Complaint route finder
Which body handles a complaint about cosmetic treatment depends on the state, who provided it and what went wrong. Choose each to see where to go, the phone number and any time limit.
Find where to complain
Answer three questions.
If someone’s health or safety is at immediate risk, call 000 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
For example a doctor, nurse or dentist.
Start here
Health Care Complaints Commission (NSW)
Concerns about a registered practitioner's health, conduct or performance in New South Wales go here, not to Ahpra.
- Covers
- Registered practitioners, health services, and non-registered health practitioners.
- First
- Complaints must be made in writing.
- Time limit
- May decline matters more than 5 years old without sufficient reason (Health Care Complaints Act 1993 s27).
Also
Ahpra Cosmetic Surgery Hotline
Ahpra's line for concerns about cosmetic surgery and procedures.
- Covers
- Concerns about cosmetic surgery and procedures. Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm AEST. Complaints can be made confidentially.
Details checked on each body’s website on 18 October 2026. Not legal advice.
How complaints are split
- Ahpra handles concerns about individual registered practitioners. It does not handle complaints about clinics or organisations, or about fees.
- In New South Wales and Queensland, concerns about a registered practitioner’s health, conduct or performance go to the HCCC and the Office of the Health Ombudsman. Criminal offences, including unlawful advertising, still go to Ahpra.
- Each state and territory health complaints body accepts complaints about unregistered providers. Most ask you to raise the problem with the provider first.
- Refunds, prices and contracts are consumer law matters for the state or territory consumer agency. The ACCC does not resolve individual complaints.
- Advertising of prescription-only cosmetic injectables to the public is a matter for the TGA.