Rights and Responsibilities

In This Section

We are committed to ensuring that the young people, family, carers, support people, service providers and the community involved with Orygen services are aware of their relevant rights and responsibilities.

Guiding Principles

Under the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights, people receiving health care are entitled to:

Access

Healthcare services and treatment that meets my needs.

Safety

Receive safe and high quality health care that meets national standards.
Be cared for in an environment that is safe and makes me feel safe.

Respect

Be treated as an individual and with digity and respect.
Have my culture, identity, beliefs and choices recognised and respected.

Partnership

Ask questions and be involved in open and honest communication.
Make decisions with my healthcare provider, to the extent that I choose and am able to.
Include the people I want in planning and decision-making.

Information

Clear information about my condition, the possible benefits and risks of different tests and treatments, so I can give my informed consent.
Receive information about services, waiting times and costs.
Be given assistance, when I need it, to help me to understand and use health information.
Access my health information.
Be told if something has gone wrong during my health care, how it happened, how it may affect me and what is being done to make care safe.

Privacy

Have my personal privacy respected.
Have information about me and my health kept secure and confidential.

Give feedback

Provide feedback or make a complaint without it affecting the way that I am treated.
Have my concerns addressed in a transparent and timely way.
Share my experience and participate to improve the quality of care and health services.

Young people's rights and responsibilities

RIGHTS

All people accessing Orygen services have the right to:

be and feel physically and emotionally safe;
be treated with respect and dignity;
be spoken to in a respectful manner;
have an opinion, express an opinion and be listened to;
have their need for private time and space recognised;
not be discriminated against;
have access to an interpreter, as required; and
be respected with regard to the confidentiality and privacy of their information.

everyone's right to safety

We are committed to ensuring the safety of our young people, carers, staff and visitors.

Orygen’s services are a place of recovery and, as such, all people present have a right to safety. Aggressive behaviour impacts other's people's safety and recovery. We will not accept violence, physical or verbal, towards anyone (staff, young people or carers).

All of Orygen’s sites and clinical services are smoke-free.

Responsibilities

All young people accessing our services share the following responsibilities to:

be aware of the rights of others;
communicate openly and honestly;
discuss changes in condition and treatment plans;
discuss and clarify diagnosis and treatment;
discuss and clarify side effects of treatment;
work together to improve the effectiveness of treatment; and
provide feedback on the service and/or care.

Young people also have the right to:

Receive a copy of their rights, know their legal status - whether voluntary or involuntary - and have their rights explained so that they understand them.
Be informed of what is happening at all times and be involved in making decisions about their treatment and care.
Receive information and ask questions so that they are able to fully understand everything.
Know how to make suggestions, compliments and complaints and be assisted to do this if needed.
Request the assistance of an advocate.

family and carer rights and responsibilities

rights

Families and carers have a right to:

Receive a copy of their rights and have them explained so they understand them.
Have their rights enforced in accordance with the Carers Recognition Act (2012).
Feel recognised and valued as a support person when the young person has consented to their involvement in their care.
Have their privacy, confidentiality, human worth and dignity respected.
Receive answers to their questions as well as services, information, education and training that assist them to provide care and support.
Participate in the development of social, health and mental health policy.
Place limits on their resources and availability to the young person.
Provide feedback to improve Orygen’s services and get assistance to do this if needed, including by an advocate.
Receive support for their own difficulties that may related to supporting, caring for or advocating for the young person.
Provide information to health service providers about family relationships and the young person’s mental state.

Where the young person consents (and legislation allows), families and carers also have the right to:

Contact the young person while they are undergoing treatment.
Participate in decisions about the young person’s treatment and ongoing care.
Seek and receive additional information about the young person’s support, care, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery.
Be consulted about treatment approaches being considered for the young person.
Arrange support services for the young person, such as respite care and counselling.
Receive any information that the young person requests you should receive.

responsibilities

Families and carers have a responsibility to:

Respect the humanity and dignity of the young person.
Consider the opinions and skills of professional and other staff involved in the care of the young person.
Find the young person appropriate professional help if you believe they need mental health support.
Cooperate with reasonable programs of assessment, individualised care planning, support, care, treatment, recovery and rehabilitation of the young person.
Follow any confidentiality obligations set by Orygen and the young person in accordance with the Privacy Act and Mental Health Act.

staff rights

Staff have a right to a safe and respectful workplace with freedom from discrimination, harassment and abuse.

Clinical Care