The Queensland Ombudsman has already many written complaints about the enforcement of School Uniforms at State High Schools. The more complaints the more priority the investigations.

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HOW DO YOU COMPLAIN TO THE OMBUDSMAN?

You may request an appointment or telephone for a preliminary discussion but in either case you are required by the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1974 to put your complaint in writing.

For people outside the metropolitan area, the Ombudsman and his staff make regular visits to regional centres to interview complainants. These visits are advertised in the local media. Again, the complainant should be in writing and brought to the interview.

• Your complaint should include:
• Your name, address and telephone number.
• The correspondence reference if you have contacted the Office previously in relation to the matter.
• A concise statement of your complaint (ie. the action that caused you to complaint).
• A description of the circumstances that lead to your complaint, detailing who was involved, when and why the events occurred and why the situation is unfair to you.
• Steps you have taken to resolve the complaint and the result of such action. Attached copies of any relevant correspondence.
• What you would like to happen as a result of the Ombudsman's investigation.

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PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSIONER

FOR ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATIONS

(OMBUDSMAN)

ROLE

• Essentially the role of the Office of Parliamentary Commissioner for Administrative Investigations (Ombudsman) is to examine allegations of unfairness made by members of the public against State Government department, statutory authorities and local councils, when no other remedy is available.

MANNER OF INVESTIGATION

• The Office conducts an independent investigation and is required to consider both the complainant's case and the authority's response. The Office is a bona fide investigative body. It does not "act" for a complainant during an investigation but investigates to see if an injustice has occurred.
• The Office undertakes appropriate research, makes inspections when required, and otherwise gathers evidence as it deems appropriate.
• The Office will endeavour to update complainants as to the progress of inquiries but this is not always possible because of the large number of investigations on hand at any one time.
• By law all complaints must be in writing, including follow-up information which the complainant wishes to be taken into account as part of the investigation.

OUTCOME

• The Office advises every complainant of the outcome of investigations, with appropriate reasons and findings of fact.
• The Office gives the complainant an opportunity to comment on adverse information received before making a final finding on the matter.
• The Office may only recommend that an authority takes particular action, not makes an order. In the rare event that a recommendation is not accepted, the Office may refer the matter to the relevant Minister and to Parliament.
• Investigations can only be re-opened If the complainant provides new information or material not previously considered.
• If the Office finds in a complainant's favour it will pursue the matter until an outcome which in the opinion of the Office is satisfactory, is achieved.