AUSTRALIA | The Western Australian Ombudsman organises information sessions in order to engage with Aboriginal Western Australians

Aboriginal people are the traditional custodians of the land now known as Western Australia with a history of custodianship of up to 100,000 years and an ongoing cultural connection to the land.

The office of the Western Australian Ombudsman has a special responsibility to ensure that it engages with, and listens to, Aboriginal Western Australians.

Representatives from seven independent agencies had the opportunity to speak to, and hear from, Aboriginal Elders and service providers during information sessions held in Western Australia, the first in Perth on 13 May and the second in Mandurah on 14 May 2019.

The information sessions, organised and hosted by the office, provided information about the roles of:

• The Western Australian Ombudsman;

• Energy and Water Ombudsman Western Australia;

• Commonwealth Ombudsman;

• Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman;

• Australian Financial Complaints Authority;

• Health and Disability Services Complaints Office; and

• Office of the Information Commissioner

These sessions, part of the office’s engagement strategy and cultural competency with Aboriginal Western Australians, was guided by the office’s Principal Aboriginal Liaison Officer. Very positive feedback was received from attendees and the sessions provided valuable information for the office’s engagement with the Aboriginal community.

The office also conducted further activities in the Peel Region of Western Australia in May 2019 to raise awareness of, and ensure accessibility to, our services for regional and Aboriginal Western Australians:

• Complaint clinics in Mandurah, Waroona and Boddington, where members of the public can bring their concerns to the office;

• Visits to, and liaison with, community organisations; and

• Workshops for public authorities on Good Decision Making and Effective Complaint Handling.

Source: The Ombudsman Western Australia