Archived news items
18 August 2009
Ombudsman speaks at DVLO Conference
On 11 August, the Ombudsman delivered the keynote address at the NSW Police Force’s Domestic Violence Liaison Officer Conference. The Ombudsman took advantage of the opportunity to speak with frontline police to dispel some of the myths surrounding the work of the Ombudsman’s office. He also outlined some of the ways in which the office works with police to improve the service they provide to the people of NSW. The Ombudsman used part of the session to take questions from attendees, discussing topical issues such as recent developments aimed at targeting domestic violence, changes to the child protection system and concerns around privacy. Click on the link below to access the Ombudsman’s speech.
2009 Domestic Violence Liaison Officer Conference
18 August 2009
Child Protection Forum
On 31 July, we hosted a child protection forum at our office. These events are designed to provide those working in child protection in the workplace with practical advice and guidance. During the forum, Child Protection Division Manager Natasha Mewing outlined our findings following research into trends and patterns in the sexual abuse of students by school employees.
18 August 2009
Community Outreach Forum in Bankstown
On 30 July, we hosted a community outreach forum in Bankstown. This was the first community outreach forum to be held in a metropolitan area, following their success in regional centres. The event was targeted at those working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities. We received positive feedback from those who attended, and we plan to conduct similar forums in and around metropolitan centres in the future.
18 August 2009
Speeches available online
A number of speeches by the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman are now available online. Click on the link below to access the speeches
4 August 2009
New guidance for local government complaint handlers
We have been working with the Department of Local Government to produce a detailed practice note providing guidance on complaint handling for council staff. The Minister for Local Government Barbara Perry welcomed the release of the guidelines, and commented that “it is essential that residents and ratepayers concerns are taken seriously.” Click on the link below to access the practice note:
Complaints management in councils
4 August 2009
APSAC Conference
Deputy Ombudsman Chris Wheeler and Jennifer Agius from our General Division presented during sessions at the Australasian and Pacific Anti Corruption Conference (APSAC), held in Brisbane from 28-31 July. Chris spoke about the challenges of managing protected disclosures, as well as leading a day-long session on integrity in the public sector. Jennifer spoke about the role of Ombudsman in handling complaints from inmates in correctional centres. For more information about these and other sessions during the conference, click on the link below to the APSACC website:
APSAC Conference 2009 — Taking responsibility, fighting complacency
4 August 2009
New online complaint form
As part of our review of our website, we have redesigned our online complaint form. The new-look form will be easier for those making a complaint. It will also allow us to sort and allocate online complaints more efficiently.
4 August 2009
Police Integrity Agency Forum
Several staff from our office attended the Police Integrity Agency Forum, hosted by the Crime and Misconduct Commission in Brisbane on 27 July 2009. During the forum, Cross Agency Team Manager Julianna Demetrius gave a presentation on our work on policing in aboriginal communities and domestic violence.
21 July 2009
Visit from Canadian Public Sector Integrity Commissioner
The Canadian Public Sector Integrity Commissioner visited the office during a recent trip to Australia. Commissioner Christiane Ouimet met with Deputy Ombudsman Chris Wheeler to discuss our work, particularly in relation to protected disclosures.
21 July 2009
Community Outreach Forum in Queanbeyan
On 8 July, we hosted a community outreach forum in Queanbeyan. These meetings provide the community with an opportunity to discuss local issues with our staff in person. Participants raised a number of issues, including difficulty accessing mental health screening for those under 15, support for people with a disability while in hospital, and difficulties obtaining adequate support for children with disabilities in school.
21 July 2009
Funding for new roles
Earlier this year, our office was provided with a number of new legislative responsibilities. The Crimes (Criminal Organisations Control) Act 2009, which was enacted to disrupt and restrict criminal organisations, includes a keep under scrutiny role for our office, and amendments to the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 mean we will conduct a yearly audit of the use of new covert search powers. We have recently been advised that we will be provided with the additional funding required to perform these functions.
3 July 2009
Final Unreasonable Complainant Conduct Manual released
Following three years of research into dealing with unreasonable complainant conduct, involving all Australian Parliamentary Ombudsman offices, we are pleased to announce that a final practice manual is now available online. This manual has been trialled by all of the participating offices, and our staff have travelled across the country providing those involved with training and advice. The training has also been provided to a range of government agencies and private organisations around the country. Click on the link below for more information about the training.
Managing unreasonable complainant conduct
The experience gained during this process has informed the final manual. A final project report outlining the findings of this process is also available. Hard copies of the manual will be available in the coming weeks at a cost of $25. Click on the links below for copies of the manual and project report.
Managing Unreasonable Complainant Conduct Practice Manual 2009
Unreasonable Complainant Conduct Project Report - June 2009
3 July 2009
Community Participation Program complaint handling review
We have recently completed a review of complaint handling by 20 service providers funded by the Department of Ageing Disability and Home Care (DADHC) as part of the Community Participation Program. This program helps young people with a disability to develop the skills they need to achieve their goals and increase their independence. We reviewed each service provider’s policies and procedures, as well as speaking with senior managers, front line managers and direct care workers. We found a high level of commitment to developing and refining complaint handling procedures. All service providers indicated they would implement our recommendations. Some have already introduced complaint handling training for all their staff. Click on the link below for a full copy of our report.
