This casebook presents a snapshot of the thousands of matters involving people’s human rights seen by the Victorian Ombudsman's office each year. They illustrate the rights of children and families, kinship carers, injured workers, activists and prisoners, and of everyday Victorians.

In recent years, the Victorian Ombudsman has heard concerns from ratepayers, financial counsellors and community lawyers about the way local councils treat people who cannot afford their council rates. This investigation focused on council hardship relief for homeowners (ratepayers who cannot pay rates on their primary residence).

The timing of the lockdown of the North Melbourne and Flemington public housing towers on 4 July 2020 was not based on direct health advice and violated Victorian human rights laws, this investigation by the Victorian Ombudsman has found. 

Victorian government agencies acted in good faith when consulting with traditional custodians seeking to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage on Djab Wurrung Country near Ararat, the Victorian Ombudsman has found.

This report draws attention to a problem that has become a regular subject of ‘public interest disclosures’ to the Ombudsman – nepotism in government schools. It highlights the need for school principals and staff to check and follow integrity obligations, and the need for public authorities to look for effective ways to embed integrity in...