in the online form
• Download the Compliments & Complaints  brochure, fill in the form and post it to us
• Telephone us on 1300 946 337.

Other useful resources:

Consumer Affairs Victoria
Ph: 1300 558 181
Web: consumer.vic.gov.au
Email: consumer@justice.vic.gov.au

Health Services Commissioner – Make A Complaint
Ph: 1300 582 113
Toll Free: 1800 136 066
Web: health.vic.gov.au/hsc/complaint
Email: hsc@health.vic.gov.au

Ombudsman Victoria
Ph: 9613 6222 Free Call: 1800 806 314
Web: ombudsman.vic.gov.au
Email: ombudvic@ombudsman.vic.gov.au

Privacy Victoria
Ph: 1300 666 444
Email: enquiries@privacy.vic.gov.au

Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission
Ph: 1300 292 153
Web: humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au
Email: enquiries@veohrc.vic.gov.au

NDIS Commission – Make A Complaint
Ph: 1800 035 544
TTY: 133 677
Web: ndiscommission.gov.au

VALID - Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability
Ph: 9416 4003
Freecall: 1800 655 570 (Rural Victoria only)
Web: valid.org.au
Email: office@valid.org.au

Department of Health and Human Services
Complaints, Integrity and Privacy Unit (CIPu)
Ph: 1300 884 706
Email: complaints.reception@dhs.vic.gov.au

Department of Education and Training
Ph: 8765 5600
Email: sevr@edumail.vic.gov.au (South Eastern Victoria Region)

Homelessness Advocacy Service (Vic)
Free Call:1800 066 256

Department of Justice
Ph: 1800 819 817
Web: victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au
Email: vsa@justice.vic.gov.au

We define diversity as valuing and respecting differences so we promote and encourage an inclusive society that provides opportunities for all people to fully participate in our organisation and in public and civil life.

Our Diversity Policy is key to guiding our practices and processes so that we are inclusive of all people regardless of their race, sexual identity, gender, ethnic group, age, personality, learning style, tenure, organisational function, education, background and more. As a result, we are proud to have staff from diverse backgrounds.

For consumers requiring additional assistance we are able to engage a registered interpreter.

Our Privacy Policy is about how we handle your personal information.

We collect personal information from you when it is reasonably necessary for a business purpose. That means we collect it to supply you with the services and/or products you have asked for and to provide you with the best possible service.

Other reasons we collect personal information are to:

• Understand you and how we can meet your needs now and in the future
• Develop or evaluate services and products
• Make ads more relevant to you
• Manage our business
• Comply with our legal obligations

We may collect personal information like your name, address, date of birth, gender, occupation, location, contact details or payment details depending on the activity you undertake with us. There are a few different ways we collect this information.

Read our complete Privacy Policy.

We believe that children in contact with our service should:

• feel comfortable
• be cared for
• feel safe and secure.

Everyone who works here does their best to make sure children are protected from harm.

We will:

• give our highest priority to the promotion and protection of a child's safety, health, development, education and wellbeing
• guide our people on acceptable behaviour and appropriate boundaries when working with children
• increase community awareness on the importance of child wellbeing and child safety
• report to Windermere management if we believe a child or young person is at risk of being harmed or has been harmed
• raise and refer to Police, Child Protection and/or the Commission for Children and Young People any form of child abuse (as required by law).
• work with children and young people in accordance with the Child Safety and Wellbeing Act 2005 and the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005

Windermere is committed to equity & equality for consumers and employees, by building diverse and inclusive services and work environments, where all peoples from Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander, Culturally & Linguistically Diverse, LGBTIQ+ Communities and those living with disability will know and feel accepted, affirmed, safe and celebrated. Windermere is delivering this through the continued development and implementation of our Welcoming and Inclusion Strategy 2021-2024.

All forms of discrimination, including that based on race, culture, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity, will not be tolerated. All employees, consumers and visitors are expected to behave in non-discriminatory ways.