Dr Lynne Coulson Barr OAM has been appointed South Australia’s new Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner (HCSCC).
The South Australian Government said the HCSCC plays an important role in supporting consumers, carer and service providers to resolve complaints, improving the safety and quality of health and community services, and providing information, education and advice about health and community service rights and responsibilities.
“I’m delighted that Dr Lynne Coulson Barr OAM will be South Australia’s new Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner,” said Health Minister, Chris Picton.
“Dr Coulson Barr has earned national and international recognition for her specialist expertise in delivering accessible and inclusive complaint and review processes, and playing an important role in improving the safety and quality of services.
“I have no doubt that her considerable experience and insight will be of enormous value to the complaints commission.”
Dr Coulson Barr has served as the Queensland Health Ombudsman since 2022, delivering many notable contributions to protecting Queensland’s public health and safety, while also driving improvements to the quality and safety of health services.
She brings experience and insight from her role as the inaugural Mental Health Complaints Commissioner in Victoria, where she established a specialist statutory body with inclusive and accessible approaches to mental health complaints and safeguarding rights.
Dr Coulson Barr’s distinguished career includes leadership roles in statutory complaint, oversight and regulatory bodies, and in 2020 she was honoured with a Medal of the Order of Australia for her contributions to mental health, safeguarding frameworks and dispute resolution.
“I look forward to progressing the important work of the Commission in improving the quality, safety and confidence in SA health and community services through supportive and responsive complaints resolution and addressing risks to public health and safety,” said Dr Coulson Barr.
Dr Coulson Barr OAM will begin in her new role on 18 February 2026.
