What is the advice service?

The Advice Service plays a key role as the first point of contact for the Office of the Public Advocate. People can contact the Advice Service by phone or come into the Office of the Public Advocate for a face to face meeting.

Each year the Advice Service responds to more than 13,000 requests for information. It provides information, advice and assistance relating to:

• The rights of people with a disability
• Care and treatment of people with disabilities
• Complaints about services for people with a disability
• VCAT applications, administration and guardianship
• Enduring powers of attorney and guardianship
• Medical and dental treatment for patients who cannot consent
• Refusal of medical treatment.

Operating hours

The Advice Service operates from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. The service is often very busy. If we are unable to answer your call immediately our reception will take a message and we will call you back as soon as possible. We are usually able to return most calls within an hour.

Emergency after hours enquiries

Emergency enquiries can be made outside normal business hours at any time of the day or night. The after hours service is strictly for emergency enquiries that cannot wait until the next business day. Callers with non-emergency enquires will be told to call back between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Contact

Emergency after hours calls will be automatically redirected to the after hours enquiry service.

Or visit us in person at 5th floor, 436 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.