DVA complaints details
Dear Commonwealth Ombudsman,
Dear Victorian Ombudsman,
I would like to request under Australian Federal Freedom of Information Law how many complaints were lodged with the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman between 1st January 2010 and and the January 1st 2025 with regards the Department of Veterans Affairs
I would also like the number of these complaints that were found to be valid and what action the office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman took to rectify the issues raised by the complainants.
Yours faithfully,
Douglas Steley
=============================================================
I note I am a disabled ex serviceman who has multiple disabilities from my service and I am also badly dyslexic, your respect for my disabilities is requested as per Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity law. If there are any questions or problems with this request or any delays in providing the information please inform me by phone to explain and discuss these issues 0408754250
Note I am old and answer phone calls but I am also old disabled and often cannot to my phone in time, if I fail to answer please call back a minute or so later or text me a number to call back. Thank you
Yours faithfully,
Doug Steley
OFFICIAL
Our ref: FOI-2025-80080
Dear Mr Steley
Freedom of Information request – Acknowledgment
I acknowledge receipt of your email dated 14 July 2025 to the Office of
the Commonwealth Ombudsman (the Office), in which you requested access to
documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). Your
request for documents was in the following terms:
Dear Commonwealth Ombudsman,
I would like to request under Australian Federal Freedom of Information
Law how many complaints were lodged with the Office of the Commonwealth
Ombudsman between 1st January 2010 and and the January 1st 2025 with
regards the Department of Veterans Affairs
I would also like the number of these complaints that were found to be
valid and what action the office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman took to
rectify the issues raised by the complainants.
Clarification of Scope
Before progressing this FOI, I was hoping to better understand your
request. I note as part of your request, you seek the following
information: the number of these complaints that were found to be valid
and what action the office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman took to rectify
the issues raised by the complainants. I advise our Office does provide a
finding as to whether a complaint is considered “valid”. Rather, the
Office may investigate a complaint and following an investigation provide
outcomes.
Therefore, we seek your consent to amend the scope from: the number of
these complaints that were found to be valid and what action the office of
the Commonwealth Ombudsman took to rectify the issues raised by the
complainants
To this: The outcomes in finalised complaints formally investigated by the
Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman, and suggestions or recommendations
the Office made to the Department of Veterans Affairs based on our
investigation findings between 1st January 2010 and 1st January 2025.
We would be grateful for your confirmation that you agree with the
proposed change by Tuesday, 29 July 2025.
If you agree to the proposed change, the scope of your FOI request would
be as follows:
Dear Commonwealth Ombudsman,
I would like to request under Australian Federal Freedom of Information
Law how many complaints were lodged with the Office of the Commonwealth
Ombudsman between 1st January 2010 and and the January 1st 2025 with
regards the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The outcomes in finalised complaints formally investigated by the Office
of the Commonwealth Ombudsman, and suggestions or recommendations the
Office made to the Department of Veterans Affairs based on our
investigation findings between 1st January 2010 and 1st January 2025.
I see you prefer to have a telephone call regarding your FOI – if you have
an available time tomorrow, I can give you a call? Please advise which
time would suit you?
Timeframes
The FOI Act requires us to provide notice of a decision on your request
within 30 days from the date we received a valid FOI request. Therefore, a
decision for your request will be provided to you on or before 13 August
2025. This 30-day period may be extended if we need to consult third
parties, or for other reasons. We will let you know if this happens.
If you have any questions, you may contact me via email at
[1][email address]
Kind regards
Legal Team
Defence, Investigations, ACT & Legal Branch
[2]A black and white logo Description automatically [3]ombudsman.gov.au
generated
The Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman acknowledges the traditional
owners of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to
land, culture and community. We pay our respects to elders past and
present.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.ombudsman.gov.au/
OFFICIAL
Our ref: FOI-2025-80080
Good afternoon, Mr Steley
Thank you for the telephone call this afternoon regarding the proposed FOI
scope.
