Visa Applicant Character Consideration Unit (vaccu)
Dear Department of Home Affairs,
I wish to have access to the documents in relation to VACCU's operation. Specifically, how many staff they are hiring, and how many cases they complete per person, for the previous financial year (2023-2024).
Yours faithfully,
Keith
[1]Australian Government Department of Home Affairs logo
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Your email has been received by the Department of Home Affairs’ (the
Department) Freedom of Information (FOI) section.
If you have lodged a request for access to documents or amendment to
information, you will receive an acknowledgement letter within 14 days.
If your email relates to other matters then please contact the relevant
area of the Department or review the frequently asked questions below. The
mailbox is unable to respond to visa and citizenship status updates or
questions. If your query is answered by this information you will not
receive another response to your email.
Please see our website for more information on submitting a valid request
for access to information. [2]Freedom of information (homeaffairs.gov.au)
Legal priority: If your situation has changed to the extent that your FOI
request now have a legal priority such as Administrative Appeals Tribunal,
Court, Ministerial Intervention, Visa cancellation deadline since you
submitted your initial request, please provide a physical evidence to
support your priority claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Query General Information
If you applied [4]Our online services (homeaffairs.gov.au)
online, you can
check your visa [5]Ceremony wait times (homeaffairs.gov.au)
application status
in [3]ImmiAccount.
I want to access [6]Check visa details and conditions
my visa details (homeaffairs.gov.au)
I want to apply [7]Applying online in ImmiAccount
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My visa has [8]Your visa is expiring or has expired
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I want to apply [9]Become a citizen (homeaffairs.gov.au)
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I want my travel [11]Requesting travel records (homeaffairs.gov.au)
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I am having Use our [12]technical guide to troubleshoot in
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Further details and instructions refer to
[17]ImmiAccount Help & Support
[18]Changes in your situation (homeaffairs.gov.au)
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For further information see [22]Getting a refund
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Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately. This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited.
The Department of Home Affairs, the ABF and the National Emergency
Management Agency respect your privacy and have obligations under the
Privacy Act 1988.
Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.
References
Visible links
2. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-an...
3. https://online.immi.gov.au/ola/app
4. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...
5. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizens...
6. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/al...
7. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...
8. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/vi...
9. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizens...
10. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizens...
11. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...
12. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...
13. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/visa...
14. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...
15. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Visa...
16. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/visa...
17. file:///tmp/chttps:/immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/applying-online-or-on-paper/online
18. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/change-i...
19. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/visa...
20. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/change-i...
21. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/change-i...
22. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/change-i...
23. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/ge...
24. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/change-i...
25. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-and-...
OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy
In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 24/08/00694
File Number: FA24/08/00694
Dear Keith (Right to Know)
Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request
This letter acknowledges that on 9 August 2024 the Department of Home
Affairs (the Department ) received your request to access documents held
by the Department under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI
Act). This letter also provides important information about your request.
Scope of request
You have requested access to the following:
I wish to have access to the documents in relation to VACCU's operation.
Specifically, how many staff they are hiring, and how many cases they
complete per person, for the previous financial year (2023-2024).
Your request has been allocated FOI request number FA 24/08/00694. Please
include your FOI request number in all correspondence with the Freedom of
Information Section.
Timeframe
The timeframe for processing a request is 30 days from the day we receive
your request, as set out in the FOI Act.
Your review rights in relation to your request are available on [1]Freedom
of information reviews | OAIC.
Kind regards
Phil
Position Number: 60157242
Authorised FOI Officer - Freedom of Information
Privacy, FOI and Records Management Branch | Legal Group
Department of Home Affairs [2]www.homeaffairs.gov.au
Email [3][Department of Home Affairs request email]
[4]cid:image001.jpg@01D86C5F.92502B10
Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately. This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited.
The Department of Home Affairs, the ABF and the National Emergency
Management Agency respect your privacy and have obligations under the
Privacy Act 1988.
Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...
2. http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/
3. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy
In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 24/08/00694
File Number: FA24/08/00694
Dear Keith (Right to Know)
Apologise the first acknowledgement sent at 3.20PM was missing the second
page. Full acknowledgement below.
Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request
This letter acknowledges that on 9 August 2024 the Department of Home
Affairs (the Department ) received your request to access documents held
by the Department under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI
Act). This letter also provides important information about your request.
Scope of request
You have requested access to the following:
I wish to have access to the documents in relation to VACCU's operation.
Specifically, how many staff they are hiring, and how many cases they
complete per person, for the previous financial year (2023-2024).
Your request has been allocated FOI request number FA 24/08/00694. Please
include your FOI request number in all correspondence with the Freedom of
Information Section.
Timeframe
The timeframe for processing a request is 30 days from the day we receive
your request, as set out in the FOI Act.
Your review rights in relation to your request are available on [1]Freedom
of information reviews | OAIC.
