Who we are
The Office of the Health Ombudsman exists to protect the health and safety of the people of Queensland.
The health ombudsman is responsible for receiving and dealing with health service complaints. The health ombudsman also deals with other matters, including investigating systemic issues in the health system.
In performing the health ombudsman’s functions, the health ombudsman must act independently, impartially and in the public interest.
Meet our Health Ombudsman
Dr Lynne Coulson Barr OAM
Dr Coulson Barr OAM commenced as Health Ombudsman on 15 January 2022. Dr Coulson Barr has a distinguished career in leadership roles in statutory complaint, oversight and regulatory bodies. She is recognised nationally and internationally for her specialist expertise in designing and implementing accessible and inclusive complaint and review processes, as well as driving approaches to improving the safety and quality of services.
Dr Coulson Barr has led the establishment of specialist statutory complaints schemes, including as Victoria’s inaugural Mental Health Complaints Commissioner, Deputy Victorian Disability Services Commissioner, and as Acting Complaints Commissioner and Branch Head Operations with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. She also served as President of the Victorian Intellectual Disability Review Panel, and as a member of various state and federal tribunal and statutory bodies, including the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Her qualifications include a doctorate of law, with research on statutory conciliation, masters and bachelor of social work, graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and accredited mediator/conciliator under the National Mediator Accreditation System.
Dr Coulson Barr’s contributions to public sector leadership and the community have been recognised by a number of awards including a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2020, the Top 50 Public Sector Women Victoria in 2018, the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2014 and the Weinstein International Fellowship for dispute resolution in 2013.