As agreed, our Office will progress your FOI request of 14 July 2025 in
the following amended terms:
Dear Commonwealth Ombudsman,
I would like to request under Australian Federal Freedom of Information
Law how many complaints were lodged with the Office of the Commonwealth
Ombudsman between 1st January 2010 and the January 1st 2025 with regards
the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The outcomes in finalised complaints formally investigated by the Office
of the Commonwealth Ombudsman, and suggestions or recommendations the
Office made to the Department of Veterans Affairs based on investigation
findings between 1st January 2010 and 1st January 2025.
A decision for your request will be provided to you on or before 13 August
2025.
Many thanks,
Legal Team
Defence, Investigations, ACT & Legal Branch
[1]A black and white logo Description automatically [2]ombudsman.gov.au
generated
From: Information Access <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 22 July 2025 9:24 AM
To: [FOI #13406 email]
Cc: Information Access <[email address]>
Subject: FOI-2025-80080 - Acknowledgement and Scope [SEC=OFFICIAL]
OFFICIAL
Our ref: FOI-2025-80080
Dear Mr Steley
Freedom of Information request – Acknowledgment
I acknowledge receipt of your email dated 14 July 2025 to the Office of
the Commonwealth Ombudsman (the Office), in which you requested access to
documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). Your
request for documents was in the following terms:
Dear Commonwealth Ombudsman,
I would like to request under Australian Federal Freedom of Information
Law how many complaints were lodged with the Office of the Commonwealth
Ombudsman between 1st January 2010 and and the January 1st 2025 with
regards the Department of Veterans Affairs
I would also like the number of these complaints that were found to be
valid and what action the office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman took to
rectify the issues raised by the complainants.
Clarification of Scope
Before progressing this FOI, I was hoping to better understand your
request. I note as part of your request, you seek the following
information: the number of these complaints that were found to be valid
and what action the office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman took to rectify
the issues raised by the complainants. I advise our Office does provide a
finding as to whether a complaint is considered “valid”. Rather, the
Office may investigate a complaint and following an investigation provide
outcomes.
Therefore, we seek your consent to amend the scope from: the number of
these complaints that were found to be valid and what action the office of
the Commonwealth Ombudsman took to rectify the issues raised by the
complainants
To this: The outcomes in finalised complaints formally investigated by the
Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman, and suggestions or recommendations
the Office made to the Department of Veterans Affairs based on our
investigation findings between 1st January 2010 and 1st January 2025.
We would be grateful for your confirmation that you agree with the
proposed change by Tuesday, 29 July 2025.
If you agree to the proposed change, the scope of your FOI request would
be as follows:
Dear Commonwealth Ombudsman,
I would like to request under Australian Federal Freedom of Information
Law how many complaints were lodged with the Office of the Commonwealth
Ombudsman between 1st January 2010 and and the January 1st 2025 with
regards the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The outcomes in finalised complaints formally investigated by the Office
of the Commonwealth Ombudsman, and suggestions or recommendations the
Office made to the Department of Veterans Affairs based on our
investigation findings between 1st January 2010 and 1st January 2025.
I see you prefer to have a telephone call regarding your FOI – if you have
an available time tomorrow, I can give you a call? Please advise which
time would suit you?
Timeframes
The FOI Act requires us to provide notice of a decision on your request
within 30 days from the date we received a valid FOI request. Therefore, a
decision for your request will be provided to you on or before 13 August
2025. This 30-day period may be extended if we need to consult third
parties, or for other reasons. We will let you know if this happens.
If you have any questions, you may contact me via email at
[3][email address]
Kind regards
Legal Team
Defence, Investigations, ACT & Legal Branch
[4]A black and white logo Description automatically [5]ombudsman.gov.au
generated
The Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman acknowledges the traditional
owners of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to
land, culture and community. We pay our respects to elders past and
present.
References
Visible links
2. http://www.ombudsman.gov.au/
3. mailto:[email address]
5. http://www.ombudsman.gov.au/
OFFICIAL
Dear Mr Steley
Please see attached FOI Decision and Documents.
Kind regards
Carolina
Legal Team
Defence, Investigations, ACT & Legal Branch
[1]A black and white logo Description automatically [2]ombudsman.gov.au
generated
The Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman acknowledges the traditional
owners of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to
land, culture and community. We pay our respects to elders past and
present.
References
Visible links
2. http://www.ombudsman.gov.au/