Fees and Charges
Charges do not apply to requests from individuals seeking access to
documents about themselves. However, a charge may apply to all other
requests for access to documents.
Charges are based on the amount of time the Department spends on your
request. Charges can range from $10 to over $1,000 depending on the
complexity and scope of your request. The Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner reported that across the public service, the
average charge notified was $335.50 in 2020-21.
If a charge applies, you will be issued with a Notice of Charge that
explains the charge and your options.
Detailed information about FOI charges that may apply to your FOI request
is available on [2]the Department’s website.
We do not provide personal details of staff or non-public facing
operational email addresses
The Department’s practice is to exclude the personal details of Government
employees, including contractors, not in the Senior Executive Service
(SES), as well as the direct contact details of SES staff, contained in
documents that fall within scope of an FOI request. If you require
personal details of non-SES officers, or direct contact details of SES
staff, please inform us so the decision maker may consider your request.
Otherwise we will take it that you agree to that information being
excluded from the scope of your request as irrelevant under section
22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act. However names of staff that have previously
been released in departmental correspondence may be disclosed.
We do not provide duplicated documents
If the FOI decision-maker deems a document to be a duplicate, they will
not assess those pages as part of your FOI request. This means that if a
there is a decision to release the document to you, you will receive only
one copy, even if multiple copies of that document exist.
Publication of document
Released documents you request may be published to our website.
Where documents are released to you in response to your request, the
Department may be required to publish these documents on its website
within 10 working days in accordance with section 11C of the FOI Act.
Publication will not be required where the documents contain personal or
business affairs information.
How to reduce or withdraw your request
Reducing the scope of your request can reduce the time and charges
associated with processing your FOI request.
To reduce or withdraw your request, contact the FOI section at
[3][Department of Home Affairs request email] and include your FOI request number.
Contacting the FOI Section
Should you wish to discuss your request you may contact the FOI Section at
[Department of Home Affairs request email].
Kind regards
Phil
Position Number: 60157242
Authorised FOI Officer - Freedom of Information
Privacy, FOI and Records Management Branch | Legal Group
Department of Home Affairs [4]www.homeaffairs.gov.au
Email [5][Department of Home Affairs request email]
[6]cid:image001.jpg@01D86C5F.92502B10
Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately. This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited.
The Department of Home Affairs, the ABF and the National Emergency
Management Agency respect your privacy and have obligations under the
Privacy Act 1988.
Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...
2. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-an...
3. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
4. http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/
5. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy
In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 24/08/00694
File Number: FA24/08/00694
Dear Keith (Right to Know)
I refer to your request received on 9 August 2024 for access to documents
under the FOI Act.
The current due date for your request is 8 September 2024. The Department
seeks your agreement under section 15AA of the FOI Act to extend the
timeframe for the processing of your request by 30 days. This would extend
the due date for your request to 8 October 2024.
The reason we are seeking an extension of time is due to demand for
Departmental documents is high and we continue to experience increasing
volumes of incoming requests particularly in recent months. Each request
received by the Department is managed in the context of this large volume
which can impact the timeliness of our decisions and as such we seek
agreement from applicants on extensions of time where possible. We are
endeavouring to ensure, as an applicant, you understand the likely
timeframe for your request to be finalised. We continue to try to process
requests as quickly as possible regardless of if an extension is provided.
If you could please provide a response to this request by close of
business, 26 August 2024.
Kind regards
Phil
Position Number: 60157242
Authorised FOI Officer - Freedom of Information
Privacy, FOI and Records Management Branch | Legal Group
Department of Home Affairs [1]www.homeaffairs.gov.au
Email [2][Department of Home Affairs request email]
[3]cid:image001.jpg@01D86C5F.92502B10
Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately. This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited.
The Department of Home Affairs, the ABF and the National Emergency
Management Agency respect your privacy and have obligations under the
Privacy Act 1988.
Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/
2. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
OFFICIAL
Dear Keith (Right to Know),
FOI request FA 24/08/00694
I refer to your FOI request received on 9 August 2024, seeking access to
the following:
I wish to have access to the documents in relation to VACCU's operation.
Specifically, how many staff they are hiring, and how many cases they
complete per person, for the previous financial year (2023-2024). .
The Department has made a decision on this request. Please find attached
the decision record.
This request has now been closed.
Kind Regards
Anjani
Position No. 60165359
Authorised FOI Officer - Freedom of Information
FOI and Records Management Branch | Legal Group
Department of Home Affairs | [1]www.homeaffairs.gov.au
Email [2][Department of Home Affairs request email]
OFFICIAL
Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately. This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited.
The Department of Home Affairs, the ABF and the National Emergency
Management Agency respect your privacy and have obligations under the
Privacy Act 1988.
Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.
References
Visible links
1. http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/
2. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]