Support for whistleblowers

If you are a NSW public official, there is support available when you speak up and report serious wrongdoing in the NSW public sector.

Before or after you speak up, you can access support from the Ombudsman’s Whistleblower Support Team which:

• offers support that is confidential and impartial
• provides general information about making a public interest disclosure (PID) and can help you explore your options at each stage
• may be able to refer you to other professional help, such as wellbeing support and/or legal advice
• operates independently from the Ombudsman’s other functions of handling complaints/receiving PIDs and advising agencies about how to handle PIDs.

You can remain anonymous when you contact the Whistleblower Support Team. Any identifying information you choose to give us will not be shared outside our Team. You can discuss your concerns about wrongdoing with us, without unintentionally making a PID.

We also have information sheets for NSW public officials who have reported, or are thinking about reporting, serious wrongdoing. These information sheets can be found below.

The contact details for the Whistleblower Support Team are:

Email: whistleblowersupport@ombo.nsw.gov.au

Phone: 1800 716 766 (10am - 4pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays).

You can either call us during our operating hours, or you can request an appointment for a phone consultation during or outside our operating hours.

In some circumstances we may be able to refer a NSW public official to free and confidential wellbeing support and counselling services which are designed to meet the needs of whistleblowers. 

For more information about the Wellbeing Referral Scheme, please contact us at the details above.

After you have reported serious wrongdoing, you should receive support from a dedicated contact officer nominated by the agency which is dealing with your report.

The contact officer can provide you with information about the agency’s processes, updates on how the agency is dealing with your report, and help if you have any concerns.

NSW public sector agencies typically offer their employees free and confidential counselling services. If you are thinking about reporting serious wrongdoing, or have already reported it, and you have concerns that are affecting your wellbeing, you may want to consider contacting your agency's Employee Assistance Program.