New Victorian Ombudsman appointed | Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria

Justice system
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  Find a lawyer or organisation to assist you with legal matters
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  Learn about the role of sheriff's officers, who are responsible for enforcing warrants and orders issued by all Victorian courts
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  Youth justice supervises and provides programs for young people in the criminal justice system
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Safer communities
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  Victoria's road safety strategy and road safety camera program
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- Water safety (External link)
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  Play it safe at the beach, at the river, by the pool and while boating and fishing
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  Protecting children and families
  
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- Community Safety Building Authority
  Community Safety Building Authority
  
  The Community Safety Building Authority (CSBA) delivers buildings and facilities needed to keep communities safe
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Licences and certificates
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Your rights
- Adoption (External link)
  Adoption (External link)
  
  Includes information on the different types of adoptions, the needs of adopted children and support for families who have adopted a child, past adoptions and historical timelines.
- Equal opportunity and human rights (External link)
  Equal opportunity and human rights (External link)
  
  Equal opportunity, sexual harassment, racial and religious vilification, and related dispute resolution
- Aboriginal Justice Agreement (External link)
  Aboriginal Justice Agreement (External link)
  
  The Aboriginal Justice Agreement is a partnership between the Victorian Aboriginal community and the Victorian Government. In 2018 its fourth phase - Burra Lotjpa Dunguludja - was launched
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The Victorian Government has announced the appointment of Marlo Baragwanath as the next Victorian Ombudsman (VO).

Ms Baragwanath brings more than 25 years of legal, integrity and public sector experience to the leadership of the VO. She is the current Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) and before that was the Victorian Government Solicitor.

At IBAC, Ms Baragwanath supported the Commissioner and led the entity’s staff to deliver major integrity investigations and reports. She also undertook a significant review of IBAC’s approach to witness welfare and developed a strategic plan to ensure IBAC delivered on its mandate.

As Victorian Government Solicitor, Ms Baragwanath led a period of reform and capacity building while providing strategic legal advice and services to the Victorian public sector.

Prior to those roles, she held senior positions in the Office of the Chief Executive at the Victorian Building Authority and as General Counsel at WorkSafe.

Ms Baragwanath is returning to the Ombudsman’s office, as her first Victorian public sector appointment was as a policy officer at the VO in 2001-2002 following her time as a legal officer at the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry in the United Kingdom, set up in 1998 to investigate the deaths of infants following paediatric cardiac surgery.

After graduating from law at Monash University, Ms Baragwanath spent time in private legal practice before commencing work in the public sector.

Ms Baragwanath’s appointment follows a thorough and competitive recruitment process. She was recommended to the Premier by a selection panel. The Premier supported that recommendation and her appointment was endorsed by Cabinet before being approved by the Governor-in-Council.

Ms Baragwanath will commence her legislated 10-year appointment on 30 March 2024 at the immediate conclusion of the term of Ms Deborah Glass OBE, who has been the Victorian Ombudsman since 2014.

You can learn more about the important work of the Victorian Ombudsman at ombudsman.vic.gov.au (External link)