On 21 August 2024, the Office of the Veterans Ombud (OVO) released its publication Spotlight 2024: Progress Update on OVO Recommendations to VAC. The recommendations made by the OVO address systemic gaps and barriers to fair access by Veterans and their families for VAC services and benefits. 

After receiving complaints about the Department of Home Affairs’ application of refund provisions relating to Visa Application Charges, the Commonwealth Ombudsman, Iain Anderson, has published his investigation report on the matter, ‘Righting Refunds’ on 13 August 2024.

The Queensland Ombudsman’s report, Forensic Disability Service – second report: A review of the implementation of recommendations made in the 2019 Forensic Disability Service report, was tabled by the Honourable Curtis Pitt MP, Speaker of the Queensland Parliament on Tuesday 13 August 2024.

The NSW Ombudsman has tabled a special report titled Investigation into inmate discipline in NSW correctional centres in Parliament on 21 August 2024. The report follows an investigation involving a systemic examination of how inmate discipline is managed across all correctional centres. The inmate disciplinary system deals with inmates who are alleged to have committed a ‘correctional centre offence’ while in custody.

England’s Health Ombudsman has warned that women and babies are being put at risk after a worrying rise in the number of investigations about maternity care. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is urging the Government and NHS leaders to learn from the mistakes being made and take action to protect more families from harm. 

The Ombudsman for Wales has published today its Annual Report & Accounts for 2023/24, which shows a staggering 37% increase since 2019 in the number of new complaints received about public services and the behaviour of local councillors. 2023/24 marks the Ombudsman Wales’ most efficient year – the office handled over 10,000 cases, closing more than they have ever have done before and reducing the costs for each case and investigation

The Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) commissioned "Tomorrow Starts with Us", a survey carried out with Amárach Research to mark the OCO’s 20th Anniversary. The cost of living, mental health services and future housing needs are the top three concerns for over 1,000 secondary school students who took part in the survey.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is urging Integrated Care Boards (ICB) to learn from mistakes and take action to prevent other families facing unnecessary financial strain after a case investigated by the Ombudsman highlighted the issue.