Welcome to the NSW Ombudsman website

The word ‘ombudsman’ dates back to 1809 when the Swedish Parliament created a new official known as the Justitie-Ombudsman. This loosely translates as ‘citizen's defender’ or ‘representative of the people’. In Swedish the word ‘ombudsman’ is without gender and can indicate a person of either sex.

The first NSW Ombudsman was appointed in 1975 and the legislation became operative in May that year. Since then, there have been many changes - public authorities have merged and separated and there have been five different Ombudsman.

The current Ombudsman is Mr Bruce Barbour.