Community participation complaint handling review
3 July 2009
Improving our website
We are currently working on improving the accessibility and usefulness of our website. For more and more people, their first contact with our office is through this site. Following a review conducted by Vision Australia, we have begun to make changes, including updating the way in which people make online complaints.
3 July 2009
Silver medal for our annual report
Our Annual Report for 2007-08 was recently awarded a silver medal as part of the Australasian Reporting Awards. Click on the link below for a full copy of the report:
NSW Ombudsman Annual Report 2007-2008
OCV Conference
On 22 and 23 June, we hosted the annual Official Community Visitors conference. The conference gives the visitors, who work across the State, the opportunity to come together and share their experiences. The Ombudsman opened the conference, along with the Hon Paul Lynch, Minister for Disability Services, and the Hon Linda Burney, the Minister for Community Services. During the conference, the Children’s Guardian, Ms Kerryn Boland, spoke to the visitors about future changes that will allow the visitors to share certain information they collect with Ms Boland’s office.
Click on the link below to find out more about the Official Community Visitors Program
Coordinate Official Community Visitors Program
25 June 2009
Ombudsman attends IOI World Conference
The Ombudsman attended the International Ombudsman Institute’s (IOI) 9th world conference. Held in Stockholm from 9 to 12 June, the conference coincided with the 200th anniversary of the creation of the Swedish Ombudsman. During the conference, the Ombudsman spoke about the work of our office in relation to children as part of a workshop on the role of Ombudsman in protecting vulnerable members of the community. Click on the link below to access a copy of his paper.
Actions speak louder than words: An Ombudsman’s office and children
The full institutional membership of the IOI also voted to move the Institute’s head office from the University of Alberta in Canada to the office of the Austrian Ombudsman in Vienna.
25 June 2009
Youth Liaison Officer visits regional areas
The Ombudsman’s Youth Liaison Officer recently travelled to New England, Moree and surrounding areas. During the visit, she met with:
- Armidale, Glen Innes and Moree Juvenile Justice Community Service staff
- staff from the Tamworth PCYC
- police youth liaison officers in Armidale and Moree
- 75 legal studies and commerce students from 5 high schools
- Youth and other community service staff at Glen Innes and Gunnedah Councils
- 15 workers from 6 youth and family services in Glen Innes, Inverell & Moree, and
- community members from Moree and Toomelah during the 'Good Services' Forums.
17 June 2009
FOI Reform
Following the release of our special report to Parliament Opening Up Government: Review of the Freedom of Information Act 1989 in February, the government has drafted legislation aimed at reforming the way people in NSW access information. The Open Government Information Bill and the Information Commissioner Bill implement most of the recommendations made in our report. Public comment was invited on both, and our office took advantage of this opportunity to make a number of additional comments and suggestions for improvement. These can be accessed below:
17 June 2009
Assistant Ombudsman Anne Barwick retired
The 29th of May was Assistant Ombudsman Anne Barwick’s last day in the office. Anne has worked in the position of Assistant Ombudsman for 10 years. She has led the Ombudsman’s Child Protection Division from its inception, establishing the jurisdiction, managing our important obligations and developing relationships with agencies. The office wishes her the best of luck in her retirement, and she will be sorely missed.
17 June 2009
NSW Ombudsman's new responsibilities
The office has been given several new legislative responsibilities in the last few months. The recently passed Crimes (Criminal Organisations Control) Act 2009 includes a keep under scrutiny role for our office. This will run for the first two years of the Act, and at the end of that time we will report our findings to Parliament. Recent amendments to the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 mean we will also conduct a yearly audit of the use of new covert search powers.
17 June 2009
Report into large residential homes
On 11 June, we released a report into the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care’s handling of individuals in large residential centres. We looked at a range of issues, including individual planning process, decision-making and choice, health care, behaviour support, and community participation and integration. The report can be accessed at the following link:
Review of individual planning in DADHC large residential centres
28 May 2009
NSW Ombudsman 2009 Law Week competition
As part of the 2009 Law Week activities, we organised a competition for legal studies students from schools across the state. Students were invited to answer, in a 100 words or less, the question "Why is it important for young people to have access to the NSW Ombudsman?"
We received a total of 112 entries from 23 participating schools across the state. This has doubled the number of entries and schools from our 2008 Youth Week competition.
The winner for this year's competition is James McQuiggin from Mudgee High School who has won a $200 book voucher. The entry reads:
The Ombudsman is an integral pillar in the structure of our society as it holds up a quintessential right of the people; the power to question authority. The Ombudsman provides a vehicle of protest on neutral ground and is a fundamental link between the people and the government. Young people especially are exposed to government influences daily and it is important that a balance may be struck between authority and the individual. It is therefore vital that the young people of NSW have access to the Ombudsman’s office as an avenue to voice opinion, question government authority and seek justice.
