In keeping with the Disability Royal Commission’s recommendation 5.2 in Public Hearing 33, our investigation will seek to better understand and learn from Kaleb and Jonathon’s experience over approximately 20 years.

The investigation will include consideration of whether the relevant agencies’ current practices and procedures are sufficient to prevent the nature and extent of the violence, abuse, neglect and deprivation of human rights that Kaleb and Jonathon experienced from occurring to other children with disability. 

The investigation accepts the Agreed Facts published in the Disability Royal Commission’s report for Public Hearing 33; however, it will not be limited to them. We are conducting a more detailed investigation, as envisaged by the Disability Royal Commission. 

While the investigation is unlikely to reach conclusions about every past incident that Kaleb and Jonathon experienced due to the passage of time, these incidents will be used to inform the investigation. 

Queensland agencies identified in Public Hearing 33 are relevant to the investigation. Procedural fairness will be afforded to those agencies being investigated.

This investigation is complex. It may take 12 months or more to finalise.

The Ombudsman will produce a report under s 50 of the Ombudsman Act 2001. The Ombudsman will request the Speaker’s authorisation to release the report publicly.

Such reports generally contain an analysis of the information considered as well as the Ombudsman’s opinions and recommendations, which focus on areas of administrative improvement for agencies. 

A public report about this investigation may not be able to refer to all of the information gathered, given the sensitive nature of this matter.

This investigation relates to Public Hearing 33 and Kaleb and Jonathon’s story; therefore, we will not be including complaints from other individuals as part of the investigation.

However, if you have a complaint about a public sector agency in Queensland that is within our jurisdiction, you may lodge your complaint with us. Your matter will be treated as an individual/separate complaint. More information about how our Office deals with individual complaints can be found here. 

Follow the steps on our website to make your complaint.