Oversight


Oversight agencies act independently of the Government and may inspect or review the operations of ACT Corrective Services (ACTCS). Oversight agencies may also receive complaints from offenders and community members about the services delivered by ACTCS.

Human Rights Commission (HRC)

The HRC is an independent statutory agency established by the Human Rights Commission Act 2005.

The HRC encourages and assists in the resolution of complaints, assisting users and providers to make improvements in the provision of services.

The Human Rights and Discrimination Commissioner has powers regarding detainee complaints and inspections of correctional centres.

Members of the commission include:

Telephone: 02 6205 2222

Postal address
GPO Box 158
Canberra City ACT 2601

Physical Address
Level 4, CFM Building,
12 Moore St, Canberra City

Fax 02 6207 1034

TTY 02 6205 1666

Email human.rights@act.gov.au

Website http://www.hrc.act.gov.au

ACT Ombudsman

Investigates complaints from people who believe they have been treated unfairly or unreasonably by an ACT Government directorate or agency. The Ombudsman can also receive and investigate Public Interest Disclosures along with the Auditor General and Attorney General.

Postal Address
GPO Box 442
Canberra ACT 2601

Physical Address
Level 5, 14 Childers Street
Canberra City

Telephone 1300 362 072
(Local call cost. Calls from mobiles charged at mobile phone rates) Enquiries 9 am - 5 pm Monday to Friday

Fax 02 6249 7829

Email act.ombo@ombudsman.gov.au

Website http://ombudsman.act.gov.au/

Inspector of Correctional Services

The ACT Inspector of Correctional Services was established to provide independent oversight of ACT Correctional and Youth Justice facilities, focusing on continual improvement and prevention of ill-treatment. The Inspector of Correctional Services does not handle individual complaints about Corrective Services facilities and services, but works cooperatively with oversight entities that do, in order to identify systemic issues and propose constructive recommendations to address these issues.

Website http://www.ics.act.gov.au/

Corrections Official Visitors

Official Visitors are appointed to undertake independent inspections of adult correctional facilities in the ACT and take complaints from detainees under the Official Visitor Act 2012.

There are two Corrections Official Visitors and an Indigenous Official Visitor who attend correctional centres on a regular basis and receive and investigate detainee complaints.

Public Advocate of the ACT

Promotes and individually represents the rights and interests of people with who are not able to represent or protect themselves including adults with a mental illness or impaired decision making ability who require protection from abuse, exploitation or neglect.

Postal Address
PO Box 1001
Civic Square ACT 2608

Physical Address
3rd Floor, CFM Building,
12 Moore St, Canberra City

Telephone: 02 6207 0707

Phone Enquires can be made Monday to Friday - 9.00am to 1.00pm & 2:00 to 4:30

Fax 6207 0688

Email pa@act.gov.au

Website http://www.publicadvocate.act.gov.au/

ACT Integrity Commission

The Integrity Commission is an independent body that has the power to investigate corruption in public administration and strengthen public confidence in government integrity.

Website www.integrity.act.gov.au

Office of the Privacy Commissioner

The Commissioner provides protection for:

Telephone 1300 363 992 (Local call cost)

TTY 1800 620 241

Postal Address
GPO Box 5218
Sydney NSW 2001

Fax 02 9284 9666

Email privacy@privacy.gov.au

Website http://www.privacy.gov.au/

Help with contacting oversight agencies

ACT Disability Aged and Carer Advocacy Service (ADACAS)

Telephone 02 6242 5060

Website www.adacas.org.au

ACT Deafness Resource Centre

Telephone 02 6287 4393

Website www.actdrc.org.au

Royal Society for the Blind

Telephone 02 6132 9200

National Relay Service (NRS) for hearing or speech impaired complainants

Telephone 133 677 then ask for 133 427

Website www.relayservice.gov.au