Good afternoon,

Acknowledgement of receipt of Freedom of Information request

I refer to your request received by the Department of Health and Aged Care
(the department) for access to documents under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (FOI Act). You have requested access to:

I am writing to request a copy of select records relating to the National
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Collaboration. Specifically:
- Documents describing the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Health Collaboration's membership, as at 1 January 2023.
- Documents the describing changes to the membership of the National
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Collaboration's membership,
between 1 January 2023 and 28 February 2025.
- Documents describing the Terms of Reference of the National Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Health Collaboration's membership, as they
applied on 1 January 2023.
- Any revisions or updates to the Terms of Reference of the National
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Collaboration until 28
February 2025.
- Minutes and any informal records of discussion from meetings of the
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Collaboration during
the period 1 January 2023 to 28 February 2025.
- Any documents outlining the planned meeting dates of the National
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Collaboration over the period
1 January 2023 to 28 February 2025.

The reference number for your request is FOI 25-0302 LD. Please ensure
that you quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning
this request.

Timeframes

Your request was received on 7 March 2025. The statutory timeframe for
processing your request is 30 calendar days and you should expect to be
notified of a decision from the department on or before 7 April 2025. The
period of 30 days may be extended if the department needs to consult
third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.

Request to exclude irrelevant information from your request

To assist with processing your request, can you also please advise by COB
17 March 2025, if you agree that information regarding any public service
employee names below Senior Executive Service level and direct telephone
numbers of all staff will be excluded from the scope of your request under
s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act

Other Information

The department may impose a charge for the work involved in providing
access to the documents.  If this request attracts a charge you will be
notified in writing.

Unless you advise otherwise any draft and duplicate documents will be
excluded from the scope of your request.

Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure log
[1]www.health.gov.au/resources/foi-disclosure-log, subject to certain
exceptions. (For example, personal information will not be published where
this would be unreasonable.)

You can contact the FOI team via email at [2][email address] or by phone
on 02 6289 1666, should you have any questions.

Kind regards,

Jordan - FOI Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section

Legal Advice and Legislation Branch

Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [3][email address]

PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges First Nations peoples
as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and their
continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to
them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and present.

show quoted sections

Good afternoon Mr Markham,

I refer to your request to the Department of Health and Aged Care (the
department) of 7 March 2025 seeking access to the following under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act):

I am writing to request a copy of select records relating to the National
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Collaboration. Specifically:
- Documents describing the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Health Collaboration's membership, as at 1 January 2023.
- Documents the describing changes to the membership of the National
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Collaboration's membership,
between 1 January 2023 and 28 February 2025.
- Documents describing the Terms of Reference of the National Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Health Collaboration's membership, as they
applied on 1 January 2023.
- Any revisions or updates to the Terms of Reference of the National
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Collaboration until 28
February 2025.
- Minutes and any informal records of discussion from meetings of the
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Collaboration during
the period 1 January 2023 to 28 February 2025.
- Any documents outlining the planned meeting dates of the National
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Collaboration over the period
1 January 2023 to 28 February 2025.

The statutory due date for your request is currently 7 April 2025.

Request for extension of time

Section 15AA of the FOI Act permits the department to extend the statutory
processing timeframe, with your agreement, for a period of up to 30
calendar days.

Due to increased volume of FOI requests with the Department, and
unforeseen changes in Departmental staffing, the Department of Health and
Aged Care would be grateful for a 7 day extension in relation to your FOI
request.

To ensure that department has undertaken all reasonable steps to identify
all documents relevant to your request, and for the decision maker to make
a well-balanced decision on access to any such documents identified, the
department is seeking your agreement to an extension of 7 calendar days.

If you agree to this extension, the statutory due date will then be 14
April 2025. The department will, however, continue to process your request
as quickly as possible.

It would assist if you could please advise by 17 March 2025 if you agree
to this extension of time. If we do not hear from you by this date or if
you do not agree to the extension, the department may consider seeking an
extension of time from the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner (OAIC) under section 15AB of the FOI Act.

We thank you for your ongoing patience and cooperation as we continue to
process your request.

If you have any questions regarding any of the matters discussed in this
email, please do not hesitate to contact the FOI Section at
[1][email address].

Kind regards

Jordan - FOI Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section

Legal Advice and Legislation Branch

Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [2][email address]

PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges First Nations peoples
as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and their
continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to
them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and present.

show quoted sections