Team features

act regional team

The Commonwealth Ombudsman is also the ACT Ombudsman, performing the role under the Ombudsman Act 1989 (ACT) in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ombudsman and the ACT Government. Complaints received in the Ombudsman's Canberra office concern Australian Government as well as ACT Government departments and agencies, and are handled by the ACT Regional Team.

The ACT Regional Team comprises eight staff, headed by a Senior Assistant Ombudsman. The Team is experienced in handling a diversity of complaints, from local planning and road traffic matters to complaints about national social welfare and immigration issues.

The Team is located in a shopfront on the ground floor of the National Office in Canberra. Since the opening of the shopfront in June 2004 there has been an increase in the number of people attending in person to discuss and lodge their complaints about Australian and ACT Government departments and agencies.

The shopfront has increased public awareness of the existence and role of the office and the service it provides to the community. Team members resolve complaints and provide information on other complaint-handling bodies at the local and national level. The Team also raises awareness of the office through its interaction with community sector organisations and individuals. Outreach activities extend to rural and regional areas of NSW to ensure that people are aware of and have access to the Ombudsman's office.