Congratulations James and well done to all those entered the competition.
6 November 2008
2009 Symposium
Working together: advancing child protection in the workplace
25 – 26 MAY 2009SYDNEY NSW
It is now ten years since the commencement of this important jurisdiction. In recognition of this significant milestone, we are holding a Symposium at the Mercure Hotel-Central, Sydney on 25 and 26 May 2009.
The NSW Ombudsman’s child protection division was established in 1999 after the Wood Royal Commission found that NSW workplaces had inadequate systems in place to prevent and respond to child abuse.
This Symposium will consider what we have learned in the last 10 years about preventing child abuse in the workplace and how to address new issues in this area, including the increasing use of Information Communication Technologies.
Attendees will include government and non-government employers covering a range of areas including out-of-home care, education, health, juvenile justice, childcare and child protection. Also attending will be academics and peak bodies with an interest in this area.
We will be calling for papers for the Symposium, and will post regular information on our website.
Click on the link below for more information about the Symposium
2009 Symposium Working together: advancing child protection in theworkplace
6 August 2008
Ombo Info
The first issue of the Ombudsman's e-newsletter "Ombo Info" Volume 1 Issue 1 is now available on our website.
Ombo Info contains information about the activities of the NSW Ombudsman’s office that may be of interest to anyone involved with the community services sector and the public generally. Subscription is available to anyone.
Click on the link below to access a copy of :
30 July 2008
7th National Investigations Symposium
The seventh National Investigations Symposium is to be held on 5-7 November 2008 at the Manly Pacific Hotel in Sydney. This bi-annual event is co-organised by the NSW Ombudsman, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Institute of Public Administration Australia (NSW).
The symposium is an opportunity for public officials who want to maintain and increase investigative knowledge, skills and techniques. It is a significant professional development and networking event for public officials who conduct fact-finding exercises.
For more information, click on the link below:
7th National Investigations Symposium brochure
8 May 2008
Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW
In November last year, the Government announced the creation of a Special Commission of inquiry into the child protection system in NSW. Since that time, our office has provided a number of submissions relevant to our work, as well as attending several of the Commission’s public sessions. Our submissions, listed below, are available at the Commission’s submissions webpage:
- Part 1: The Children’s Court
- Part 2: Oversight agencies
- Part 2b: Response to DoCS’ submission on the role of oversight agencies
- Part 3: Privacy and exchange of information
1 May 2008
Youth Week 2008 Competition
As part of the 2008 Youth Week activities, the Ombudsman invited legal studies students from schools across the state to answer, in a 100 words or less, "Why is it important for young people to have access to the NSW Ombudsman?"
Gabrielle Yeomans from Stella Maris College, Manly sent in the following entry to win herself a Nintendo Wii.
youth (noun)
1 young person. 2 not always believed. 3 inexperienced. 4 easily misled by others. 5 unaware of their rights. 6 unequipped to deal with legal process and complaints. 7 vulnerable to those in authority.ombudsman (noun)
1 government watchdog. 2 independent body. 3 unbiased. 4 educator. 5 listener. 6 assist youths, (and other persons) in the investigation of complaints against government bodies.importance of access (noun)
1 fundamental right and opportunity to be heard. 2 solves issues in appropriate and structured forum. 3 may help others in similar positions. 4 identify problems within organisations and individuals. 5 satisfaction.
Congratulations Gabrielle and well done to all those who entered.
10 April 2008
Guidelines for dealing with youth complaints
Complaint systems are often designed by and for adults and can be intimidating and confusing for young people. For this reason, NSW Ombudsman developed guidelines and a training program for our staff to improve the service they provide to young people that access our office.
As part of Youth Week, we developed Guidelines for Dealing with Youth Complaints and distributed the guidelines to state and national organisations, including other watchdog agencies.“Young people have a voice that should be heard and opinions that should be considered. I hope that these guidelines will help agencies to more effectively engage with young people and as a result not only improve their practices but also make better and more inclusive decisions,” stated the Ombudsman, Bruce Barbour.
To access a copy of the guidelines, click on the link below:
Guidelines for dealing with youth complaints
25 February 2008
2008 Corruption Prevention Network Awards
The Corruption Prevention Network issues annual awards for excellence in corruption prevention and detection. Our organisation is an ex-officio member of the CPN organising committee.
For 2008, nominations are available in two categories:
- Corruption prevention tool or technique –this category recognises the development, implementation and /or application of a specific tool or technique by an organisation
- Corruption prevention program – this category recognises the implementation of a suite of corruption resistance strategies in an integrated fashion within organisations.
The awards are open to all organisations including public and private businesses, not for profit organisations and state local and commonwealth government agencies.
The awards will be announced at the CPN Forum on 11 September 2008 in Sydney where the winners will showcase their innovative strategies.
The Nomination Guide contains further information about the awards and a detailed template for applying for an award. Nominations close Friday 11 July 2008.
