ACCESS TO INFORMATION UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
Hearing Australia provides a range of information available for public access. This page explains how to make an FOI request and how we process FOI requests. It also includes a link to our disclosure log.
Freedom of Information (FOI) Requests
Under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), you have the right to request access to documents held by Hearing Australia. The FOI Act:
- gives everyone the right to access copies of documents held by Australian Government agencies and ministers’ offices, unless specific exclusions or exemptions apply
- requires Australian Government agencies to make FOI decisions within statutory timeframes
- requires Australian Government agencies to publish an FOI disclosure log of certain released documents
- requires Australian Government agencies to publish a broad range of information under the Information Publication Scheme (IPS). Hearing Australia’s IPS plan can be found on our website under the Corporate Publications tab, accessible here.
We can refuse access to some documents, or parts of documents that are exempt. Documents exempt from the FOI request process may include information containing material obtained in confidence and other matters set out in the FOI Act.
How to make an FOI request
To make a valid FOI request, please ensure your application:
- is made in writing;
- clearly states that the request is made under the FOI Act;
- provides enough information about the document(s) you wish to access ; and
- includes your contact details so we can correspond with you.
It is helpful if you tell us:
- the specific type of documents you are seeking (for example, emails, reports, data, evaluations or proposals)
- the subject of or a description of the documents you wish to access
- the date range of interest.
If you are seeking access to documents containing your personal information we may require that you provide identifying documentation before we can assist you.
If you are making an FOI request on behalf of another person who is a Hearing Australia client, you will need to provide evidence of authorisation to act on behalf of that person. We may need to separately contact the client to verify their identity before providing you with access. If you are assisting another person with a request for non-personal information, please include the relevant contact details for where the decision letter and information should be sent in your written request.
If we have any questions about the scope of your request, we will contact you by email or phone to clarify your request.
How to submit an FOI request
You can submit your FOI request by email or mail:
Email: foi@hearing.com.au
Post: Privacy Officer
Hearing Australia
Level 5, 16 University Avenue
Macquarie University NSW 2109
If you require assistance with your request, please contact our team on 1300 360 355 or by the email above.
FOI Charges
You may be charged a processing fee for non-personal information access requests. The Freedom of Information (Charges) Regulations 2019 set the charges that can be imposed. The OAIC has more information on specific charges for providing access.
If a charge applies, we will send you a preliminary charge notice (an estimate) based on our initial assessment of the work required to process your request. If the amount is over $100, we will ask that you pay a deposit. The charge notice will be updated, and may be amended, once work on your FOI request is completed.
Once you have reviewed the preliminary charge notice, you can choose whether you wish to:
- pay the charge or deposit to proceed with the request
- contest the way the charge was calculated
- ask that the charge be withdrawn or not imposed; reasons we would not impose a charge might include financial hardship or if access to the documents would be in the interest of a substantial section of the public
- withdraw the FOI request.
If you have questions or need help with a charge notice, please contact us.
How we process FOI requests
We will contact you within 14 days after you submit the form to acknowledge your request or request further information from you.
Generally, we will make a decision on your FOI request within 30 days unless that time has been extended by a provision within the FOI Act. The decision letter will explain the reasons for the FOI decision.
Sometimes, for complex or large requests, we may request an extension of time from you or the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner to process your request. We will always work to finalise your request as soon as possible within any extended statutory period.
If we need to consult an external third party about documents in the scope of your request, the statutory time frame will automatically be extended by 30 days. If this occurs, we will notify you in writing and advise you of the new statutory due date.
If access is granted, we will provide the documents in your preferred format (where practicable).
Reviews and Complaints
Once we have made a decision regarding your FOI request, we will send you a letter detailing our decision and outlining your rights to review and appeal.
If you disagree with an FOI decision we make, you can:
- request an internal review
- ask the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) to review the decision.
Requests for internal review must be made in writing to Hearing Australia within 30 days of the date of the original FOI decision. Information about how to apply for an internal review will be included in your FOI decision letter.
Internal reviews are conducted by a senior staff member. We will make the new decision within 30 days of receiving your internal review request.
You can ask the Australian Information Commissioner to review the original FOI decision or an internal review decision within 60 days of the date of decision. The OAIC has more information about how to apply for external reviews.
If you are unhappy with the way that we have processed your FOI request, you can make a complaint to the OAIC.
FOI Disclosure Log
Our disclosure log lists the documents provided in response to FOI requests for the past 5 years.
View the disclosure log here.
Contact Us
Need more details or an update on your Freedom of Information (FOI) request? You can reach us by calling 1300 360 355, emailing foi@hearing.com.au, or by writing to our Privacy Officer using the contact details listed above
