Reference: 2024-011

Sent via email: [1][FOI #12617 email]

Dear Nosey

Acknowledgement of FOI Request

We refer to your email of 14 December 2024 seeking access to documents
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

You requested access to:

I seek access to any and all documents, records, data, and supporting
material held by [Name of Agency] concerning the sharing of personal
information originating from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)
over the last ten years. This includes any data transfers from or to the
DVA, whether they were one-off exchanges or ongoing, systematic transfers
of DVA client information, including personal, medical, financial, or
service-related details concerning veterans or their dependents.

I am interested in obtaining a comprehensive understanding of what DVA
client information [Authority name] has received or accessed and for what
purposes. Specifically, I request:

All records of data sharing arrangements between DVA and [Authority name],
including but not limited to memoranda of understanding, service-level
agreements, emails, letters, meeting minutes, file transfer logs, internal
reports, and instructions that outline what data was shared, when it was
shared, and the format or system used for the transfer.

Any policies, procedures, guidelines, or frameworks that govern how
[Authority name] requests, obtains, stores, handles, or uses DVA client
information. This includes documents that detail the criteria for
approving access to such data, any consent or authorization processes,
security controls, and retention or destruction policies.

Copies of any ethics committee approvals, privacy impact assessments,
internal review board decisions, or other documents that reflect
deliberations or authorizations for obtaining DVA client information. This
includes records that show the agency considered the ethical, legal, or
privacy implications of receiving or using DVA client data.

Documents that outline the intended uses or practical applications of the
DVA client data, such as project proposals, business cases, internal
strategy papers, or briefings that explain why [Authority name] sought
access to this information, how it was intended to be integrated into the
agency’s operations, and any expected outcomes or benefits.

A representative sample (in a suitably de-identified or redacted form) of
the data or data fields received, so long as providing this sample does
not breach any exemption under the FOI Act. The purpose is to understand
the nature and granularity of the information shared, without disclosing
identifiable personal details.

If the only data [Authority name] received pertains solely to data linked
to the Centrelink Confirmation eServices (CCeS) arrangements as described
at
[2]https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/cen...,
and there were no other forms of DVA data shared, then no CCeS-related
data needs to be provided under this request.

Timeframe

Your request was received by the Agency on 14 December 2024. The 30-day
statutory timeframe for processing your request commenced from the day
after the Agency received your request. You should therefore expect to
receive a decision from us by 15 January 2025.

The 30-day timeframe may be extended with your agreement or where
otherwise permitted under the FOI Act, including where third-party
consultation may need to be undertaken. We will notify you if this
happens.

Your address

The FOI Act requires that you provide us with an address which we can send
notices to. We understand your email address is
[3][FOI #12617 email].  We will send all
notices and correspondence to this address. Please advise us as soon as
possible if you wish correspondence to be sent to another address or if
your address changes.

Administrative release of documents

It is open to the Agency to consider administrative access as an option to
release information outside of the FOI Act. Unless you advise us
otherwise, in processing your request we may provide you with documents on
an administrative basis. Providing administrative access to documents does
not extend to information or materials of third parties. You will be
notified when documents are released to you on an administrative basis.

Disclosure log

Please note that details of the information released under the FOI Act may
be published in a disclosure log on the Agency’s website. Section 11C of
the FOI Act requires this publication. However, this requirement is
subject to certain exceptions, including where publication of personal,
business, professional or commercial information would be unreasonable.

Exclusion of staff details and other irrelevant material

If the Agency holds any documents relevant to your request containing the
names, signatures, identification numbers and direct contact details of
Commonwealth staff, we will treat this information as irrelevant material
in accordance with section 22 of the FOI Act.

Where relevant, the Agency will also treat the following types of material
as irrelevant in accordance with section 22 of the FOI Act:

o any duplicate documents.
o drafts where there is a final version available.
o documents that are publicly available.

If any of the above material falls within the scope of your request, it
will be excluded, unless you tell us otherwise by 6 January 2025.

Further assistance

If you have any questions about your request, please email
[4][email address]. The reference number for your request is 24-011.

Yours sincerely

FOI Officer

[5][email address]

[6][IMG]

Safe Work Australia acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of
country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection
to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the
cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

show quoted sections

Good afternoon

Please find attached a decision from Safe Work Australia dated 15 January
2025 in relation to your request for access to documents under the Freedom
of Information Act 1982 (Cth).

Yours sincerely

FOI Officer

Safe Work Australia

Freedom of Information team | Officer

GPO Box 641

Canberra ACT 2601

[1][email address]

[2][IMG]   [3][IMG]   [4][IMG] 

[5][IMG]

Safe Work Australia acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of
country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection
to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the
cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

Please note: The information contained in this email message and any
attached files may be confidential information, and may also be the
subject of legal professional privilege. If you are not the  intended
recipient any use, disclosure or copying of this email is unauthorised. If
you received this email in error, please notify Safe Work Australia by
calling (02) 6121 5317 and delete all copies of this transmission together
with any attachments.

References

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5. http://www.swa.gov.au/