The Law Handbook 2024

730 Section 7: Consumers, contracts, the internet and copyright Electricity, gas and water Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria (EWOV) Central Tower, Level 8, 360 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne Vic 3000 Tel: 1800 500 509 Email: ewovinfo@ewov.com.au Web: www.ewov.com.au The EWOV investigates and facilitates the resolution of disputes by consumers against electricity, gas and water providers. The EWOV provides a free service. Finance Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) Tel: 1800 931 678 Email: info@afca.com.au Web: www.afca.org.au AFCA deals with complaints from consumers in the financial system. It replaced the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Credit and Investments Service in 2018. Food Food Safety Unit Victorian Government Department of Health 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne Vic 3001 Tel: 1300 364 352 Email: foodsafety@health.vic.gov.au Web: www.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/food-safety If you have safety or contamination concerns about a food product or business, or wish to report a case of illness caused by food, contact the Environmental Health Officer at the local council in the area where the food was purchased. If the local council is unable to assist, contact the Food Safety Unit. Health Medicare Australia Australian Government Services Australia Tel: 13 20 11 Web: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/medicare The Medicare Australia complaints line accepts complaints about the administrative actions of Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Complaints can also be directed to the Commonwealth Ombudsman (see Chapter 12.1: Taking a problem to an ombudsman). Victorian Health Complaints Commissioner (HCC) Level 26, 570 Bourke Street, Melbourne Vic 3000 Tel: 1300 582 113 Web: www.hcc.vic.gov.au The HCC investigates and facilitates the resolution of complaints against health service providers, including individual practitioners, public and private hospitals, health clinics, dentists, doctors and specialists (see Chapter 9.1: Health and the law). Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) Melbourne office: Level 8, 111 Bourke Street, Melbourne Vic 3000 Tel: 1300 419 495 Web: www.ahpra.gov.au Ahpra is the national agency responsible for the registration and accreditation of health pro­ fessionals in Australia, including doctors, nurses and midwives, chiropractors, dentists, optometrists, osteopaths, pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists and psychologists. Health insurance Private Health Insurance Ombudsman (PHIO) Tel: 1300 737 299 Web: www.privatehealth.gov.au The PHIO is a Commonwealth statutory body that provides private health insurance fund members with an independent service for the resolution of health insurance problems and enquiries. Local government Local Government Inspectorate Level 27, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne Vic 3000 Tel (admin): 7017 8212 Tel (complaints hotline): 1800 469 359 Email: inspectorate@lgi.vic.gov.au Web: www.lgi.vic.gov.au Investigates complaints about possible breaches by local councils of the Local Government Act 1989 (Vic). Public transport Public Transport Ombudsman Victoria Tel: 1800 466 865 Email: enquiries@ptovic.com.au Web: www.ptovic.com.au