Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights

Everyone should be able to have safe and good care. This is your right.

The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights is a guide to how you should be treated during your care.

You should tell us what things that matter to you during your care. This is your responsibility.

Versions of the charter

Human rights

Under Queensland’s Human Rights Act 2019 we have a legal duty to respect, protect and promote human rights.

Learn more about your human rights under the Act.

Children and young people

Metro South Health is a Child Safe Organisation.

That means we care about the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

If you’re under 18, you can expect to:

  • be safe, listened to and respected
  • have a say about your care
  • have access to safe spaces
  • tell us about any problems or concerns.

This applies everywhere in Metro South Health – whether you’re coming for your own care or visiting someone else.

Our welcome video is for children and young people, and their parents and guardians, who are coming to hospital or visiting one of our services. It is also for our staff.

Metro South Health's welcome video for children and young people
Duration: 1:33

Hi! Welcome to Metro South Health.

You might be staying in hospital, visiting for the day, or coming to one of our community clinics.

Whatever you are doing, we want you to be safe while you're here.

That's why we are a Child Safe Organisation.

A Child Safe Organisation is a place where all kids feel welcome, are treated with respect, can be themselves and most of all, feel safe.

Here are some things we'll do to make sure you're safe.

We'll tell you about what's happening.

We'll talk to the adults who support you about making sure you are safe and well.

And most importantly, we'll listen to you if you are worried or scared.

You'll see lots of different staff while you're here: doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers.

We'll make sure our staff know how to keep you safe and well. And we'll keep learning all the time.

Hospitals and clinics are big places. We'll make sure they're safe for kids. This includes physical spaces and online.

If you're worried about anything, talk to your parents or carers. Or a staff member, they are here to help.

Thanks for watching!

Our statement of commitment [PDF 887.02 KB] also describes what we will do to ensure a safe and supportive environment for children and young people.

Plan your treatment and care

Clinical handover

When you're in hospital, you'll often see nurses and other staff at your bedside discussing your care. We call this a clinical handover. It allows the nurses to discuss your care to ensure it continues as planned. These discussions can include doctors and other health professionals.

During clinical handover, you'll meet the nurse coming on duty for the next shift. The nurses may share:

  • your medical history
  • your clinical condition
  • tests and procedures that you've had or you'll have soon
  • what help you need with daily tasks such as showering and toileting
  • plans for your discharge, even if it's a few days away.

You can ask a friend or family member to be at your clinical handover.

Making health decisions

Advance care planning

Advance care planning is thinking about and making choices now that will guide your future care.

Some people have strong beliefs about what they want to happen with their care in the future. If you do, it's important to make your plans and wishes known now.

You might need to make some tough decisions while you're in hospital. These could be about your treatment and care if you're seriously ill or facing the end of life.

We encourage you to discuss options with your health care team, family and carers.

It’s important for you to give clear instructions about your preferences and beliefs. You should also let your family and health care team know about advance health directive or power of attorney that you've made.

Find out more about advance care planning on the Queensland Government website. They also have different advance care planning documents you can use to help make your wishes clear.

Acute resuscitation plan

This is a medical order about the treatments you want if you become very sick and can't speak for yourself.

Find out more about acute resuscitation plans [PDF 118 KB] on the Clinical Excellence Queensland website.

Register as an organ and tissue donor

You can register to donate your organs or tissue when you die, or as a living donor.

Make sure you tell your family and friends if you want to be a donor. You can include your wishes in advance care planning.

To find out more visit the DonateLife website.

Raise concerns about a patient's health (Ryan's Rule)

Ryan's Rule is a 3 step process to support patients of any age, their families and carers, to raise concerns if a patient’s health condition is getting worse or not improving as well as expected.

Read more about the Ryan’s Rule process on the Queensland Government website.

Independent Patient Rights Advisers

If you’re having mental health treatment or care, an Independent Patient Rights Adviser can help you and your support person:

  • understand your rights and responsibilities, including getting a second opinion or making a complaint
  • share your views, wishes and preferences with your doctor and other health professionals
  • prepare for mental health review tribunals
  • get in touch with advocacy services, who can also help you understand your rights
  • organise future planning documents like an Advance Health Directive and an Enduring Power of Attorney.

They can also help you choose a nominated support person (NSP), who can make decisions about your treatment if you’re unable to.

How to use the IPRA Service

You can ask to talk to an Independent Patient Rights Adviser by phone, email or in person.

Read more about the support we offer on the Queensland Health website.

Feedback

You have a right to provide feedback.

We value your feedback and want you to tell us what is working well and where we can do better.

Access information

You have the right to ask for information about us, and to ask about information we hold about you.

Learn more about your right to information.

Last updated: December 2025

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