Free Health Advocacy Support in Western Australia

Need help with a healthcare problem?

If you are struggling to access healthcare, understand your options, resolve a healthcare issue, or make your voice heard, HCCWA may be able to help.

Health Consumers’ Council WA provides Australia’s only free and independent individual health advocacy service.

Our advocates support people across the healthcare system, including:

  • hospitals
  • specialist services
  • general practice (GPs), dentists, nursing professionals
  • voluntary mental health services
  • disability-related healthcare
  • allied health services
  • public healthcare
  • private healthcare

Our service is free, confidential and independent.

What is a health advocate?

A health advocate helps you understand your rights, navigate the healthcare system and communicate with healthcare providers.

An advocate can help you:

  • understand your healthcare options
  • prepare for appointments
  • ask questions
  • raise concerns early
  • make informed decisions
  • communicate with healthcare providers
  • access services and support
  • resolve healthcare issues

Sometimes people simply need information and guidance.

Sometimes they need someone to support them through difficult conversations.

Our advocates can do both.

Who can use the service?

We support all health consumers in Western Australia. Health consumers are patients, carers, families, and communities, including:

  • Aboriginal people
  • people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities
  • people living with disability
  • carers and families
  • older people
  • people living in regional and remote areas
  • people experiencing financial hardship
  • people with multiple or complex health needs

Many of the people we support experience more than one of these challenges.

What issues can an advocate help with?

Our advocates regularly help people who:

  • are struggling to access treatment
  • feel unheard by healthcare providers
  • need help understanding the health system
  • are experiencing communication difficulties
  • need support at healthcare meetings
  • want to raise concerns about their care
  • need help resolving healthcare problems
  • are unsure about their healthcare rights

Every situation is different.

Our advocates work with you to understand your circumstances and identify the best way forward.

They can help ensure:

  • your concerns are heard
  • your questions are answered
  • your rights are respected
  • communication is clear and respectful

Our goal is to help you participate confidently in decisions about your healthcare.

Building confidence and self-advocacy

We do more than solve immediate problems. We help people develop the skills and confidence to advocate for themselves. This may include learning:

  • what questions to ask
  • how to raise concerns early
  • how to communicate effectively with healthcare providers
  • how to understand your rights
  • how to participate in decisions about your care

Supporting around 1,250 Western Australians every year

Each year, our advocacy team supports around 1,250 Western Australians facing healthcare challenges.

Our team brings experience across:

  • advocacy
  • nursing
  • mental health
  • disability
  • social work
  • community services
  • trauma-informed practice

The people who work in our service reflect the diversity of the communities we support.

Working together to improve healthcare

Our advocates work closely with more than 80 organisations across Western Australia.

These partnerships include:

  • hospitals
  • general practices
  • specialist services
  • allied health providers
  • Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
  • multicultural services
  • legal support services
  • community organisations
  • government services

Working together helps consumers access coordinated, culturally safe and person-centred support.

What people say about our service

“The Gold Standard. [advocate] is very approachable, sincere, caring, professional and thorough.”

“Thank you for going above and beyond to help me with my learning disability.”

“HCCWA’s advocacy service is essential to the whole health service, not just the patients.”

“I am struggling to reply in a way that matches the immense gratitude I am feeling.”

“For a small team, their impact is big. They provide both practical guidance and vital emotional support during some of life’s most difficult moments. For many, the work that they do is life-changing. For some, it’s life-saving.”

Get Help

If you need support with a healthcare issue, contact HCCWA’s Individual Advocacy Service.

Our team will listen, help you understand your options and work with you to find the best path forward.

Let’s make healthcare fair for all.

FAQ

How can our advocates help you?

  • Listen to your story and help identify the issue.
  • Explain your rights under the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights.
  • Talk through your options so you can make your own decisions.
  • We may be able to support or accompany you in a meeting with a healthcare provider.
  • Write letters, emails, or make calls on your behalf when appropriate.
  • Provide information about services, supports, and complaint pathways.
  • Encourage and empower you to speak up confidently about your care.

Our advocates are on your side — empathetic, accountable, and focused on your rights and wellbeing.

What advocates cannot do

  • We cannot provide legal or financial advice.
  • We cannot investigate or enforce complaints (see Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO)).
  • We cannot manage or coordinate services such as housing or benefits.
  • We cannot offer personal care, counselling, or mediation.
  • We cannot make decisions for you.
  • We cannot offer support in worker’s compensation medical appointments.

Our advocates are on your side, however if your concern is outside our scope, we’ll explain why and, where possible, refer you to another service that can assist.

In some cases, despite our best efforts, issues may remain unresolved. If this happens, we’ll explain the reasons clearly.

How to contact an advocate

Call or email us, our office is open Monday to Friday during business hours.

Due to high demand, you may need to leave a message; we will call you back as soon as possible. When you contact us, please let us know if you need an interpreter.

Phone: (+61) 8 9221 3422 (extension 1)
Email: advocacy@hconc.org.au

Need urgent support, or mental health support?

If you need immediate help or someone to talk to, open the sections below for contact details.

Involuntary mental health consumers

Mental Health Advocacy Service (MHAS)

For involuntary mental health consumers
Phone: 1800 999 057 (Mon–Fri, 8:30am–4:30pm)
Web: mhas.wa.gov.au

Emergency relief

WA Connect

Find emergency relief services or call 1800 979 777 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm)
Web: waconnect.org.au

Crisis lines

Worker’s Compensation

Worker’s Compensation resources

The Western Australian workers compensation and injury management scheme is designed to help workers return to work successfully following a work-related injury or illness.

Under the scheme, workers are compensated for lost wages, medical expenses and associated costs while they are unable to work.

Visit www.workcover.wa.gov for information and resources on your legislated rights, obligations and entitlements within the scheme, including your returning to work objectives. You will also find information on how to resolve a dispute over your claim, and the resources and support available to you.

Understanding your rights, obligations and entitlements
Understanding all of your workers compensation and injury management rights, obligations and entitlements will help you navigate your way to a suitable resolution following an injury or illness in the workplace.

Educational videos
WorkCover WA’s online educational videos provide information about workers compensation claims, injury management and return to work processes. The videos are an excellent resource for injured workers, employers and service providers.