ACT Official Visitors is a scheme that provides independent oversight of services for people in government institutions and community facilities who are dependent on service providers.
The objective of ACT Official Visitors is to identify and address systemic service issues in the diverse environments of:
- Corrections
- Mental Health
- Disability
- Children and Young People and
- Homelessness.
Official Visitors visit entitled people at visitable places and report to Operational Ministers and other public authorities. Official Visitors also fulfil a more direct and informal function within their respective jurisdictions by resolving grievances and lesser issues with service providers or institutional authorities.
Who are Official Visitors?
Official Visitors are engaged as independent statutory office holders, appointed by the Minister for Human Rights for their skills and expertise. They are appointed for a maximum term of three years and may be re-appointed for a further term.
Official Visitors visit Bimberi (youth detention facility) and residential out-of-home care facilities for children and young people, the Alexander Maconochie Centre (prison), mental health facilities, accommodation for people with disability (including aged care facilities) and accommodation for people requiring housing assistance.
ACT Official Visitors has appointed an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Official Visitor to better meet the needs of Indigenous people in respect to Corrections and Children and Young People. People in other types of accommodation can request to meet with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Official Visitor.
Official Visitors are empowered by law to meet and talk with entitled people in visitable places to hear their concerns and help them resolve any complaints. They observe the environment and staff interaction with residents and patients, make enquiries and inspect documents, communicate with residents and patients to ensure they are being cared for and supported with dignity, respect, and identify any issues of concern. They can visit unannounced.
Official Visitors can raise issues with service provider management and the relevant Operational Directorates and may meet with and discuss matters with the Public Advocate, the Public Trustee and Guardian and other ACT Government officials, including the Human Rights Commission. Serious complaints of assault or other criminal activity may be referred to police.
The findings, observations and recommendations of Official Visitors are compiled in a quarterly report to the Operational Minister giving those Ministers valuable and direct insight into what is happening in these places.
They also report to the Minister for Human Rights, as Minister responsible for the Official Visitor Act 2012.
ACT Official Visitors is established by the Official Visitor Act 2012.
Other legislation dealing with Official Visitors may be found in:
- Children and Young People Act 2008
- Mental Health Act 2015
- Corrections Management Act 2007
- Disability Services Act 1991
- Housing Assistance Act 2007
The Official Visitors Board
The Official Visitors Board has been established by section 23A of the Official Visitor Act 2012.
The Board comprises:
- the Chair as appointed by the Minister
- at least one Commissioner under the Human Rights Commission Act 2005 nominated by the Commissioners under that Act
- two Official Visitors elected by the Official Visitors and
- any other members appointed by the Minister.
The Board has the following functions:
- oversee the exercise of functions by Official Visitors
- arrange for the recruitment, induction, training and support of Official Visitors
- provide support for and manage the exercise of functions by Official Visitors
- consider and try to resolve any complaints about Official Visitors and
- any other function given to the Board under legislation.
The Board is assisted in the administration of ACT Official Visitors by an Executive Officer, who is a public servant.
The Board makes a summary report to the Minister at the end of each financial year about:
- the number of:
- visits by Official Visitors to visitable places
- complaints received by Official Visitors in relation to visitable places
- referrals of complaints to investigative entities
- the action taken on complaints received
- any systemic issues in relation to the operation of the Act identified by the Board
- the number and kinds of matters referred by Official Visitors to an investigative entity and
- the number of times an Official Visitor inspected records in accordance with s. 15(2)(b).
For further information or to arrange a visit, please contact the Official Visitor hotline on 1800 150 036.
For administrative matters including the Official Visitors Board, contact the Executive Officer, ACT Official Visitors by calling 02 6207 0978, emailing ovs@act.gov.au, or by using our contact form.
If you are concerned about your own safety, or the safety of someone else, you should contact the police on 000.
If you are concerned about the safety of a child or young person, you should contact ACT Community Services (Child and Youth Protection) on 1300 556 729 (business hours) or 1300 556 728 (after hours).
You can also contact the ACT Human Rights Commission on (02) 6205 2222 to make a complaint in respect to services for:
- children and young people to the Children and Young People Commissioner;
- health services and services for older people to the Health Services Commissioner; or
- disability services to the Disability and Community Services Commissioner.
The Public Advocate may also be able to assist with concerns you may have about your contact with Child and Youth Protection Services, the mental health system or disability services. If you would like to discuss your concern with the Public Advocate, please call 02 6205 2222 between 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday or email PublicAdvocateReferrals@act.gov.au.
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