Victorian Ombudsman

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Victorian Ombudsman We promote fairness, integrity and respect for human rights. We hold the Victorian public sector accountable to the people of Victoria.

To lodge your complaint online, visit our website. The Victorian Ombudsman takes complaints about Victorian local councils, and State Government departments and agencies. This is a free, fair and independent service. The office also looks at whether people’s human rights have been respected and protected. The Ombudsman can also start investigations into government bodies in the public interest, even without a complaint. The Victorian Ombudsman is Deborah Glass OBE. She was appointed in March 2014 for a term of 10 years. Deborah is committed to ensuring fair and reasonable decision making in the Victorian public sector, and to improving public administration. She holds a firm belief in public sector integrity and the protection of human rights. Deborah was raised in Melbourne where she studied law at Monash University. She worked in banking and regulation in Switzerland and Hong Kong before moving to the United Kingdom. In 2001, she joined the UK Police Complaints Authority, and in 2004 became a Commissioner with the new Independent Police Complaints Commission of England and Wales (IPCC). She was the Commissioner responsible for London, and for many high profile criminal and misconduct investigations into police conduct. Deborah was appointed IPCC Deputy Chair in 2008, carrying operational responsibility for the IPCC's regional Commissioners, and was awarded an OBE for her service in the New Year Honours List in 2012. She is also a member of the Australian and New Zealand Ombudsman Association (ANZOA).

08/10/2026

Today we celebrate Ombuds Day, recognising ombudsman organisations around the world for the role they play promoting fairness and accountability.

Everyone deserves to be heard and treated fairly, and ombudsmen work to address imbalances, help people resolve problems and drive positive change.

At the Victorian Ombudsman, we’re proud to be part of a global community working towards fairer outcomes for everyone.

Staff who handle complaints often say the hardest part of their job is responding to the behaviour of some people they e...
06/10/2026

Staff who handle complaints often say the hardest part of their job is responding to the behaviour of some people they engage with. Join our full-day workshop this month and discover strategies to prevent or de-escalate complex behaviour.


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Date and time: Tuesday 13 October 2025, 9.30am to 4pm
Mode: Online via Zoom
Audience: Frontline service delivery staff, complaint-handlers, and their managers, in public service, local government, not-for-profits and community organisations
Price: $742.50


Find out more → https://victorianombudsman.powerappsportals.com/Session-Details/?Id=aaf0e90d-ffa7-462e-921b-cdeabbedfc3c

Today we tabled in parliament our latest investigation report – ‘I just get dark, dark thoughts’: How DJCS considers hum...
24/09/2026

Today we tabled in parliament our latest investigation report – ‘I just get dark, dark thoughts’: How DJCS considers human rights when applying to transfer children to adult prison. The report looks into how the Department of Justice and Community Safety considered the human rights of a 16-year-old child when applying to transfer them from a youth justice centre into an adult prison.

In early 2025, the Ombudsman received a report about the transfer of a child from a youth justice facility to an adult prison. The child, who was 16 years old, was reported to have engaged in seriously dangerous and disruptive behaviour.

We conducted this investigation to determine whether the decision to apply for a transfer was fair and because of the importance of proper human rights assessments to other children in this situation, and to the community more broadly.

Visit our website to read the full report and a summary → https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/our-impact/investigation-reports/i-just-get-dark-dark-thoughts-how-djcs-considers-human-rights-when-applying-to-transfer-children-to-adult-prison

Working in the public sector during the Victorian election period?We’ve released a quick guide to help you understand yo...
23/09/2026

Working in the public sector during the Victorian election period?

We’ve released a quick guide to help you understand your responsibilities around impartiality, elections and the caretaker period.

The integrity of the public sector is just as important in maintaining public trust in our government as the integrity of our politicians. Every public servant has a role to play.

Read the Victorian Ombudsman’s quick guide to elections and the public service → https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/learn-from-us/resources/quick-guide-elections-and-the-public-service/

Join us for a free session, Focused on Fair, and learn how ombudsman services can help you navigate complaints processes...
22/09/2026

Join us for a free session, Focused on Fair, and learn how ombudsman services can help you navigate complaints processes, understand rights, and access fair outcomes.

