Apply for a Review or Investigation into a decision

If you have received a decision letter and are unhappy with the outcome, the Ombudsman may be able to assist you. For more information on how the Ombudsman can help see the type of decision you received below.

Admissibility Decision

If your complaint was not accepted for investigation because it was:

  • Out of time or;
  • Out of scope/ excluded.

You can ask the Ombudsman to review the decision. You will need to have received the decision in writing. Applications to the Ombudsman must be made within 4 weeks and two days of the decision being sent.

To find out more information and make an application click the button below.

Decision Body

If your Service decides that the appeal cannot proceed because it was: 

  1. ruled out of time; or 
  2. ruled inadmissible for not being brought on a valid ground; 

you can either: 

  • ask the Ombudsman to review this admissibility decision. If the Ombudsman disagrees with the decision made, the complaint will go back to your Service to appoint an Appeal Body; or 
  • ask the Ombudsman for a substance and/or maladministration investigation, if you do not want the appeal admissibility decision reviewed. 

If you ask the Ombudsman to review the appeal admissibility decision and the Ombudsman upholds the Service's decision that the appeal cannot proceed, this means that the Service Complaint is finally determined. You then have the option to apply to the Ombudsman for a substance and/or maladministration investigation. You will have 6 weeks and 2 days from the date of our appeal admissibility decision to submit such an application to the Ombudsman. 

To find out more information and make an application click the relevant button below. 

Appeal Body

If you believe that the decision reached was wrong, or there was something wrong with the handling of your complaint, you can ask the Ombudsman to investigate this.

You have 6 weeks and 2 days to request an investigation into:

  • Alleged Maladministration, and/or;
  • The Substance of your Service Complaint.

To find out more information and make an application click the button below.

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