ACT Official Visitors provides independent oversight and helps safeguard the rights and wellbeing of people of diverse backgrounds in Canberra who reside in and rely on services provided in government and non-government facilities, accommodation, housing, centres, or refuges.

Official Visitors are independent statutory office holders who can visit visitable places and meet entitled persons to identify and monitor systemic issues and resolve grievances using early intervention and resolution practices. The Official Visitor reports to the relevant Operational Minister and advises on entitled peoples’ experiences, needs and the standard of the services they receive.

Official Visitors are appointed to one of these areas:

• Children and Young People - youth detention facility (Bimberi Youth Justice Centre) and places of residential care for children and young people
• Corrections - adult correctional centre (Alexander Maconochie Centre)
• Disability - supported accommodation for people with disabilities
• Mental Health - mental health facilities (such as Adult Mental Health Unit) / community housing
• Homelessness – homelessness services.

The following generic powers apply to all Official Visitors in the ACT. Further powers apply to specific Official Visitors under individual Operational Acts.