We have released our Annual Report 2025-26, highlighting a year of increasing demand, expanded responsibilities and significant work to protect people’s rights, improve public services, prevent harm and support vulnerable communities.

The report marks Bevan Warner’s first full year as Ombudsman and reflects the work we have undertaken across complaint resolution, child and family safety, major investigations, independent oversight and community engagement.

During the year, we helped more people than ever before. Complaints about public authorities increased by 30%, following a 24% increase the previous year. Despite the increased volume and complexity of complaints, improvements to our processes enabled us to finalise more complaints than we received.

Highlights for 2025-26

Our work during the year included:

• receiving 3,171 complaints and 7,140 enquiries in our State Ombudsman role
• achieving 64 improvements to public administration through complaint resolution
• overseeing 158 improvement actions by organisations covered by the Reportable Conduct Scheme
• receiving 809 notifications of child-related harm
• making nine recommendations through our major 'Review of Family and Domestic Violence in Western Australia'
• visiting 16 regional towns and seven prisons, alongside 15 metropolitan events and presentations.

Responding to change and growing demand

Artificial intelligence is also changing the way people interact with us. While AI can make it easier for some people to make a complaint, we are increasingly receiving AI-generated complaints containing unclear or inaccurate information and incorrect references to legislation.

At the same time, our responsibilities continue to expand. During the year, the State Government announced its intention for the Ombudsman to become the independent oversight body for the new Child Safe Standards Scheme, subject to parliamentary approval. We also continue to work on preparing to commence taking complaints under the Alternative Electricity Services framework as the Energy and Water Ombudsman, and expand our work as the WA Charitable Trusts Commission.

We have responded to growing demand and new responsibilities through improved business processes, digital investment and careful prioritisation of resources. We also launched a new accessible website, expanded our social media presence and increased our outreach across metropolitan, regional and remote Western Australia.

As the Ombudsman notes in the report, growing demand and expanding responsibilities will require ongoing investment in our people and digital capability so we can continue providing the level of service expected by Parliament and the Western Australian community.

Read our Annual Report 2025-26 to learn more about our work and achievements.