AUSTRALIA | Ombudsman Western Australia Annual Report 2020-21 tabled in Parliament

The Western Australian Ombudsman has tabled his 2020-21 annual report in Parliament. The report outlines the work of the Office for the year, including:

The Office finalised 96% of complaints within 3 months.

Since 2007, it has:

• Decreased the age of complaints from 173 days to 45 days; and
• Reduced the cost of resolving complaints by 36%.

100% of the Ombudsman's recommendations were accepted for the fourteenth consecutive year.

In relation to the important function to review child deaths and family domestic violence fatalities, the Office:

• Received 40 investigable child deaths;
• Received 9 reviewable family and domestic violence fatalities;
• Made 14 recommendations about ways to prevent or reduce these deaths and fatalities.

The Ombudsman tabled in Parliament a major own motion investigation report, Preventing suicide by children and young people 2020, which included a report on giving effect to the recommendations arising from the Ombudsman’s Investigation into ways that State Government departments and authorities can prevent or reduce suicide by young people 2014 and a further investigation into ways that State Government departments and authorities can prevent or reduce suicide by children and young people.

The Office undertook a range of work to implement its inaugural Aboriginal Action Plan.

They enhanced awareness and access to the Office for children and young people through a range of mechanisms.

The Office enhanced regional awareness and access to the Office through a visit to Northam and Merredin in the Wheatbelt Region, a visit to the Indian Ocean Territories, a webinar for community service organisations across the Pilbara Region, and an information stall at the Wagin Woolorama Agricultural Show.

Source: Office of the Western Australia Ombudsman