Step 1: Raise a formal complaint with the agency, education provider or organisation (the agency) and wait for a response.

Step 2: If you are not satisfied with the way your complaint was handled or the outcome, you should discuss this with the agency first.

Step 3: If your issue remains unresolved, contact the Office.

Tips and advice for making a complaint

Even though you may be feeling angry and frustrated, it is important you:

In our experience it is usually best to put your complaint in writing if the issue is complex or you have already tried to resolve the issue with a phone call.

What can I complain to the Commonwealth Ombudsman about?

We can assess complaints about the actions of Australian Government agencies and prescribed private sector organisations that we oversee, if we consider the actions were:

  • wrong
  • unjust
  • unlawful
  • discriminatory, or
  • unfair.

Who can complain to the Ombudsman?

Anyone can make a complaint to the Ombudsman.

If you do not want to, or can’t make the complaint yourself, you can ask someone else to complain on your behalf.

If the person acting on your behalf is not your legal guardian or legal representative, you need to give us your consent for that person to communicate with us when you make a complaint using our online complaint form. You can also call us on 1300 362 072.

What does it cost?

Our service is free.

Can I make an anonymous complaint?

Yes. The Ombudsman accepts anonymous or 'whistleblower' complaints. However, we will not investigate unless we consider:

  • the complaint raises a serious matter
  • there is enough information in the complaint to enable us to conduct an investigation.

How do I make a complaint?

The best way to make a complaint is by using our online complaint form. You can also call us on 1300 362 072. If you need an interpreter or the National Relay Service see contact us.

How long will it take to finalise my complaint?

Most complaints can be dealt with quickly. Others may take months to investigate.

We try to deal with your complaint as soon as possible, and we will keep you informed of the progress.

What happens to my complaint?

This is what you can expect after you lodge your complaint:

Here is some information about each of the three steps. A complaint starts at Step One. At Step One, we consider what you tell us and work out the next steps. Often there are better ways to have your problem answered quickly. If so, we let you know. That is the end of Step One. The next step is Step Two. Some complaints can reach an outcome more promptly. Other complaints take a bit more time to reach an outcome. Here is some information about complaints that can reach an outcome more promptly. Sometimes we have everything we need to assess your problem without asking you more questions. We might transfer your complaint back to the agency so it can respond to you directly. We might ask the agency for some simple information about your problem. We might give you some hints and tips on how else to answer your problem. Whatever we decide, we’ll tell you. That is the end of Step Two for complaints that can reach an outcome more quickly. Here is some information about complaints that take a bit more time to reach an outcome. Some matters are more complicated. It might take us more time to consider all the information you’ve given us. We might ask the agency for detailed information about your complaint. This is to determine if your matter was handled correctly. Some very complex matters take longer. If yours is one of these, we’ll keep you updated. That is the end of Step Two for complaints that can reach an outcome more quickly. No matter what happened in Step Two, that is the end of Step Two. The next Step is Step Three. Step Three is the final step. Step Three is the outcome of your complaint. At Step Three, we may: 1)give you an answer to your problem 2)give you a better explanation of what happened and what it means 3)make suggestions to the agency to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to other people 4)explain why we think the agency got it right. At Step Three, we will: 1)keep you updated, and tell you if things will take longer 2)tell you what we’ve done 3)give you reasons for our actions 4)have another look at our decision, if you think we missed something. This is the end of the description of what you can expect to happen to a complaint lodged with the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

What can I expect from the Ombudsman?

You can expect us to:

  • Be professional and courteous.
  • Provide an independent and impartial assessment of your complaint.
  • Undertake confidential, free and prompt assessment of your complaint in a way that is fair to everyone.
  • Provide clear explanations about what we can and cannot do.
  • Provide you information about any decision we make.
  • Keep you informed of the progress of your complaint.

See our service charter for more detail.

What if I want to complain about the Ombudsman's decision or actions?

Our Service

If you are dissatisfied with an aspect of our service, you can talk with the member of staff who has been dealing with your complaint. If you are not happy with their response you can lodge a complaint using our webform or by calling 1300 362 072.

We take complaints about our service seriously.  These complaints are assessed by Managers.

Our Decisions

You can discuss the progress or outcome of your complaint with the officer handling the matter.

If you don’t agree with our decision, you are welcome to provide:

  • additional evidence
  • extra information or your view of the facts
  • the reasons you disagree with our decision.

The Officer will use this information to reconsider their decision.

Review

If you disagree with our final decision, you can ask us to review it. You must request a review in writing within three months of our decision.

Review information sheet and request form

A senior officer who was not involved in the original investigation of your complaint will conduct the review.

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      Read documents in your language

      If you need more translations, please contact us via: 1300 362 072 or ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.au

      Can we help you

      Step 1: Raise a formal complaint with the agency, education provider or organisation (the agency) and wait for a response.

      • Record a complaint reference number and the date you lodged your complaint.
      • In most cases the agency will publish its complaint process online or advise you how to make a complaint in their decision notification.
      • If you don’t receive a response within the agency’s published timeframe, you should contact them to follow up.
      • The agency may ask you for more information to help it assess your complaint.
      • We will not, and in some cases cannot, accept your complaint if you have not made a complaint to the agency first.

