Compliance Overview

Compliance Framework
Compliance Driver Ombudsman Act 1974 (NSW)
Classification Level 1
University-wide concern. Impacts on reputation and funding.
Associated Legislation None
Associated Standards None
Associated Codes None
Associated Information None
Return to Top Administrative Information
Administrative Body NSW Ombudsman
Administrative Name Mr Michael Barnes, NSW Ombudsman
Administrative Address Physical Address
Level 24
580 George Street
Sydney NSW
Australia, 2000
Administrative Phone 02 9286 1000
1800 451 524
Administrative Email nswombo@ombo.nsw.gov.au
Administrative Website https://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/
Return to Top General Introduction
VC Compliance Delegate Kate McNarn, Director Governance and University Secretary
Compliance Coordinator Katrina Warden, Director Legal Services
Business Units Impacted
  • Advancement, Communications, and Events Directorate
  • Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit
  • Australian Business Research Institute
  • Business Intelligence
  • Centre for Agriculture and Law
  • Centre for Applied Research in Social Science
  • Centre for Local Government
  • Corporate Communications and Events
  • Education Enterprise
  • Education Quality
  • English Language Centre
  • Estate and Built Environment
  • Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education
  • Faculty of Medicine and Health
  • Faculty of Science, Agriculture, Business and Law
  • Finance
  • Heritage Centre
  • Heritage Futures Research Centre
  • Institute for Rural Futures
  • Internal Audit
  • Legal Services
  • Library Services
  • Office of Strategy Management
  • Office of the Chief Financial Officer
  • Office of the Chief Legal and Governance Officer
  • Office of the Chief Operating Officer
  • Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor
  • Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
  • Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Innovation)
  • Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (External Relations)
  • Office of the Vice-Chancellor and CEO
  • Oorala Aboriginal Centre
  • People and Culture
  • Place Based@UNE
  • Records Team
  • Records, Policy and Governance Unit
  • Research Services
  • Residential System
  • Rural Properties
  • School of Education
  • School of Environmental and Rural Science
  • School of Health
  • School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
  • School of Law
  • School of Psychology
  • School of Rural Medicine
  • School of Science and Technology
  • Strategic Procurement
  • Student Experience
  • Student Grievance Unit
  • Technology and Digital Services
  • The National Centre of Science, Information and Communication Technology, and Mathematics Education
  • UNE Business School
  • UNE Council
  • UNE Foundation Limited
  • UNE Foundation Trust
  • UNE International
  • UNE Life
  • UNE Marketing
  • UNE Medical Centre
  • UNE Partnerships Pty Ltd
  • University Secretariat
  • Yarm Gwanga
Overview This Act provides for the appointment of an Ombudsman, and defines the functions of the Ombudsman including investigations, conciliations, and reporting. Subject to certain conditions, any person (including a public authority) may complain to the Ombudsman about the conduct of a public authority (all NSW public universities are public authorities over which the Ombudsman has jurisdiction). Whilst complaints are the primary mechanism to trigger an investigation by the Ombudsman, an investigation may take place whether or not a complaint has been received.

The types of conduct that a complaint can be made about include:
• If a person believes the University (or a university officer) has acted dishonestly, unfairly or unreasonably towards them, and they have been unable to resolve the matter within the University.
• If a person believes the University’s policies or procedures are flawed or unfair.
• If a person has experienced what they believe to be unreasonable delays or if the University has made a decision that they should have provided reasons for, but did not.
• If a person believes they have made a public interest disclosure within the meaning of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1993 and the university has not handled it correctly.
• If there is good evidence of maladministration on the part of the University.
• If a person has been advised by the University at the conclusion of an appeals process that you can make a complaint to the Ombudsman.

For the purposes of an investigation under this Act, the Ombudsman may require the University to: give the Ombudsman a statement of information; produce to the Ombudsman any document or other thing; or give the Ombudsman a copy of any document. In addition, the Ombudsman may, at any time enter and inspect any premises occupied or used by a public authority as a public authority, and inspect any document or thing in or on the premises.