Ombudsman Western Australia

• Home
• About us
  • The role of the Ombudsman
  • Other Functions
  • Our Strategic Direction
  • Our Team
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Community Accessibility
  • Freedom of Information
• How to make a complaint
  • What you can complain about
  • Making your complaint
  • Handling your complaint
  • Making a Public Interest Disclosure
  • Complaints by overseas students
• Reportable Conduct
  • Why do we have a Reportable Conduct Scheme?
  • How does the Reportable Conduct Scheme work?
  • Information Sheets and Guidance about the Reportable Conduct Scheme
  • Webinars and Training for Organisations
  • Make a notification
  • Request an exemption
• Charitable Trusts
• Improving Public Administration
  • Undertaking own-motion investigations
  • Reports on own-motion investigations
• Review of Certain Deaths
• Helping Public Authorities
  • Good decision making & practices
  • Effective handling of complaints
  • Responding to Ombudsman complaints
  • Awareness & Accessibility
• Helping the Community
  • Awareness & Accessibility
• Aboriginal Community Info
  • Making a complaint
  • Our work with Aboriginal people
• Children and Young People
  • Making a complaint
  • Our work with young people
• Publications
  • Annual Reports
  • Complaint Forms
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • General Information
  • Guidelines & Information Sheets
  • Media
  • News & Events
  • Reports
  • Speeches
• Feedback
• Links
• Community Languages
  • Indian Ocean Territories

• Home Publications Ombudsman News and Events

Print

Ombudsman report tabled in Parliament: Operation of the Unlawful Consorting and Prohibited Insignia Scheme December 2023 to December 2024

The Unlawful Consorting and Prohibited Insignia scheme helps WA Police disrupt criminal organizations such as outlaw motorcycle gangs, and we check to ensure the use of police powers is lawful. Having checks and balances to protect people’s rights while keeping our community safe, is a small but important part of what the Ombudsman does.

Our role is to assess whether WA Police have complied with the provisions of the Criminal Law (Unlawful Consorting and Prohibited Insignia) Act 2021. We also evaluate whether the scheme has had an adverse impact on specific groups in the community.

You can read the report here

Ombudsman connecting with communities in the South West

The team from Ombudsman WA will be heading down to the South West to talk with agencies, organisations and community members between 18 and 21 November.

This is part of the Regional Awareness and Accessibility Program, aimed at increasing knowledge of our services and ways we can help regional and Aboriginal Western Australians.

Working together with other complaint handling agencies during the visit benefits the local community by having all the complaint services in one place. These include:

Ombudsman Western Australia

Energy and Water Ombudsman

Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman

Australian Financial Complaints Authority

Consumer Protection (Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety)

Health and Disability Services Complaints Office

NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

Equal Opportunity Commission WA

Aboriginal Legal Service

Events for the community

Community Connect - Margaret River

Margaret River – Wednesday 19 November, 9:30AM - 2:00pm
Part expo, part presentations and providing help, information and advice. Learn about a wide range of services that help the community. Hosted by Consumer Protection and the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River.

More information and register here

Bring Your Bills – Bunbury

Bunbury – Thursday 20 November 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Smart2Ask Community Expo, South West Sport Centre 2:00 - 3:45 PM - Eaton Recreation Centre
Bring your bills and questions or just come and have a chat to find out what we do! Get help with billing issues, consumer and legal advice, and how to resolve problems with a wide range of services.

More information and register here.

These events are a great opportunity to connect with us and other services, ask questions, and learn more about how we can support your community.

Events for organisations

Lunch and Learn: Strengthening Child Safety within Organisations – Bunbury

Stirling St Arts Centre Bunbury – Tuesday 18 November, 12:00 PM
Aimed at organisations that work with children. Networking lunch event to learn practical strategies to enhance child safety in your organisation. Hosted by Ombudsman WA and WACOSS.

More information and register here

Supporting Consumers Sundowner – Bunbury

Vat2 Bunbury – Thursday 20 November, 5:30 PM

Aimed at advocates like lawyers and financial counsellors and other community sector and government workers. Network and find out how we help your clients. Hosted by Ombudsman WA and the South West Law Society.

More information and register here

Ombudsman releases Annual Report 2024-25, 3 October 2025

We released our Annual Report for 2024-25.

"The role of the Ombudsman concerns the protection of people’s rights, prevention of harm, improving public services and ensuring good government," said the Ombudsman, Bevan Warner.

