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:

'...BACKGROUND:

DVA has previously advised the MATES program first commenced in 2004 when
they engaged the University of South Australia to conduct research on
veterans' personal information/data.

THE INFORMATION I AM SEEKING:

I am seeking the INITIAL signed contract between DVA and UniSA to conduct
research studies in what is known as the MATES program... '

Your request was received by the department on 7 April 2024 and the
ordinary 30 day statutory period for processing your request commenced
from the day after that date.

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.

Charges

If the Department considers that a charge will apply to your request, you
will be notified within 14 days of an estimate of the charges that will
apply to your request for non-personal information before we process any
requested documents or impose a final charge.

Your address

The FOI Act requires that you provide us with an address that we can send
notices to. You have advised your contact address is
[1][FOI #11303 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.

Further assistance

If you have any questions about your request, please email
[2][DVA request email]

Yours sincerely

Kevin| Information Access Officer

Position 62373493

Information Access Unit

Ministerial, International & Stakeholder Relations Branch

Ministerial, Communication & Engagement Division

Department of Veterans’ Affairs

1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)

[3][DVA request email]

[4]www.dva.gov.au 

[5]cid:image008.jpg@01D8EA24.8F7FA8A0

[6]cid:image009.jpg@01D8EA24.8F7FA8A0

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #11303 email]
2. mailto:[DVA request email]
3. mailto:[DVA request email]
4. http://www.dva.gov.au/

Dear Mr Ashmore,

Thank you for your request for information under the FOI Act 1982,
received by the Department on 07 April 2024.

Please find attached the Decision Letter .

We will now close this inquiry.

Kind regards,

Zoey| Senior Information Access Officer

Position Number: 62214764

Information Access Unit 

Client and Information Access Branch
Ministerial, Communication & Engagement Division

Department of Veterans’ Affairs

P: 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)

E: [1][DVA request email]

W: [2]www.dva.gov.au 
[3]cid:image001.png@01DAA15D.34C1D680[4]cid:image001.png@01DA10AE.79E29FA0[5]Linkedin
Icon Svg Download : Linkedin Logo Vector at GetDrawings | Free
...[6]Youtube, Logo Youtube, Logo Youtube PNG, Logo Youtube Vektor, Logo
... 

[7]Title: Flags - Description: 3 Australian flags in a row (from left to
right): the Australian National flag, the Australian Aboriginal flag and
the Torres Strait Islander flag.

[8]cid:image007.jpg@01D97E71.443616E0

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[DVA request email]
2. http://www.dva.gov.au/
3. https://www.facebook.com/DVAAus
4. https://twitter.com/DVAAus
5. https://au.linkedin.com/company/australi...
6. https://www.youtube.com/@DVATVAus/featured

OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Ashmore,

Thank you for your email dated Wednesday 3 July 2024.

I understand the documents that you are seeking fall in the open access
period. I have forwarded your request to National Archives Reference team
for action – please see below.

In the below there is a Reference number of NAA1000401332 (which is a
link). If you have any questions, please click on the link, and provide
your comments. The Reference team will be able to respond to you directly.

I trust that this is sufficient to manage your feedback email of 3 July
2024.

Kind regards,

Feedback
National Office
[1]NAA National Archives of t +61 2 6212 3600 
Australia logo e [2][email address]
Kings Avenue, Parkes ACT 2600
PO Box 4924 Kingston ACT 2604 | naa.gov.au

We acknowledge and pay our respects to the traditional custodians of this
land and celebrate their
ongoing culture and contribution to society.

OFFICIAL

From: reftracker <[3][email address]>
Sent: Thursday, July 4, 2024 11:45 AM
To: David Worth <[4][email address]>
Cc: Reference Inquiries Mailbox <[5][email address]>
Subject: NAA1000401332 Receipt of reference inquiry [SEC=OFFICIAL]

OFFICIAL
National Archives of Australia - NAA1000401332 received
Thank you for your inquiry to the National Archives of Australia. We aim to
respond to by 15/08/2024 11:00 AM.
If you have indicated a date by which you require a response, we will attempt to
meet it.
[6]Click here for options to manage this request
(cancel it, change it, see its status, and more)
Summary of your request: [7]NAA1000401332

Subject line: FW: [EXT]Department of Veterans Affairs documents in care of NAA
[SEC=OFFICIAL]

Your research topic: 

OFFICIAL

From: [8][email address] <[9][email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 3, 2024 3:49 AM
To: Feedback <[10][email address]>
Subject: [EXT]Department of Veterans Affairs documents in care of NAA

EXTERNAL EMAIL: Do not click links or open attachments unless you trust the
sender and know the content is safe.

