DVA claims data for intentional self harm.
Dear Department of Veterans' Affairs,
BACKGROUND:
In the Hawkesbury Gazette on 22 August 2017 it reported in part, “Among former serving members and their families, Veterans’ Affairs claims data shows 986 hospitalisations for intentional self-harm from 2000 to 2016 involving 789 people.”
INFORMATION I AM SEEKING:
I require information for 2021 and 2022 for:
: The number of former serving member hospitalisations for intentional self-harm by year, and
: The total number of veterans involved in each year.
Yours faithfully,
Alan ASHMORE
Dear Mr Ashmore,
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (the department) has received your
request for access to information under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (FOI Act). I note you have requested access to the following:
'I require information for 2021 and 2022 for:
: The number of former serving member hospitalisations for intentional
self-harm by year, and
: The total number of veterans involved in each year.'
Your request was received by the department on 14 February 2023 and the
ordinary 30 day statutory period for processing your request commenced
from the day after that date.
Extension of Time
Due to an increase in the number of information access applications
currently being received by the department, we are asking your agreement
to an extension of time for a further 30 days to process this request
under section 15AA of the FOI Act. This would mean that your request is
due on
17 April 2023.
If we are in a position to make a decision on your request earlier than
this date, we will endeavour to do so.
The statutory period may also be extended if we need to consult third
parties or for other reasons permitted under the FOI Act. We will advise
you if this happens.
If you do agree we will notify the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner (OAIC) of your agreement under section 15AA of the FOI Act.
Charges
The department will advise you if a charge is payable to process your
request and the amount of any such charge as soon as practicable. No
charge is payable for providing a person with their own personal
information.
Your address
The FOI Act requires that you provide us with an address that we can send
notices to. You have advised your email address is
[1][FOI #9938 email]. Unless you tell us
otherwise, we will send all notices and correspondence to this address.
Disclosure log
Information released under the FOI Act may be published on a disclosure
log on our website, subject to certain exceptions. These exceptions
include where publication of personal, business, professional or
commercial information would be unreasonable.
Request to treat certain material as out of scope or irrelevant to the
request
To the extent the department has documents in its possession that fall
within the scope of your request, we intend to treat the following
information as out of scope or irrelevant to your request, pursuant to
section 22(1)(b)(ii) of the FOI Act:
1. The surnames, signatures and direct contact details of non-SES
Commonwealth employees and contractors, including clinical staff working
for Open Arms - Veterans & Families Counselling;
2. The surnames, signatures and direct contact details of serving
members of the Australian Defence Force; and
3. The signatures of third party individuals.
If you agree to the department treating these details as irrelevant, and
to our request for an extension of time, please advise by 29 February
2023.
Further assistance
If you have any questions about your request, please email
[2][DVA request email].
Regards
Fiona
Position Number – 62211034
Information Access Registrations Officer
Information Access Unit / Client Access and Rehabilitation Branch
Client Engagement and Support Services Division
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)
[3][DVA request email]
[4]www.dva.gov.au
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References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #9938 email]
2. mailto:[DVA request email]
3. mailto:[DVA request email]
4. http://www.dva.gov.au/
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8. https://www.youtube.com/DVATVAus
Dear INFORMATION.ACCESS,
I note your response of 22 February 2023 where you stated, “due to an increase in the number of information access applications being received by the department, we are asking your agreement to an extension of time for a further 30 days to process this request …………”
I note the Information Commissioner’s guideline 3.13 that states, “Agencies should ensure a sufficient number of officers are authorised at appropriate senior levels to make both original and internal review decisions.”
I understand there has been an increase in the number of FOI applications and note DVA were initially given an additional $28.9m to cover the increased staff costs associated with the Royal Commission. One would assume DVA’s FOI Section would have been the beneficiary of some of this additional funding.
I would be staggered if the information requested was not already part of a report to Management and therefore readily available.
Accordingly, I do not agree to this extension of time.
Yours sincerely,
Alan ASHMORE
Dear Mr Ashmore
Thank you for your information access request LEX 56139.
Please find attached my decision letter and document relating to your request.
Kind regards,
Frankie| Information Access Officer
Position 62210799
Information Access Unit I Client Access and Rehabilitation Branch
Client Engagement and Support Services Division
Department of Veterans' Affairs
[DVA request email]
www.dva.gov.au