Ombudsman Western Australia

The Role of the Ombudsman

About the Ombudsman

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Administrative Investigations – more commonly known as the Ombudsman – is an independent officer of the Western Australian Parliament.

The current Ombudsman is Bevan Warner.

Read more about the History of the Ombudsman

What does the Ombudsman do?

The Ombudsman promotes fairness and good public administration. The Ombudsman works to prevent harm to vulnerable people.

The office of the Ombudsman has five principal functions.

• Receiving, investigating and resolving complaints about State Government agencies, local governments and universities. See How to make a complaint;

• Reviewing child deaths and family and domestic violence fatalities. Reviews of certain deaths;

• Improving public administration for the benefit of all Western Australians through own motion investigations and education and liaison programs with public authorities. See Improving public administration; and

• Monitoring, overseeing and reviewing investigations undertaken by organisations into allegations of, and convictions for, abuse of children involving any of the organisation’s employees. See Reportable Conduct; and
• Undertaking a range of additional functions, including statutory inspection and monitoring functions. See Other Functions.

The Ombudsman's office is also the Western Australian Charitable Trusts Commission. We can receive and investigate complaints about charitable trusts. See the Charitable Trusts page

The Ombudsman also undertakes the role of the Energy and Water Ombudsman.

Governing Legislation

The principal legislation for the Ombudsman’s office is the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1971.