Contact us
Online complaint form
You can access our online complaint form 24 hours a day.
The form will ask for your personal details, as well as details about the complaint.
You will need to provide enough information for us to understand your complaint and decide on how to proceed.
Note: You may receive automated email updates from our office while you are waiting for your complaint to be progressed. You can tell us if you do not want to receive automated updates.
Make a complaint by phone
To make a complaint by phone, please call 1300 362 072.
Our phone service is available during the following hours:
- Monday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Tuesday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Thursday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Friday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Note: The times outlined above are AEST, or AEDT during daylight savings hours (October to March).
Our phone lines are closed on national public holidays and may be closed at other times, including on some state or territory public holidays. We will provide advance notice on our website when this this occurs.
Make a complaint in person
Make a complaint in person at our offices between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday to Friday.
- Adelaide – Level 11, 25 Grenfell Street
- Canberra – Level 5, 7 London Circuit
- Brisbane – Level 22, 215 Adelaide Street
- Sydney – Level 20, 60 Castlereagh Street
- Melbourne – Level 2, 452 Flinders Street - closed on Tuesday 3 November due to a public holiday
Note: you don't need to make an appointment, but we encourage you to call ahead if possible, to make sure a staff member is available to discuss your complaint. Please call ahead on 1300 362 072. Our offices are closed on public holidays observed in each location.
Write to us
You can write to us by sending your enquiry to:
Commonwealth Ombudsman
GPO Box 442
Canberra ACT 2601
Note: Please include your phone number so we can contact you.
Make a Freedom of Information request
To make a Freedom of Information request please use our online form and select 'Submit a Freedom of Information Application' from the dropdown menu.
Ombudsman survey
You can opt out of our survey by submitting the online form and selecting "Do not survey" from the dropdown menu.
International enquiries
For enquiries made from outside of Australia, please call +61 2 5117 3600.
Services available to help you
First Nations people can contact us on our Indigenous line at 1800 060 789.
If you are Deaf/deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech difficulty, you can use the National Relay Service to contact us.
If English is not your first language, the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) is a free-of-charge service available on 131 450.
We also have information sheets in many community languages and can provide copies of a large print information booklet.
Feedback and enquiries
We welcome your feedback on our service.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please use our online enquiry form and select "Provide feedback or make a complaint about the office" from the dropdown menu.
Scheme for Compensation for Detriment caused by Defective Administration
(the CDDA Scheme)
To submit a claim that relates to defective administration or inaction specifically caused by the Commonwealth Ombudsman, visit Claiming compensation from us.
Seeking information from the Commonwealth Ombudsman
Guidelines on seeking information from the Commonwealth Ombudsman including Freedom of Information requests.
Media Enquiries
For media enquires about the Commonwealth Ombudsman, the National Student Ombudsman or any of the other functions please email: media@ombudsman.gov.au