Complaints & Privacy

The Barcaldine Regional Council welcomes your feedback to continually improve its processes and services. Barcaldine Regional Council has a General Complaints Process to ensure all complaints are dealt with in a fair and efficient manner. If you have a concern about the services, decisions or actions of Barcaldine Regional Council, we would like to know.

A complaint can be made in any of the following ways:

In person: At any Barcaldine Regional Council Administration Office

In writing: by letter. All written complaints should be addressed to: The Chief Executive Officer, P.O. Box 191, Barcaldine Qld 4725.

Telephone: Any Barcaldine Regional Adminstration Office

Email: council@barc.qld.gov.au

Information required to lodge a complaint

Your name, address and telephone number (this information is kept confidential) and details about the complaint (date, time, address etc). Anonymous complaints are accepted but should you wish for Council to respond to your complaint then you must provide a telephone number.

Privacy Notice
Your personal details will not be disclosed to any other person or agency external to Council without your consent unless required or authorised by law. The information you supply will be used for the purpose of responding to your feedback, or to resolve your concern. Council handles all personal information as per the Information Privacy Act 2009.

 

Reporting Child Safety Concerns

Every Child Has the Right to Feel Safe
Council is committed to creating safe, welcoming and inclusive environments where children and young people are respected, valued and protected.
The Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 (Qld) requires organisations that provide services, facilities or programs for children to embed child safety into their leadership, culture, policies and everyday practices through the Child Safe Standards.
Whether children are visiting our libraries, swimming pools, parks, community facilities or participating in Council services, programs and events, we are committed to providing environments where they feel safe, heard and supported.
Our Commitment
Child safety is everyone's responsibility. Council is committed to:
  • promoting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people
  • creating safe, respectful and inclusive environments
  • listening to children and taking their views and concerns seriously
  • supporting families and carers to help keep children safe
  • ensuring our employees, volunteers and contractors understand their responsibilities to protect children
  • responding appropriately to child safety concerns and complaints
  • continually reviewing and improving our child safe practices in line with the Child Safe Standards.
Reporting a Child Safety Concern
Council encourages anyone with a child safety concern relating to a Council service, facility, program, event, employee, volunteer or contractor to contact us.
Examples of concerns may include:
  • inappropriate behaviour towards a child
  • behaviour that breaches professional boundaries
  • concerns about a child's safety while participating in a Council activity or using a Council facility
  • any conduct that may place a child at risk of harm.
All child safety concerns are taken seriously and managed in accordance with Council's policies and legislative obligations.
If a child is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).

 

If your concern does not relate to a Council service, program, facility or representative, or you believe a child may be experiencing abuse or neglect outside of Council's services, contact the appropriate authorities, including the Queensland Police Service or Child Safety Services.
The direct reporting details relevant to our region should then be provided:
Regional Intake Services | Sunshine Coast and Central Queensland Region | 1300 703 162
After Hours | Child Safety After Hours Service Centre | 1800 177 135
Online form | Child Safety Reports

Complaints about Councillors

Councillors are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Councillors in Queensland. 

If you are unhappy with the conduct of a Barcaldine Regional Councillor, please submit your complaint in writing to the Chief Executive Officer or the Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA). 

If, after assessing your complaint, it is determined that your complaint is: 

Inappropriate Conduct: The matter will be referred to the Mayor to consider the appropriate action, which could result in a written reprimand. If it is a repeat of inappropriate conduct, the matter will be referred to the Department of Local Government as misconduct. 

Misconduct: If the OIA assesses a complaint as suspected misconduct, the OIA will undertake an investigation into the complaint and both the complainant and the subject officer will be advised. During an investigation the complainant will receive an update every three months on the progress, unless the investigation is finalised earlier. At the end of the investigation, if the Independent Assessor reasonably suspects misconduct, the OIA will make an application for the matter to be heard by the Councillor Conduct Tribunal. The complainant and Councillor will be advised by the OIA if the complaint is referred to the Councillor Conduct Tribunal and will receive a decision notice from the tribunal at the conclusion of this process. The OIA can be contacted on 1300 620 722 

Corrupt Conduct: The matter will be referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) for review and, if required, investigation. Find out further information on the Crime and Corruption Commission website or phone 1800 061 611. 

Another matter: The complaint will be dealt with in the appropriate manner. 

More information about complaints about the conduct of a Councillor can be found on the Office of the Independent Assessor website.

 

 

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