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Multiple Sclerosis Australia (MS Australia) values feedback from all our stakeholders to help the organisation improve outcomes for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Complaints form part of that feedback and are managed fairly, efficiently, and effectively.
This policy applies to all volunteers, contractors, community and stakeholders that interact with MS Australia, our staff, the executive and the directors on our Board.
Complaint: An expression of dissatisfaction made to or about us, our services, staff or the handling of a complaint where a response or resolution is explicitly or implicitly expected or legally required. (AS/NZ 10002:2014)
As well as complaints being made directly to our organisation, remember that some complaints (or at least negative comments) may be made on social media.
Complaint handling/management system: All policies, procedures, practices, staff, hardware and software, used by us, in the management of complaints.
Dispute: An unresolved complaint escalated either within or outside of our organisation.
Feedback: Opinions, comments and expressions of interest or concern, made directly or indirectly, explicitly, or implicitly, to or about us, about our services or complaint handling system, where a response is not explicitly or implicitly expected, or legally required.
MS Australia is required to comply with a wide variety of legislation, which is detailed within our Acts and Standards Register.
Name | Name of website | Site address |
Corporations Act 2001 | Comlaw | |
Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) | The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner | |
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 (Cth) (the ACNC Act) | Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) |
MS Australia aims to have a complaint handling system that is fair, accessible, responsive, efficient, and integrated into our practice.
All complaints should be made by contacting MS Australia:
MS Australia
PO Box 625, North Sydney NSW 2061
1300 356 467
1.1 People focus: We are committed to seeking and receiving feedback and complaints about our services, systems, practices, procedures, products and complaint handling.
Any concerns raised in feedback or complaints will be dealt with, within a reasonable timeframe (as in AS/NZ 10002).
People making complaints will be:
1.2 No detriment to people making complaints: We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that people making complaints are not adversely affected because a complaint has been made by them or on their behalf.
1.3 Anonymous complaints: We accept anonymous complaints if there is a compelling reason to do so.
We will carry out a confidential investigation of the issues raised where there is enough information provided.
1.4 Accessibility: We will ensure that information about how and where complaints may be made to, or about us, is well publicised on our website.
We will ensure that our systems for managing complaints are easily understood and accessible to everyone, particularly people who may require assistance.
If a person prefers or needs another person or organisation to assist or represent them in the making and/ or resolution of their complaint, we will communicate with them through their representative, if this is their wish.
Anyone may represent a person wishing to make a complaint with their consent (e.g., advocate, family member, legal or community representative, member of Parliament, another organisation).
1.5 There is no cost associated with making a complaint.
2.1 Early resolution: Where possible, complaints will be resolved at first contact with us.
When appropriate, we may offer an explanation or apology to the person making the complaint.
2.2 Responsiveness: We will promptly acknowledge receipt of complaints.
We will assess and prioritise complaints in accordance with the urgency and/or seriousness of the issues raised.
If a matter concerns an immediate risk to safety or security, the response will be immediate and will be escalated appropriately.
We are committed to managing people’s expectations, and will inform them as soon as possible, of the following:
We will advise people as soon as possible when we are unable to deal with any part of their complaint and provide advice about where such issues and/or complaints may be directed (if known and appropriate).
We will also advise people as soon as possible when we are unable to meet our time frames for responding to their complaint, and the reason for our delay.
Where a complaint is made anonymously, we will be unable to advise the anonymous complainant of progress of the complaint. The complaint will however be treated in the same manner and with the same level or urgency.
2.3 Objectivity and fairness: We will address each complaint with integrity and in an equitable, objective and unbiased manner. We will ensure that the person handling a complaint is different from any staff member whose conduct, or service is being complained about.
Conflicts of interest, whether actual or perceived, will be managed responsibly.
Internal reviews of how a complaint was managed will be conducted by a person other than the original decision maker.
2.4 Responding flexibly: Our staff are empowered to resolve complaints promptly and with as little formality as possible.
We will adopt flexible approaches to service delivery and problem solving to enhance accessibility for people making complaints and/or their representatives.
We will assess each complaint on its merits and involve people making complaints and/or their representative in the process as far as possible.
2.5 Confidentiality: We will protect the identity of people making complaints where this is practical and appropriate.
Personal information that identifies individuals will only be disclosed or used by us, as permitted under the relevant privacy laws, secrecy provisions and any relevant confidentiality obligations.
Complaints involving multiple agencies: Where a complaint involves multiple organisations, we will work with the other organisation/s where possible, to ensure that communication with the person making a complaint and/or their representative is clear and coordinated.
Subject to privacy and confidentiality considerations, communication and information sharing between the parties will also be organised to facilitate a timely response to the complaint.
Where a complaint involves multiple areas within our organisation, responsibility for communicating with the person making the complaint and/or their representative, will also be coordinated.
Where our services are contracted out, we expect contracted service providers to have an accessible and comprehensive complaint management system.
We take complaints not only about the actions of our staff but also the actions of our service providers.
Empowerment of staff: All staff managing complaints are empowered to implement our complaint management system as relevant to their role and responsibilities.
Staff are encouraged to provide feedback on the effectiveness and efficiency of all aspects of our complaint management system.
Managing unreasonable conduct by people making complaints: We are committed to being accessible and responsive to all people who approach us with feedback or complaints.
At the same time our success depends on:
When people behave unreasonably in their dealings with us, their conduct can significantly affect the progress and efficiency of our work.
As a result, we will take proactive and decisive action to manage any conduct that negatively and unreasonably affects us and will support our staff to do the same, in accordance with this policy.
Alternative avenues for dealing with complaints: We will inform people who make complaints to or about us, about any internal or external review options available to them (including any relevant Ombudsman or oversight regulatory bodies).
The three levels of complaint handling:
Level 1 We aim to resolve complaints at the first level, the frontline. Wherever possible staff will be adequately equipped to respond to complaints, including being given appropriate authority, training and supervision.
Level 2 Where this is not possible, we may decide to escalate the complaint to a more senior officer within our organisation. This second level of complaint handling will provide for the following internal mechanisms:
Level 3 Where a person making a complaint is dissatisfied with the outcome of our review of their complaint, they may seek an external review of our decision (by the Australian Charities and Not-for Profits Commission (ACNC) for example).
Analysis and evaluation of complaints: We will ensure that complaints are recorded in a systematic way, so that information can be easily retrieved for reporting and analysis by management and the governing body of Directors. We will run regular reports on:
Regular analysis of these reports will be undertaken to monitor trends, measure the quality of our customer service and make improvements.
Both reports and their analysis will be provided to our CEO, senior management and to our governing body for review, at least annually.
Monitoring of the complaint management system: We will continually monitor our complaint management system to:
Continuous improvement: We are committed to improving the way our organisation operates, including our management of the effectiveness and efficiency of our complaint management system.
To this end, we will:
