Marking 50 years of service to the community

This year, the Office of the Queensland Ombudsman celebrates 50 years since its establishment. For over half a century, the Office has given the people in Queensland free, impartial and confidential service. 

In 1974, the Office started its work of investigating complaints about public sector services. Over time, outcomes from our investigations have delivered fairness and positive change in many forms. Our recommendations and guidance have helped shape public administration to ensure transparency and accountability of services to Queenslanders. 

Over 50 years many things change. We grow. We learn. New services are added to our area of responsibility, different technologies become part of how we deliver our services to the growing Queensland community. 

While there has been significant change, this Office’s commitment to fairness and improvement is unwavering. It evident in our work of responding to people who bring us complaints, providing information and guidance to public sector officers about good practice and inspecting places of detention.

We thank those who have held the Ombudsman role over the past 50 years, and the Office’s employees, past and present, for their contributions. We also want to thank the many public sector employees who we engage with in our work for the positive and open way in which they continue to support our Office. 

Marking 50 years of service to the community (PDF 4.3MB) contains a timeline of significant events in the Office’s history.