      Step 2: If you are not satisfied with the way your complaint was handled or the outcome, you should discuss this with the agency first.

      • If your matter is urgent, you should consider phoning the agency.

      Step 3: If your issue remains unresolved, contact the Office.

      Tips and advice for making a complaint

      Even though you may be feeling angry and frustrated, it is important you:

      • stay calm and co-operate with the person assessing your complaint (avoid being abusive or aggressive)
      • focus on the problem and identify the key issue(s) that you want to complain about. Be clear and concise.
      • Stick to the facts and include dates and reference numbers. It is important to tell us about your issues in order.
      • Consider how you would like your complaint resolved—be realistic and practical about your desired outcomes.

      In our experience it is usually best to put your complaint in writing if the issue is complex or you have already tried to resolve the issue with a phone call.

      What can I complain to the Commonwealth Ombudsman about?

      We can assess complaints about the actions of Australian Government agencies and prescribed private sector organisations that we oversee, if we consider the actions were:

      • wrong
      • unjust
      • unlawful
      • discriminatory, or
      • unfair.

      Who can complain to the Ombudsman?

      Anyone can make a complaint to the Ombudsman.

      If you do not want to, or can’t make the complaint yourself, you can ask someone else to complain on your behalf.

      If the person acting on your behalf is not your legal guardian or legal representative, you need to give us your consent for that person to communicate with us when you make a complaint using our online complaint form. You can also call us on 1300 362 072.

      What does it cost?

      Our service is free.

      Can I make an anonymous complaint?

      Yes. The Ombudsman accepts anonymous or 'whistleblower' complaints. However, we will not investigate unless we consider:

      • the complaint raises a serious matter
      • there is enough information in the complaint to enable us to conduct an investigation.

      How do I make a complaint?

      The best way to make a complaint is by using our online complaint form. You can also call us on 1300 362 072. If you need an interpreter or the National Relay Service see contact us.

      How long will it take to finalise my complaint?

      Most complaints can be dealt with quickly. Others may take months to investigate.

      We try to deal with your complaint as soon as possible, and we will keep you informed of the progress.

      What happens to my complaint?

      This is what you can expect after you lodge your complaint:

      Here is some information about each of the three steps. A complaint starts at Step One. At Step One, we consider what you tell us and work out the next steps. Often there are better ways to have your problem answered quickly. If so, we let you know. That is the end of Step One. The next step is Step Two. Some complaints can reach an outcome more promptly. Other complaints take a bit more time to reach an outcome. Here is some information about complaints that can reach an outcome more promptly. Sometimes we have everything we need to assess your problem without asking you more questions. We might transfer your complaint back to the agency so it can respond to you directly. We might ask the agency for some simple information about your problem. We might give you some hints and tips on how else to answer your problem. Whatever we decide, we’ll tell you. That is the end of Step Two for complaints that can reach an outcome more quickly. Here is some information about complaints that take a bit more time to reach an outcome. Some matters are more complicated. It might take us more time to consider all the information you’ve given us. We might ask the agency for detailed information about your complaint. This is to determine if your matter was handled correctly. Some very complex matters take longer. If yours is one of these, we’ll keep you updated. That is the end of Step Two for complaints that can reach an outcome more quickly. No matter what happened in Step Two, that is the end of Step Two. The next Step is Step Three. Step Three is the final step. Step Three is the outcome of your complaint. At Step Three, we may: 1)give you an answer to your problem 2)give you a better explanation of what happened and what it means 3)make suggestions to the agency to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to other people 4)explain why we think the agency got it right. At Step Three, we will: 1)keep you updated, and tell you if things will take longer 2)tell you what we’ve done 3)give you reasons for our actions 4)have another look at our decision, if you think we missed something. This is the end of the description of what you can expect to happen to a complaint lodged with the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

      What can I expect from the Ombudsman?

      You can expect us to:

      • Be professional and courteous.
      • Provide an independent and impartial assessment of your complaint.
      • Undertake confidential, free and prompt assessment of your complaint in a way that is fair to everyone.
      • Provide clear explanations about what we can and cannot do.
      • Provide you information about any decision we make.
      • Keep you informed of the progress of your complaint.

      See our service charter for more detail.

      What if I want to complain about the Ombudsman's decision or actions?

      Our Service

      If you are dissatisfied with an aspect of our service, you can talk with the member of staff who has been dealing with your complaint. If you are not happy with their response you can lodge a complaint using our webform or by calling 1300 362 072.

      We take complaints about our service seriously.  These complaints are assessed by Managers.

      Our Decisions

      You can discuss the progress or outcome of your complaint with the officer handling the matter.

      If you don’t agree with our decision, you are welcome to provide:

      • additional evidence
      • extra information or your view of the facts
      • the reasons you disagree with our decision.

      The Officer will use this information to reconsider their decision.

      Review

      If you disagree with our final decision, you can ask us to review it. You must request a review in writing within three months of our decision.

      Review information sheet and request form

      A senior officer who was not involved in the original investigation of your complaint will conduct the review.