OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN WA
Level 2, Albert Facey House, 469 Wellington Street, Perth 6000 ombudsman.wa.gov.au human.hrrecruitment@ ombudsman.wa.gov.au
What is the Office’s focus?
What qualities does the Office The office of the Ombudsman look for in graduates? (Office) provides access to Most positions at the Office justice, advances human rights for require excellent conceptual vulnerable and disadvantaged and analytical skills, a high level populations and promotes the of written communication skills, rule of law. The Ombudsman is an strong interpersonal skills and an independent and impartial officer understanding of the principles of of the Parliament who reports independence, reasonableness to the Parliament rather than the and procedural fairness. People government of the day. The Office from diverse backgrounds are utilises all aspects of public law in encouraged to apply for vacancies undertaking their work. at the Office. The Office has four principal What interesting work has the functions, which are: Office recently engaged in? • Providing access to justice to Western Australians In July 2021, the Ombudsman regarding the administration of released his investigation report, An investigation into the Office of the government; Public Advocate’s role in notifying • Making recommendations the families of Mrs Joyce Savage, about ways to prevent or Mr Robert Ayling and Mr Kenneth reduce child deaths and family Hartley of the deaths of Mrs Savage, and domestic violence fatalities Mr Ayling and Mr Hartley. through the undertaking of The report arose following a reviews; request to the Ombudsman by the • Undertaking major Honourable John Quigley MLA, investigations with the powers of Attorney General, to investigate a standing Royal Commission; the Office of the Public Advocate’s • Undertaking a range of (OPA) role in notifying the family of inspection and monitoring Mrs Joyce Savage of the death of functions of particular powers Mrs Savage. The Attorney General given to agencies of the State. also requested that the Ombudsman include in his investigation the Does the Office offer circumstances of OPA’s notification opportunities for graduates? to the families of Mr Robert Ayling The Office advertises positions in and Mr Kenneth Hartley of the the WA Government Jobs Board deaths of Mr Ayling and Mr Hartley. (jobs.wa.gov.au). 182
As a result of the Investigation, the Ombudsman formed a number of opinions regarding OPA’s role. Arising from these opinions, the Ombudsman made seven recommendations to OPA. The OPA has agreed to all seven recommendations. The Ombudsman will actively monitor the steps taken by OPA to give effect to the recommendations. Does the Office offer opportunities to students? The Office provides law students an opportunity to apply for the office’s clerkship program during the university vacation period. Each year, the clerkship is advertised on the WA Government Jobs Board and the office also informs universities when the program is advertised. Contact the person in the job advertisement to obtain an understanding of the advertised role and information about the job, and provide a comprehensive curriculum vitae that details your qualifications and your duties and achievements in your current and previous work. The CV needs to show that you have the skills, knowledge and capacity to do the work of the advertised position.
