SYDNEY, Australia: The Sarawak Ombudsman strengthened its international cooperation after securing support from the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman Australia during a working visit on November 17.
The delegation, led by Chief Ombudsman Sarawak, Datuk Seri Abdul Ghafur Shariff, met Deputy Commonwealth Ombudsman, Julie O’Brien, who indicated readiness to support Sarawak’s participation as an observer in the upcoming Australian and New Zealand Ombudsman Association (ANZOA) General Meeting.
The Commonwealth Ombudsman also conveyed full backing for Sarawak’s applications to join the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) and the Southeast Asian Ombudsman Forum (SEAOF), reflecting a shared commitment to advancing regional and international collaboration on public sector oversight.
During the meeting, the Sarawak delegation received an overview of Australia’s federal complaint-handling framework, including the workflow, roles of officers involved in case resolution and governance mechanisms.
The Australian office highlighted its use of internal guidelines, quality assurance practices and regular staff training to uphold transparency, consistency and timely case management.
Established in 1977, the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman functions as an independent body overseeing complaints against federal government agencies and reports directly to the Australian Federal Parliament.
The engagement formed part of the Sarawak Ombudsman’s working visit to Australia, which also included sessions with the Equal Opportunity Commission of Western Australia, the Western Australia Ombudsman Office and the South Australia Ombudsman Office.
Also present during the Sydney meeting were Senior Assistant Ombudsman for Complaints, Joanne Mulder, who joined virtually from Canberra, and Assistant Director of Communications, Engagement and Education, Melita Bigirimana.
The Sarawak Ombudsman viewed the discussions as an opportunity to enhance bilateral cooperation and deepen understanding of international best practices in complaint management.
