Patient Information

• Ministers
• State government departments
• Local councils
• Most semi-government agencies and statutory authorities
• Public hospitals
• Universities, TAFE colleges and schools

• The right to access documents about your personal affairs and the activities  government agencies;
• The right to request that incorrect or misleading information held by an agency about you be amended or removed.
• The Act does not apply to privately owned businesses.

• Documents created by the agency.
• Documents supplied to the agency by an external organization or individual.

It is not only documents in paper form that are accessible. The word “documents” covers a broad range of media including maps, films, microfiche, photographs, computer printouts, emails, computer discs, tape recordings and videotapes.

Not all information is automatically available.

The Freedom of Information Act allows an agency to refuse access to certain documents or information. These documents or information are often called “exempt” documents.

In some cases you may be refused access to an entire document. Alternatively, you may be given access to a document with exempt information deleted.

Applications must be on the relevant form or in writing addressed to the Freedom of Information Officer by the applicant themselves.

Other individuals, for example solicitors, can apply on the applicant’s behalf as long as an authorisation from the applicant is contained in the application. Such authorisation should contain the applicant’s name, who they are authorising, make reference to the Freedom of Information Act, signature of applicant and date. Applicants may be asked to provide evidence of their identity such as photocopy of drivers license.

All such applications should be forwarded to the Freedom of Information Officer, located at the Edenhope & District Memorial Hospital.

Applications will then be registered and attended to within 45 days of the date of receipt, unless the request needs further clarification.

•     Search fees - $20 per hour
•     Photocopying - 20 cents per page
•     Providing written transcripts of a recorded document - $20 per hour
•     Supervising an inspection of documents - $5 per quarter hour

Can an application fee be waived?
The application fee can be waived if payment is likely to cause you hardship. If you wish to make a claim to have the fee waived you must provide evidence that you receive social security benefits eg: a current social security benefits or health benefits card.

Complaints

• You may contact the FOI Officer on (03) 5585 9806 to seek further explanation
• You may seek a review of the decision by the FOI Commissioner