Remote indigenous communities forum

Ways of improving telecommunications and multimedia services to remote indigenous communities were discussed at a forum in Alice Springs in May.

Deputy Ombudsman Vic Marles spoke to the Indigenous Telecommunications Forum about the role and purpose of the TIO and the types of complaints most relevant to those attending.
The forum was organised by the federal Department of Communications.

As public awareness of the TIO is lowest in remote Australia, particularly in the Northern Territory, the Deputy Ombudsman visited several other organisations while in Alice Springs

Vic met with the Central Australian branch of the Territory Chamber of Commerce, which has about 1500 members in the Northern Territory, and discussed ways in which information could be disseminated about the TIO.

Other visits included the financial counsellor at Anglicare and Deadly Mob, an information and communications technology program of the Gap Youth Centre Aboriginal Corporation.

Vic also spoke about the TIO on ABC Local Radio.

SOCAP Symposium

SOCAP Australia’s 2005 symposium, Eyes Wide Open: Building Your Brand With Every Customer Contact, will be held in Brisbane between October 12 and 14. Further information may be obtained at www.socap.org.au or on (03) 9650 6005.

Free Level 2 Complaint

With the support of the Board, the TIO has implemented a new policy whereby members of the scheme will receive one free Level 2 complaint each quarter.

This policy has been introduced in recognition of the financial impact of TIO complaint handling fees on small business members.

The new policy will come into effect for complaints received after 30 June 2005.

For more information about the TIO's complaint handling fees please visit our website http://www.tio.com.au/Members/fees.htm or contact the TIO’s Member Communications team.