📅 Friday 16 October
🕛12pm – 1:20pm
📍Whittlesea Community Activity Centre

This is an opportunity to hear practical information directly from key Ombudsman services in Victoria and nationally:
– Victorian Ombudsman
– Commonwealth Ombudsman
– Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman
– Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria
– Australian Financial Complaints Authority

The conversation will equip community leaders, advocates and service providers with more information about the services available to assist their community to seek help if they need it.

Register to secure your spot → https://events.humanitix.com/focused-on-fair-ombudsman-services-your-rights-and-navigating-the-complaints-process

Want to learn more about the Victorian Ombudsman, your rights and how you can make a complaint about a government servic...
18/09/2026

Want to learn more about the Victorian Ombudsman, your rights and how you can make a complaint about a government service? Come along to our free session in Violet Town to find out about the support available to Victorians and how to raise concerns when things go wrong.

📅 Tuesday 22 September
📍Violet Town Community House, 35 Cowslip Street, Violet Town
🕛 10:00am

All are welcome, no registration required. Find about our services, ask questions, and meet the team. We look forward to seeing you there.

Limited spots are available in September for our half-day workshop 'Good complaint handling'. Hone your complaint handli...
04/09/2026

Limited spots are available in September for our half-day workshop 'Good complaint handling'. Hone your complaint handling with advice informed by the Australian Standard.

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Date and time: Thursday 17 September 2025, 9.30am to 1pm
Mode: Online via Zoom
Audience: Frontline complaint-handlers and their managers, in public service, not-for-profits and community organisations
Price: $401.50
Find out more → visit our website.

This October for World Ombudsman Day, join us for an engaging conversation with key Ombudsman services. We’ll be joined ...
02/09/2026

This October for World Ombudsman Day, join us for an engaging conversation with key Ombudsman services. We’ll be joined by Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and Australian Financial Complaints Authority, discussing a range of topics including:

✅ The role of an Ombudsman
✅ How we can help
✅ Common themes in complaints
✅ The role of fairness

This conversation will equip community leaders, advocates and service providers with more information about the services available to assist their community to seek help if they need it.

Friday 16 October, 12pm – 1.20pm, Whittlesea Community Activity Centre

This event is free to attend, but registrations are required.

To find out more or to register, visit → https://events.humanitix.com/focused-on-fair-ombudsman-services-your-rights-and-navigating-the-complaints-process

Earlier this week, we were pleased to join the Luminous in the Neighbourhood Lantern Parade, a celebration of Victoria’s...
28/08/2026

Earlier this week, we were pleased to join the Luminous in the Neighbourhood Lantern Parade, a celebration of Victoria’s multicultural communities hosted by AMES Australia.

Celebrating belonging and connection, participants gathered at Birrarung Marr fo the parade, and then enjoyed performances and presentations from Newa Pucha Nepalese band, Kaiga Tuvalu Victoria Youth Group and Estrela do Mar Inc.

Over generations, multiculturalism has been intertwined with Victoria’s history, and the diverse communities that call Victoria home today have made a significant contribution to the culture, economy and way of life in this state.

Each year, Parliamentary Ombudsmen from Australia and New Zealand meet to share insights, challenges and priorities for ...
26/08/2026

Each year, Parliamentary Ombudsmen from Australia and New Zealand meet to share insights, challenges and priorities for each jurisdiction. Last week, we hosted the annual meeting and were joined by the Commonwealth Ombudsman, New Zealand Ombudsman, Queensland Ombudsman, NSW Ombudsman, SA Ombudsman, WA ombudsman and Tasmanian Ombudsman.

The meeting provided an opportunity to hear directly from each Ombudsman about their experiences and to exchange ideas on shared issues our offices face.

Pictured: Commonwealth Ombudsman Iain Anderson, New Zealand Ombudsman John Allen, Acting Queensland Ombudsman Angela Pyke, NSW Ombudsman Paul Miller, SA Ombudsman Emily Strickland, Victorian Ombudsman Marlo Baragwanath, WA Ombudsman Bevan Warner and Tasmanian Ombudsman Grant Davies.

Address

Level 2, 570 Bourke Street
Melbourne, VIC
3000

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 7am - 6:30pm
Wednesday 7am - 6:30pm
Thursday 7am - 6:30pm
Friday 7am - 6:30pm

Telephone

+611800806314

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