In July 2011 in response to an anonymous source providing information on the unsatisfactory storage and management of ward records by the Department of Human Services, the Victorian Ombudsman launched an investigation into these concerns. The report was submitted to the Parliament on 29 February 2012. Its major recommendation was that in consultation with the Keeper of the Public records and relevant stakeholders, the Department was ‘to develop a three year plan with specific actions, timelines, measures of progress and funding strategies for the identification, indexing, conservation, storage, management and provision of ready digital access for all records relating to former wards of the state.’