Recordkeeping Manual - Freedom Of Information
- What is Freedom of Information?
- Making an FOI Application
- Appeals and Reviews
- What do I do if I get an FOI Request for Access to Records?
- Contacts
1. What is Freedom of Information?
The Western Australian Freedom of Information Act 1992 (the FOI Act) gives you the right to apply for access to documents held by State Public Sector agencies which includes: Government Departments; Local Authorities; Statutory Authorities and Ministers.
Agencies are required to assist the public obtain access to documents at the lowest reasonable cost, and to ensure that personal information held is accurate, complete, up to date and not misleading. Your right to apply is not affected by any reasons you have for wishing to obtain access, or the agency's belief as to what your reasons are for applying.
The kinds of documents to which you may request access includes paper files, computer records, maps, plans, photographs, tape recordings, films, video tapes and electronically stored information.
(Source: Office of the Information Commissioner, http://www.foi.wa.gov.au/WhatIs.htm)
Staff should consult the Office of University Secretary Website on Freedom of Information at http://ous.curtin.edu.au/ for more detailed information.
Staff should consult the Office of University Secretary Website on Freedom of Information at http://ous.curtin.edu.au/ for more detailed information.
4. What do I do if I get an FOI Request for Access to Records?
FOI requests are often received directly from the Freedom of Information Officer, however if you receive a request for access to information under the FOI Act the request should be redirected to the Freedom of Information Coordinator of the University, refer to contact details below.
If you receive a notice from the Freedom of Information Coordinator of the University it will provide details about the records being requested. Staff are required to produce all relevant documents or other material that is related to the information being sought and provide them to the FOI Coordinator. If these records are held in archives by the Records and Archives Office you are required to request these from the Records and Archives Office. However note as a general process for FOI requests the Records and Archives Office will also receive a request and will search its active and inactive stores for any related records and will make these available to the FOI coordinator.
The Records and Archives Office does not at any time give permission for release of any information, this is to be decided by the FOI Coordinator through discussion with the department that owns the records.
As above please consult the FOI website for more information or contact the University Freedom of Information Coordinator.
The Records and Archives Office is not the Freedom of Information Office, FOI requests or further information about FOI should be directed to;
Freedom of Information Coordinator
Telephone 9266 7454
The Records and Archives Office can be contacted during business hours in the following ways:
Telephone: 9266 7050
Facsimile: 9266 2255
Email: records@curtin.edu.au