"We work with some of the most vulnerable members of the Western Australian community, offering practical insights to decision-makers, to improve the way government services are experienced and delivered."

Here are some of the highlights for the year:

Protecting People's Rights

• 16,244 contacts from people with complaints and enquiries
• 775 investigations finalised
• 24% increase in complaints about public authorities
• 24% increase in energy and water investigations
• 352 remedies achieved for complainants
• 93% of allegations finalised within 3 months

Improving Services

• 6 recommendations to improve public administration through child death and FDV fatality reviews
• 51 improvements to public administration through complaint resolution
• 238 improvement actions by organisations covered by the Reportable Conduct Scheme
• We published a systemic review 'Western Australia's Reportable Conduct Scheme: A review of systems to protect children

Preventing Harm

• 877 notifications of child related harm in organisations (reportable conduct) and responded to 497 enquiries from organisations
• 53 events to educate organisations covered by the Reportable Conduct Scheme
• 161 child death notifications received and 61 progressed to review
• 14 FDV fatality notifications received and 12 progressed to review

Supporting Vulnerable Communities

• 10 community events and presentations across the metropolitan area
• 9 regional towns visited

You can download our Annual Report 2024-25 here.

Ombudsman will visit East Kimberley community in July 2025

The Ombudsman, Bevan Warner, and his staff will be visiting the East Kimberley from 28 to 31 July 2025 as part of our Regional Awareness and Accessibility Program. The purpose of this Program is to raise awareness of our services for regional and Aboriginal Western Australians

“It is important we hear directly from people in regional and remote communities about the problems they are facing with government services,” said Mr Warner.

“When we hear people’s concerns and take complaints, we can work with government agencies to correct any mistakes that may have been made. We can also promote systemic change to improve services and systems,” said Mr Warner.

The visit includes events and meetings in collaboration with other complaint handling and consumer protection organisations:

• Ombudsman Western Australia
• Energy and Water Ombudsman Western Australia
• Consumer Protection (Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety)
• Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman
• Health and Disability Services Complaints Office
• Equal Opportunity Commission
• Aboriginal Legal Service

This benefits the community by bringing a range of services together in one place.

On Monday 28 July at 5pm, we are co-hosting a networking event with the East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EKCCI) at The Cambridge in Kununurra. The event is an opportunity for people working in the community sector and small businesses to hear from the visiting organisations about our role.
More information and register here.

On Tuesday 29 July at 12 noon, we are in Wyndham and hosting a Lunch & Learn event for the community at the Ngnowar Aerwah Community Centre. Members of the community are welcome to come and speak to the Ombudsman and collect information and resources.
More information and register here.

On Wednesday 30 July, we will be meeting with community in Warmun.

On Thursday 31 July from 12 noon, we are joining Consumer Protection’s Community Connect event in Kununurra. The Kununurra community is invited to come to White Gum Park and share in a BBQ and speak to a wide range of service providers.
More information and register here.

Throughout the week in the East Kimberley, the Ombudsman and staff will also be meeting with a range of government and community sector organisations.

Ombudsman engages with Pilbara community in June 2025

The office of the Ombudsman will be visiting Newman in the Pilbara Region from 23 to 27 June 2025 as part of our Regional Awareness and Accessibility Program.

The visit includes events and meetings in collaboration with other complaint handling and consumer organisations. The purpose of this Program is to raise awareness of our services for regional and Aboriginal Western Australians.

The visit aligns with the Financial Counsellors’ Association of WA (FCAWA) regional forum being held in Newman, which kicks off with outreach to the Jigalong Aboriginal Community on 24 June. On 25 June, three of our senior staff will participate in an Ombudsman panel at the forum. The panel session is an opportunity for delegates to find out more about the WA Ombudsman, Energy and Water Ombudsman and charitable trusts complaints. The panel also includes the Australian Financial Complaints Authority’s Chief Ombudsman, David Locke.

On Thursday 26 June, we will attend a Consumer Connect event hosted by Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety - Consumer Protection. Consumer Connect is an opportunity for anyone in Newman and surrounding region to come and learn about consumer rights and the different services that can help with consumer issues.

