Dear Dr Brady

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST – FOI 2021-640

We refer to your request received 17 November 2021 by the Department of
Education and Training (the Department) seeking access under the Freedom
of Information Act 1982 (the Act) to: 

                A database of all education facilities within the state
showing name, address and contact details, ie phone, fax, website url and
email address.

This email is to inform you that your request has not been validly made.

Application Fee

Section 17(2A) of the Act requires a request to be accompanied by the
payment of the application fee, which is currently $30.10.

Payment can be made as follows:

o through the Victorian Government FOI portal at the following
link: [1]https://online.foi.vic.gov.au/foi/reques..., or
o by cheque or money order addressed to the Department of Education and
Training and posted to:

Freedom of Information Manager
Department of Education and Training
GPO Box 4367

MELBOURNE VIC 3001

Please note that, due to the current COVID-19 remote working arrangements,
the Department cannot currently process credit card payments.

The application fee may be waived or reduced if you can provide the
Department with evidence that payment of the fee would cause you financial
hardship. We will accept a current health care card or other documentation
that shows you are in receipt of a government social security benefit. 
Please provide any evidence of financial hardship by email
to [2][email address]. Please include the reference contained in
the subject line of this email.

Clarification of your request 

Preliminary enquiries have been conducted and pursuant to section 17(2) of
the Act, it will be necessary for you to further clarify your request so
that specific documents can be identified.  

Please note that section 17(2) of the Act states:  

A request shall provide such information concerning the document as is
reasonably necessary to enable a responsible officer of the agency, or the
Minister, as the case may be, to identify the document.

You must specify with as much precision as possible the documents sought.
For example, information must be provided so that the documents can
properly be identified by date or within a reasonable time period. In
addition, applicants must make requests for specific documents or groups
of documents, not for every document in a broad category.  

Accordingly, you may consult with the Department with a view to amending
or clarifying your request so that it is in a form that complies with
section 17(2) of the Act and provides information necessary to identify
the documents sought. 

The following information is required from you:  

o Information provided through an FOI request is for access to
documents, not for electronic resources, such as ‘databases.’ Can you
confirm you are seeking access to documents containing the information
you are seeking
o It is not clear what ‘education facilities’ you are seeking. Are you
seeking a list of –

o State primary and secondary schools?
o All buildings owned by the Department of Education and Training?

o It is not clear what you mean when requesting access to website url
and email addresses for education facilities.

Until this information is provided, we cannot commence processing your
request.

Deadline for Responding

Please respond in writing to the issues raised above by 11 December 2021
so that the Department can commence processing your request. Should we not
hear from you by this date, we will assume you do not wish to proceed with
your request and no further action will be taken by the Department.

Contact

If you have any queries regarding this matter, please contact the FOI Unit
on (03) 7022 0856 or by email at [3][email address].

Yours sincerely

Freedom of Information Unit
Department of Education and Training
2 Treasury Place, East Melbourne VIC 3002

T: 03 7022 0856

E: [4][email address]
W: [5]www.education.vic.gov.au

IMPORTANT - This email and any attachments may be confidential. If
received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening
or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any
loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the
sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any
attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected
attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the
individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of
Education and Training.

References

Visible links
1. https://online.foi.vic.gov.au/foi/reques...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[email address]
5. http://www.education.vic.gov.au/