• Members

    The AOB consists of three members who work together in a collegial way. They are elected for a term of six years by the Austrian Parliament (National Council) and can be re-elected once. The members of the AOB are independent in the performance of their duties. They cannot be voted out, recalled or removed from office. The ombudspersons are sworn in by the Federal President.

    The members of the AOB must be eligible for the National Council and must have knowledge in the fields of the organisation and functioning of administration. As the AOB also monitors and controls the compliance with human rights standards, the members must have relevant knowledge in this area as well.

    Gaby Schwarz, Bernhard Achitz and Elisabeth Schwetz were elected by the National Council for the term of office until June 2025. The Chair of the AOB rotates annually at the end of June. Currently, Elisabeth Schwetz is holding this position.

  • Gaby Schwarz

    Gaby Schwarz is a Member of the Austrian Ombudsman Board since  July 2022. Being the Secretary General of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) she also commits herself to the fostering of democracy and the rule of law and the strengthening of Ombudsman institutions worldwide.

    At the federal level, Schwarz is responsible for taxes, fees, duties, the administration of the judiciary, public prosecution, European and international affairs and national defence. At the provincial level, Schwarz monitors local governments and all communal matters (regional planning, building legislation, housing and settlement, regional and municipal roads) as well as cemetery administration and communal or municipal transport services.

     

    You can contact Ombudsperson Gaby Schwarz under:

    Ombudsperson Gaby Schwarz

    Volksanwaltschaft
    Singerstraße 17
    1015 Wien

    Telefon +43 / (0)1 / 515 05 - 131
    Fax +43 / (0)1 / 515 05 - 170

    E-Mail:  vab@volksanwaltschaft.gv.at

     

    For specific complaints addressed to Ombudsman Amon please use the electronic complaint form or come to a Consultation day.

    • Volksanwältin Gaby Schwarz: Frau mit blonden kurzen Haaren in dunkelblauem Kleid vor dem Pressehintergrund der Volksanwaltschaft
      Ombudsperson Gaby Schwarz (© AOB / Photo Simonis)

  • Bernhard Achitz

    Ombudsman Bernhard Achitz was sworn in by the Federal President on 1 July 2019.

    Bernhard Achitz is responsible for social, nursing and health matters. At the federal level this includes health, pension and accident insurance as well as matters concerning labour-market administration and youth and family. 

    Ombudsman Mag. Bernhard Achitz was born on 20 July 1965 in Vienna. He studied law at the University of Vienna and graduated with a Master’s Degree. After completing his legal clerkship he worked at the Social Policy Department of the Chamber of Labour in Vienna. Thereafter he led the Department of Social Policy in the Austrian Trade Union Confederation until 2007. From 2008 to June 2019 he was Chief Secretary of the ÖGB (Austrian Trade Union Federation) and thus also a member of the ÖGB Board. He was also a member of the board of the Federal Chamber of Labour.

    Bernhard Achitz worked for the ÖGB in various positions at the labour market administration and health administration. From 1999 to 2008 he was a member of the Administrative Council of the Public Employment Service of Austria. Moreover, he was a long-term member of the Association's Executive Committee, and from 2006 on first Deputy Chairman. From 1 April 2019 to June 2019, he was a member and the Deputy Chairman of the Transition Committee in the General Accident Insurance Institute (AUVA).

    From June 30, 2003 to January 31, 2005, he worked as representative of the ÖGB at the Fundamental Rights Committee of the Austrian-Konvent. As delegation member at several annual meetings of the International Labor Organization (ILO) as well as at congresses of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), he also advocated for trade unions and human rights at the international level.

    You can contact Ombudsman Bernhard Achitz under:

    Ombudsman Bernhard Achitz

    Volksanwaltschaft
    Singerstraße 17
    1015 Wien

    Telefon +43 / (0)1 / 515 05 - 111
    Fax +43 / (0)1 / 515 05 - 160

    E-Mail: vaa@volksanwaltschaft.gv.at

     

    For specific complaints addressed to Ombudsman Amon please use the electronic complaint form or come to a Consultation day.

    • Volksanwalt Mag. Bernhard Achitz
      Ombudsperson Bernhard Achitz (© AOB / Photo Simonis)

  • Elisabeth Schwetz

    Elisabeth Schwetz is a member of the Austrian Ombudsman Board since November 2024. At the federal level, she is responsible for internal affairs (police law, law relating to aliens, legislation on asylum), agriculture, forestry and water management, nature conservation, preservation of cultural heritage sites, trade, operational facilities and plant operating permits, nursery schools, schools and universities. At the provincial level, she monitors matters concerning traffic and agriculture as well as municipal taxes and levies.

    Elisabeth Schwetz was born on 23 January 1982 in Linz. She passed her school-leaving certificate at the Federal secondary school Fadingerstraße in Linz and, in 2002, began studying law and Romance studies (Spanish) at the University of Vienna.

    During her studies, she worked as a parliamentary assistant and, after graduating, as a political adviser for labour and social affairs, health, economy, industry and energy at the Freedom Party Parliamentary Club. From 2013 to 2015, she headed the office of the Third President of the National Council, Norbert Hofer, and from 2015 to 2017, she headed the office of the Upper Austrian Infrastructure Councillor, Günther Steinkellner.

    After a few months as head of the facilities department at the district administration of Perg, she became district commissioner of the district of Wels-Land as well as chairwoman of the social welfare association of the district of Wels-Land from April 2018 until she joined the Austrian Ombudsman Board.

     

    You can contact Ombudsperson Elisabeth Schwetz under:

    Ombudsperson Elisabeth Schwetz

    Volksanwaltschaft
    Singerstraße 17
    1015 Wien

    Telefon +43 / (0)1 / 515 05 - 121
    Fax +43 / (0)1 / 515 05 - 180

    E-Mail: vac@volksanwaltschaft.gv.at

     

    For specific complaints addressed to Ombudsperson Schwetz please use the electronic complaint form or come to a Consultation day.

    • Volksanwältin MMag. Elisabeth Schwetz
      Ombudsperson Elisabeth Schwetz (© AOB / Photo Simonis)