Why the NT Ombudsman’s Office Is a Hidden Gem for Purpose-Driven Careers 🚀
Are you looking for meaningful public-sector work that lets you sharpen your analytical skills and make government fairer for everyday Territorians? The Northern Territory (NT) Ombudsman’s Office might be the perfect fit. Below is your one-minute, mobile-friendly brief—no PDF trawling required.
AT-A-GLANCE
Name of Department / Council: Ombudsman’s Office, Northern Territory Government
Location: Darwin, NT (jurisdiction: whole Northern Territory)
CEO: Peter Shoyer, Ombudsman & Chief Executive Officer
Total Revenue: ≈ $3.113 million (FY 2023-24 total income)
Total Number of Employees: 15.97 FTE
DID YOU KNOW? 💡
The Office finalised 2,032 approaches in 2023-24, with an impressive 95 % resolved within 90 days—a benchmark of efficiency rarely seen across the public sector .
THE QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, TRADES, PROFESSIONS, WORK EXPERIENCES & SKILLS MOST SUITED TO
Top 5 academic qualifications most suited:
Bachelor of Law (LLB): supports statutory interpretation during investigations.
Bachelor of Criminology/Justice: deepens understanding of police-conduct issues.
Bachelor of Public Policy: equips you to analyse systemic government improvements.
Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice: enables practitioners to draft formal recommendations.
Master of Public Administration (MPA): strengthens strategic governance capabilities.
Top 5 certifications most suited:
Prince2® / Agile Project Management: ensures structured handling of complex case projects.
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE): boosts investigative rigour in misconduct matters.
Government Investigations Certificate IV: aligns with NT public-sector standards.
Mediation & Conciliation Accreditation: aids alternative dispute resolution with agencies.
Compliance & Risk Management certification: underpins oversight of agency practices.
Top 5 trades / professions most suited:
Investigation Officers: core function of complaint resolution.
Policy Analysts: translate insights into systemic reforms.
Accountants/Auditors: scrutinise financial aspects of agency decisions.
Community Engagement Officers: liaise effectively with diverse stakeholders.
IT/Data Specialists: maintain the Resolve case-management system.
Top 5 skills most suited:
Analytical reasoning: distil complex evidence into clear findings.
Report writing: craft persuasive recommendations Parliament can trust.
Stakeholder negotiation: bridge gaps between citizens and agencies.
Regulatory compliance: ensure actions align with Ombudsman Act 2009.
Digital literacy: leverage data tools for faster case throughput.
Top 5 work experiences most suited:
Police or corrections oversight: direct insight into high-volume complaint areas.
Administrative law practice: familiarity with procedural fairness.
Audit/assurance roles: sharpened eye for systemic risk.
Public-sector HR or governance: understanding of NTPS frameworks.
Community legal services: frontline experience with vulnerable clients.
THE KEY FACTS
Name of Department: NT Ombudsman’s Office
Name of CEO: Peter Shoyer (Ombudsman)
Location: Territory-wide (head office: Darwin)
Year Founded: 1978 (current Act commenced 2009)
Main mission & purpose: Provide an independent, fair and free avenue for complaints about NT public authorities and police, while promoting better administration . Example: Recommendations this year led to quicker replacement times for faulty water meters, directly lowering household utility disputes .
Main duties: Investigate complaints, audit police functions, inspect places of detention, and drive improvements via systemic reviews. Example: A sustained focus on watch-house conditions spurred infrastructure upgrades benefitting both staff and detainees .
Key projects & future plans:
Implementing National Preventive Mechanism (OPCAT) oversight roles
Ongoing digital upgrades to the Resolve case-management platform
Strategic push for adequate resourcing to expand investigative capacity
THE EMPLOYEES & REVENUE
Total Employees: 15.97 FTE
Employees by level: ECO (2), SAO (4.14), AO7 (3), AO6 (1), AO5 (1), AO4 (4.83)
Salary bands: AO4 ≈ $75-89k; AO7 ≈ $117-130k; SAO1 ≈ $148-162k; ECO2 ≈ $243-270k (NTPS 2024 rates).
Average salary (approx.): ~$110k (blended across classifications).
Total Revenue: $3.113 million
Average Revenue per Employee: ≈ $195k
GETTING A JOB AT THE NT OMBUDSMAN’S OFFICE 🛠️
Which academic subjects are most sought-after?
Certificate / Diploma Level: Government Investigations, Business Administration, Justice Studies.
Bachelor / Master Level: Law, Criminology, Public Policy, Accounting, Data Analytics.
PhDs: Administrative Law, Human Rights, Public-sector Governance.
Which trades & professions are valued?
Statutory investigators
Policy & legislative drafters
Financial auditors
IT system administrators
Community liaison officers
Which work experiences stand out?
Conducting complex investigations (e.g., fraud, misconduct).
Managing FOI or privacy matters.
Drafting Cabinet-level briefing notes.
Leading continuous-improvement projects in small agencies.
Liaising with police or corrections on oversight issues.
Which skills make you shine?
Soft skills: Empathy, diplomacy, time-management, persuasive communication.
Technical skills: Evidence analysis, statutory interpretation, database querying, project governance.
General skills: Report writing, risk assessment, public-sector ethics.
Which hobbies & interests align?
Legal moot teams, debating, data-visualisation projects, community mediation, pro-bono legal clinics.
Want more information on this organisation? 📞
Contact the Ombudsman’s Office (HR):
Address: 22 Mitchell St, Darwin NT 0800
Phone: (08) 8999 1818 | 1800 806 380 (toll-free)
Email: nt.ombudsman@nt.gov.au
Careers & Vacancies: jobs.nt.gov.au (search “Ombudsman”)
Agency website: ombudsman.nt.gov.au
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