Archived news

NSW Ombudsman publishes guidance to support the commencement of new PID Act on 1 October

29 Sep 2023

The NSW Ombudsman has published new guidelines to help NSW agencies meet their obligations under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2022 (PID Act), which commences on 1 October 2023.

Regional training workshops: ​ Hunter and Central Coast​ November 2023 ​

13 Sep 2023

The NSW Ombudsman will be delivering training workshops at the NSW ICAC’s rural and regional outreach program in the Hunter and Central Coast regions from 21 to 29 November.​

Inviting submissions on the operation of the Mandatory Disease Testing Act

24 Aug 2023

We monitor the operation and administration of the Mandatory Disease Testing Act 2021. This includes monitoring how agencies and persons exercise their functions under the Act.

The Mandatory Disease Testing Act 2021 came into force in July 2022. It provides for the mandatory blood testing of a person where a health, emergency or public sector worker who is working, comes into contact with that person’s bodily fluid. To obtain an order contact must be as a result of the person’s deliberate action, and testing the person’s blood is justified in all the circumstances.

An important part of our monitoring is to consider the opinions and experiences of persons who may have been subject to an MDT order or may have made an application for an MDT order.  
We are also interested in submissions from organisations who have advised or otherwise represented these persons.

Submissions to be received by 19 December 2023.

To make a submission visit: Public submissions on the Mandatory Disease Testing Act

In Focus: Avoiding pitfalls when agencies and public servants use social media

15 Jun 2023

The NSW Ombudsman has released a short paper looking at some ways the social media conduct of agencies and individual public servants could lead to concerns about possible misconduct or maladministration.

More than shelter report urges better monitoring and reporting to improve outcomes for children presenting alone to homelessness services.

29 May 2023

Every year for the past 5 years in New South Wales, between 2,300 and 2,600 children aged 12 to 15 have sought services, without a parent or guardian, from Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS).

Workshop registration for the 13th National Investigations Symposium is now open

24 Mar 2023

A series of interactive workshops will be delivered on Tuesday, 23 May 2023 for investigators, factfinders and complaint handlers to increase knowledge, and provide new approaches, and perspectives for problem solving.