Presentation
Dear Commonwealth Ombudsman,
On 29 May 2025, Sarah Bendall and Joanne Mulder delivered a presentation at the National Investigations Symposium.
The title of their presentation was "restorative engagement in defence abuse and student complaints".
Under the FOI Act, I request access to documents setting out that presentation.
Please provide the documents by return email.
Yours faithfully,
Lex
OFFICIAL
Dear Lex,
Our reference: FOI-2025-80064
On 8 June 2025 the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman (the Office)
received your Freedom of Information (FOI) request in the following terms:
On 29 May 2025, Sarah Bendall and Joanne Mulder delivered a presentation
at the National Investigations Symposium. The title of their presentation
was "restorative engagement in defence abuse and student complaints".
Under the FOI Act, I request access to documents setting out that
presentation. Please provide the documents by return email.
Timeframes
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) requires us to provide
notice of a decision on your FOI request within 30 days from the date we
received a valid FOI request. Therefore, a decision for your FOI request
will be provided to you on or before Tuesday 8 July 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
Clare
[2]A circular design with a Senior Legal Officer
circle in the middle
Description automatically Defence, Investigations, ACT & Legal Branch
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]
OFFICIAL
Dear Lex,
FOI-2025-80064
Please find attached Freedom of Information access decision and power
point presentations.
Kind regards
Clare
[1]A circular design with Senior Legal Officer
a circle in the middle
Description automatically Defence, Investigations, ACT & Legal Branch
generated
Proud to be working on the lands of the
Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon
Wurrung Peoples of the Eastern Kulin
Dear Commonwealth Ombudsman,
As part of the 2025 Complaint Handling Forum Series, Iain Anderson and Joanne Mulder delivered an introductory address.
On 27 October 2025, Iain Anderson participated in a panel discussion on complaint handling.
Under the FOI Act, I request access to:
a) any and all documents, including preparatory documents, used by Iain Anderson and/or Joanne Mulder in respect of the introductory address to the 2025 complaint handling forum; and
b) any and all documents, including preparatory documents, used by Iain Anderson in respect of the panel discussion he participated in on 27 October 2025.
For the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act, the concept of a document extends to traditional documents, as well as digital documents, audio recordings and video recordings. If a written record (e.g. written on paper, saved as a Microsoft Word or PDF document, or a transcript) of the requested materials does not exist but recordings exists (i.e. audio or video), please provide the relevant recordings.
Please provide the requested documents by return email.
Yours faithfully,
Lex
OFFICIAL
Dear Lex,
Our reference: FOI-2025-80148
On the 5 November 2025, the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman (the
Office) received your Freedom of Information (FOI) request in the
following terms:
As part of the 2025 Complaint Handling Forum Series, Iain Anderson and
Joanne Mulder delivered an introductory address.
On 27 October 2025, Iain Anderson participated in a panel discussion on
complaint handling.
Under the FOI Act, I request access to:
a) any and all documents, including preparatory documents, used by Iain
Anderson and/or Joanne Mulder in respect of the introductory address to
the 2025 complaint handling forum; and
b) any and all documents, including preparatory documents, used by Iain
Anderson in respect of the panel discussion he participated in on 27
October 2025.
For the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act, the concept of a
document extends to traditional documents, as well as digital documents,
audio recordings and video recordings. If a written record (e.g. written
on paper, saved as a Microsoft Word or PDF document, or a transcript) of
the requested materials does not exist but recordings exists (i.e. audio
or video), please provide the relevant recordings.
Clarification of your FOI request
To ensure your request is processed in a practical and meaningful way, I
have interpreted your request to be for the following documents:
a. The documents used by Iain Anderson and/or Joann Mulder in respect of
their giving the introductory address to the 2025 complaint handling
forum; and
b. The documents, including preparatory documents, used by Iain Anderson
in respect of the panel discussion he participated in on 27 October
2025.
This interpretation of your request excludes from scope administrative
type documents pertaining to the organisation and administration of the
2025 complaint handling forum. For example;
• emails about ticket sales
• information about attendees
• information about technical logistics
• emails with third parties to the Office about their involvement in the
panel
Your response – Thursday 20 November 2025
Please let me know by Thursday 20 November 2025 if my interpretation of
your FOI request is not adequate or does not cover the type of documents
you are seeking. If my interpretation is adequate, I will exclude from
scope any emails where the only relevant content is an attached
preparatory document. In those cases, only the attached document would be
considered responsive, not the email that attaches it. For example, if
talking points used by the Ombudsman are relevant, the talking points
themselves would be in scope, not emails that merely attach them.
Kind regards
Clare
[1]A circular design with a Clare
circle in the middle
Description automatically Defence, Investigations, ACT & Legal Branch
generated
From: Information Access <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, 6 November 2025 1:12 PM
To: Lex <[FOI #13269 email]>
Cc: Information Access <[email address]>
Subject: FOI-2025-80148 - Acknowledgement of your Freedom of Information
request [SEC=OFFICIAL]
OFFICIAL
Dear Lex,
Our reference: FOI-2025-80148
On the 5 November 2025, the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman (the
Office) received your Freedom of Information (FOI) request in the
following terms:
As part of the 2025 Complaint Handling Forum Series, Iain Anderson and
Joanne Mulder delivered an introductory address.
On 27 October 2025, Iain Anderson participated in a panel discussion on
complaint handling.
Under the FOI Act, I request access to:
a) any and all documents, including preparatory documents, used by Iain
Anderson and/or Joanne Mulder in respect of the introductory address to
the 2025 complaint handling forum; and
b) any and all documents, including preparatory documents, used by Iain
Anderson in respect of the panel discussion he participated in on 27
October 2025.
For the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act, the concept of a
document extends to traditional documents, as well as digital documents,
audio recordings and video recordings. If a written record (e.g. written
on paper, saved as a Microsoft Word or PDF document, or a transcript) of
the requested materials does not exist but recordings exists (i.e. audio
or video), please provide the relevant recordings.
Timeframes
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) requires us to provide
notice of a decision on your FOI request within 30 days from the date we
received a valid FOI request. Therefore, a decision for your FOI request
will be provided to you on or before Friday 5 December 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
[2][email address]
Kind regards
Clare
[3]A circular design with a Clare
circle in the middle
Description automatically Senior Legal Officer
generated
Defence, Investigations, ACT & Legal Branch
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. mailto:[email address]