• NSW Ombudsman Away from Placement Inquiry

    Frontline Experience Survey (15 minutes)

  • Introduction

    The NSW Ombudsman is conducting an inquiry into children and young people who spend time away from Intensive Therapeutic Care (ITC) placements (a residential out-of-home care program).

    We’re seeking feedback from frontline workers because you see what happens 'on the ground’ - why children spend time away, what helps keeps them safe, and where systems can improve. Your experience will help inform the inquiry’s findings and recommendations. 

    This survey takes around 15 minutes to complete. Most questions are multiple choice, with a few optional free text questions where you can share examples or insights from your experience.  

    The survey will close at 5:00 pm on Friday, 4 September 2026.  

    If you want to come back to the survey to complete it, please: 

    • select Save before closing the survey, then  
    • select ‘Skip create account’ and ‘Get Draft Link’  

    If you take these steps but don’t then return to complete the survey, we will receive any information you have already submitted. 

    Privacy 

    You may complete this survey anonymously or choose to provide your contact details if you would like the inquiry team to contact you. 

    Your responses are received directly by the NSW Ombudsman, not your employer. We will not publish information that identifies you, your organisation, or a child without your consent. 

    Want to know more? 

    Our website has more information about the inquiry, including: 

    • Frequently Asked Questions (including privacy and confidentiality)
    • the Inquiry’s consultation paper and information about other ways to participate.  

    Prefer to speak with someone?

    If you would rather discuss your experiences with the inquiry team, please contact us at awayfromplacement.inquiry@ombo.nsw.gov.au or on 0436 618 296.

    Know someone else who may have relevant experience? Please share the survey link with other people who work directly with or respond to children and young people who spend time away from ITC placements.

    Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.

  • Section 1: About you

    Please answer based on your experience and observations. If you are unsure about a question or don’t want to answer it, feel free to skip it. You can also provide further information about any of your responses in the last question. In this survey, ‘children’ refers to children and young people under 18 years of age.
  • 1. Which of the following best describes your role?
  • 2. Approximately how often do you have contact with children who spend time away from ITC placement without permission?

  • Section 2: Why do children spend time away from their ITC placement?

  • 3. What are the most common reasons children initially leave their ITC placement without permission? (select up to 5) NOTE: The next question is about why children might stay away from or not return after they have left.
  • 4. What are the most common reasons children stay away from or not return to their ITC placement after they have left? (select up to 5)

  • Section 3: What happens while children are away?

  • 6. What most commonly happens while children are away? (select up to 5)

  • Section 4: What works?

  • 10. What is most effective in supporting children while away from placement to keep them safe and connected? (select up to 5)
  • 11. What is most effective in supporting children to return to their placement? (select up to 5)

  • Section 5: What are the barriers?

  • 12. What are the biggest barriers to supporting children while away from placement? (select up to 5)
  • 13. Based on your experience, which of the following groups are most vulnerable while away from placement? (select up to 5)

  • Final views

  • Thank you

    Please click 'Submit' to submit your responses to the inquiry team.

  • Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.

    We are also interested in hearing from people with direct experience of children spending time away from ITC placements, including frontline workers, children, carers and family members.

  • Would you be willing to speak privately with the inquiry team about your experience?

  • If you have any feedback, please contact the inquiry team at awayfromplacement.inquiry@ombo.nsw.gov.au or 0436 618 296.

    Know someone else who may have relevant experience? Please share the survey link with other people who work directly with or respond to children and young people who spend time away from ITC placements.

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