You can make a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to access documents held by Victorian Government Ministers or Departments (i.e. Ambulance Victoria).
You can request any personal information regardless of the documents and any non-personal documents that are not older than 5 July 1978.
Personal documents can include:
Patient Care Records for yourself, a dependent or an individual that you hold Power of Attorney
Non- Personal documents can include:
Advice provided to Ambulance Victoria by external service providers
Policy documents on a new initiative
Briefings and correspondence between Ambulance Victoria and a Minister
Clearly describe the document/s you seek and include your full name, address, the Freedom of Information application fee (if applicable) and proof of identity (i.e. copy of drivers’ license or passport) if the request is for personal records.
To avoid delay it helps to provide as much detail as possible, such as the type of documents, the date and Case Number (if known) that you are seeking access to.
The FOI team in the department can help you make with your request.
Making a request for someone else:
You can apply for a child’s information if you are the child’s guardian or you have custody of the child (evidence is required). You can also apply for information of an individual that you hold Power of Attorney (documentary proof is required).
Freedom of Information Part II – Information Statements
This Part II Statement demonstrates how Ambulance Victoria is making information readily available to the public. Providing easily accessible information reduces the need to submit Freedom of Information requests under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
This webpage outlines the role of Ambulance Victoria (AV) and provides a structured means to easily access information about key services, functions and reports. Please note the statements below are not an exhaustive list of all information that is publicly available. Read more here
Frequently Asked Questions
The FOI application fee is $32.70 (effective 1 July 2024).
The application fee must be paid for a request to be valid. However, the fee may be waived, including the following circumstance:
If you hold a current Health Care/Pension Card, please provide a copy with your request.
If you are experiencing financial hardship, please provide a copy of your current financial status as evidence.
At Ambulance Victoria’s discretion.
Other Charges
The Act enables Ambulance Victoria to charge, where reasonable, for access to documents, depending on the nature of the request, including:
Search time – charged at 1.5 fee units ($24.50) per hour or part thereof.
Photocopying – 20 cents per page.
Providing written transcripts of recorded documents – reasonable costs incurred by the Agency.
Supervising an inspection of documents – charged at 1.5 fee units ($24.50) per hour to be calculated per quarter of an hour or part thereof.
If access charges exceed $50, you must pay a deposit. If so, you will be notified to enable you to choose whether to proceed with payment or withdraw your request.
Under the Act, Ambulance Victoria must make a decision on a valid request within 30 days of the date the request was received. Note; for a request to be valid it must be in written form and with sufficient clarity to enable the information sought to be easily identified and accompanied by the application fee. Requests for personal information require photo identification as is an authority to exchange information if applying on behalf of another individual.
If Ambulance Victoria has made a decision that you need to pay access charges you will be advised and you can dispute the charges. You must respond within 28 days.
We must notify you within 30 days of receiving your request if we are unable to identify any relevant documents.
Once processed, we will send you a decision about your request.
Consulting others
If Ambulance Victoria receives a request to release information to you that contains personal information about other people, we must contact those people and give them 60 days to appeal the release of their details to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)
Exemptions
Ambulance Victoria will, whenever possible make information available. Under the Act we can refuse access to information in certain circumstances including documents:
Containing matters of opinion , advice or recommendations provided by Ambulance Victoria staff or the staff of another agency
Concerning law and order or public safety
Subject to legal or client professional privilege
Containing information affecting personal affairs of another person
Subject to secrecy provisions in other legislation
Containing information about business affairs, another person or organisation
Review
Requesting a review of a decision
You have the right to seek a review from the information Commissioner (See http://foicommissioner.vic.gov.au. Requests for review must be made within 28 days of receiving Ambulance Victoria’s decision.
If you are dissatisfied with the outcome from a decision from the Information Commissioner you have the right to appeal to VACT.
Such an appeal must be made within 14 days of receiving the decision from the Information Commissioner.
Contact Information
Have any other questions? You can contact us via details below