For more information and to register for Consumer Connect, go to https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/consumer-connect-newman-tickets-1326234606409

On Friday 27 June, we are hosting a Lunch & Learn in Newman for community and government organisations. The free networking event is an opportunity for people who work with the community, particularly vulnerable people, to learn more about the services of:

• Ombudsman Western Australia
• Energy and Water Ombudsman
• Australian Financial Complaints Authority
• Consumer Protection WA
• Equal Opportunity Commission WA
• Australian Financial Security Authority

For more information and to register for the Ombudsman’s Lunch & Learn, go to: https://events.humanitix.com/lunch-and-learn-newman-supporting-consumers

Download the Lunch & Learn Poster

New Ombudsman appointed for Western Australia, 30 May 2025

Bevan Warner has been appointed as the Ombudsman for Western Australia, commencing 9 June 2025.

For the last seven years, Bevan has been the Chief Executive Officer of Launch Housing in Melbourne, a community housing organisation dedicated to ending homelessness. At the same time, he was director of a number of housing and homelessness organisations. Prior to this, Bevan was the Managing Director of Victoria Legal Aid from 2008 to 2018 and General Manager of Legal Aid WA for 11 years.

A Western Australian with 35 years’ experience in the public sector in two states and a leader in the for-purpose charity sector delivering services to vulnerable people, Bevan brings a new focus to this vitally important independent office.

Deputy Ombudsman, David Robinson, has been acting in Ombudsman’s role since February 2024.

“I congratulate Bevan Warner on his appointment as Ombudsman and am very pleased to welcome him to the office of the Ombudsman,” said Mr Robinson.

“Bevan’s considerable experience leading organisations and pursuing social equity for some of the most vulnerable people in our community will bring great value to the important work of the office. I look forward to working with Bevan to deliver meaningful outcomes for the Western Australia community and Parliament,” said Mr Robinson.

Bevan is the eighth Ombudsman (officially titled Parliamentary Commissioner for Administrative Investigations) in the 53-year history of the role in Western Australia.

The Ombudsman is an independent officer of the Western Australian Parliament, with a broad range of responsibilities keeping public authorities and other organisations to account:

• Receives, investigates and resolves complaints about State Government agencies and local governments;
• Reviews child deaths and family and domestic violence fatalities;
• Undertakes own motion investigations;
• Undertakes the Reportable Conduct Scheme; and
• Undertakes a range of additional functions, including statutory inspection and monitoring functions.

The Ombudsman is also the Energy and Water Ombudsman Western Australia. The Energy and Water Ombudsman investigates and resolves complaints about electricity, gas and water providers.

Western Australia’s Reportable Conduct Scheme: A review of systems to protect children

On 30 April 2025, the Ombudsman’s report, Western Australia’s Reportable Conduct Scheme: A review of systems to protect children was tabled in Parliament.

The report examined the compliance of organisations with legislative requirements to have systems in place under Western Australia’s Reportable Conduct Scheme (the Scheme). The Scheme compels heads of organisations that exercise care, supervision or authority over children to notify the Ombudsman of allegations and convictions of child abuse by their employees and then investigate the allegations. The Ombudsman oversees these investigations. The Scheme covers organisations in a range of settings including schools, religious institutions, childcare centres, hospitals, detention centres and out-of-home care.

Deputy Ombudsman, David Robinson, said:

“Some organisations had made significant progress in implementing the systems required by the Scheme, however, further work is required with only 39.3 per cent of organisations reporting that they had implemented all required systems.”

The review identified that awareness and understanding of the Scheme’s requirements was still developing. Areas for improvement include:

• integration of the Scheme into the reporting systems of organisations;

• the readiness of organisations to investigate allegations of reportable conduct; and

• procedures in place for the storage, access and disclosure of investigation information.

“While we observed some comprehensive and effective systems, many organisations are just beginning their journey to comply with the Scheme’s requirements,” said Mr Robinson.

In addition to overseeing investigations, the office of the Ombudsman educates and builds the capacity of organisations through guidance material on its website, training, a dedicated enquiries line and individual engagement with organisations that have notified conduct.

“The implementation of systems is essential to ensuring that allegations of child abuse are not dismissed, ignored or mishandled. I encourage organisations covered by the Scheme to reflect upon the areas for improvement set out in this report, access the resources available on our website and to contact our enquiries line should they need further assistance,” said Mr Robinson.

Read the full report

Read the summary of the report

Read additional analyses of victims and subjects of allegations

Access information sheets and guidance material on the Reportable Conduct Scheme