NAA website contact us submission

Name: Mr Alan Ashmore
Email: [11][FOI #11303 email]
Subject: Department of Veterans Affairs documents in care of NAA

Message: 

The Department of Veterans Affairs has advised in an FOI decision (LEX 66668)
that the departmental documents applied for are held by NAA and refused access
on that basis,

The documents relate to the contract entered into by the Department of Veterans
Affairs with the University of South Australia for provision of a new Prescriber
Intervention and Feedback Programme (PFP) to be called Veterans’ MATES
(Veterans’ Medicines Advice and Therapeutic Education Service), that was
executed in the first half of 2004, as well as documents relating to the public
expression of interest and tender for that contract.

RecordSearch does not have an entry for it but DVA say NAA is in possession of
these documents.

OFFICIAL
We aim to respond to your request by: 15/08/2024 11:00 AM

National Reference Service
National Archives of Australia

OFFICIAL

References

Visible links
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[email address]
5. mailto:[email address]
6. https://reftracker.naa.gov.au/reft205.as...
7. https://reftracker.naa.gov.au/reft205.as...
8. mailto:[email address]
9. mailto:[email address]
10. mailto:[email address]
11. mailto:[FOI #11303 email]

OFFICIAL
National Archives of Australia - NAA1000401332 response
Our response to your [1]NAA1000401332  is:

Dear Mr. Ashmore,
 
Thank you for contacting the National Archives of Australia.
 
The National Archives provides access to commonwealth government records
under the [2]Archives Act 1983, which currently allows for public access
to records created up to and including the year 2003. Records created from
2004 onwards are in the 'Closed Period' as defined by the Act, and
therefore exempt.
 
You advise that the contract was "executed" in 2004 - if so, access to
such records cannot be applied for under the Archives Act until 1 January
2025. However, if contract negotiations (or similar) took place in 2003 or
earlier, we may be able to help you gain access to relevant material. 
 
The physical location of the records - whether in the custody of the
National Archives or that of the Department of Veterans Affairs - is not
relevant. If Open Period records are still held by DVA, we can request
they be transferred into our custody for public access under the Archives
Act. If Closed Period records are held by the NAA, then DVA can retrieve
them from us if they wish.
 
Please note that apart from a records age, there are other reasons why
access may not be provided, either fully or in part, under the Archives
Act - [3]Why we refuse access | naa.gov.au
 
In order to make an application for access to records under the Archives
Act, you will need to register yourself as a researcher with the
NAA. Please see instructions attached.
 
My direct number is 02 6212 3961 if you wish to call and discuss your
inquiry.
 
Sincerely,

Number of documents attached to this message:1
Attached documents may be listed at the beginning or end of this email

William Edwards
National Reference Service
National Archives of Australia

 
Use any of the following links for further correspondence with us.

[4]Request more information about this response
[5]Ask a different question

If you would like to provide feedback on the service you received in
relation to this inquiry, click on [6]comment on our service.
This response is in relation to your request:  [7]NAA1000401332

Subject line: FW: [EXT]Department of Veterans Affairs documents in care of
NAA [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Your research topic: 

OFFICIAL
 
From: [8][email address] <[9][email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 3, 2024 3:49 AM
To: Feedback <[10][email address]>
Subject: [EXT]Department of Veterans Affairs documents in care of NAA
 

EXTERNAL EMAIL: Do not click links or open attachments unless you trust
the sender and know the content is safe.

NAA website contact us submission

Name: Mr Alan Ashmore
Email: [11][FOI #11303 email]
Subject: Department of Veterans Affairs documents in care of NAA

Message: 

The Department of Veterans Affairs has advised in an FOI decision (LEX
66668) that the departmental documents applied for are held by NAA and
refused access on that basis,

The documents relate to the contract entered into by the Department of
Veterans Affairs with the University of South Australia for provision of a
new Prescriber Intervention and Feedback Programme (PFP) to be called
Veterans’ MATES (Veterans’ Medicines Advice and Therapeutic Education
Service), that was executed in the first half of 2004, as well as
documents relating to the public expression of interest and tender for
that contract.

RecordSearch does not have an entry for it but DVA say NAA is in
possession of these documents.
 
OFFICIAL

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. https://reftracker.naa.gov.au/reft205.as...
2. https://www.naa.gov.au/help-your-researc...
3. https://www.naa.gov.au/help-your-researc...
4. https://reftracker.naa.gov.au/reft260.as...
5. https://reftracker.naa.gov.au/reft120.as...
6. http://reftracker.naa.gov.au/reft100.asp...
7. https://reftracker.naa.gov.au/reft205.as...
8. mailto:[email address]
9. mailto:[email address]
10. mailto:[email address]
11. mailto:[FOI #11303 email]