We make a range of information available on our website. Before submitting a request for information, we recommend you search our website to see if you can find what you are looking for. You can also check the Disclosure Log and the Disclosure Log 2023.
Information we are required to make public includes:
- functional information about Canberra Health Services
- documents tabled in the Legislative Assembly
- policy documents
- budgetary papers
- information about government grants
- our disclosure log – which lists information we have released since 1 January 2018 in response to access applications
- a statement about bodies established to advise our Directorate or Minister, and copies of their reports and recommendations.
If you can’t find what you are looking for, you can make a freedom of information request. To submit a request, please fill out the Canberra Health Services Freedom of Information Application Form (DOCX, 131.77 KB).
Your request must include:
- enough detail to for us to identify what information you are looking for
- an email or postal address so that we can contact you
- proof of your identity (if you are seeking personal information)
- authority for an agent to act for you (if you have engaged a lawyer or other third party to represent you)
Please note you cannot make a request for Health Records under the FOI Act.
Where an FOI application involves information relating to a third party, we may need to seek their views before making a decision on the release of information about them.
Fees
There is no application fee for an FOI request. There are no processing charges for requests for access to documents containing only personal information about you. However, processing charges may apply to other requests.
We will tell you if this is the case and you can ask for the charge to be waived or reduced for any reason, including financial hardship or on the grounds of public interest. If you do so, you should explain your reasons and you may need to provide some evidence.
Exemptions
Certain types of documents may not be accessible. Exemptions are generally used to protect essential public interests, confidential matters or the private or business affairs of others.
If we decide not to grant access to the documents requested, we will provide written reasons for the decision and let you (the applicant) know about your rights of appeal.
If you are unhappy with the decision, you may seek Ombudsman’s review of the decision or action. If you were a participant in an Ombudsman review, apply to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) for a review of the decision made by the Ombudsman.
Disclosure Log
The application, decision and any released documents can be accessed on the Disclosure Log page.
Open Access Information Ministerial Briefings
Under the FOI Act the Directorate is required to publish the following ministerial briefs that are 5 years old, as part of the Open Access Information Scheme:
- incoming ministerial briefs
- parliamentary estimates briefs
- annual report briefs
- question time briefs.
Ministerial briefs that are 5 years old, will be published quarterly starting from April 2024.
The available publications can be accessed on our Open Access Information – Available Ministerial Briefings page.
Amending Personal Information
If you believe we hold information about you that is incomplete, incorrect or out-of-date, you can ask to have this information amended. Your request must:
- include enough detail so we can identify the information to be amended
- say how it is incomplete, incorrect or out-of-date or misleading
- state the amendments considered necessary
- include an email or postal address so that we can contact you.
This does not extend to health records which are managed in accordance with the Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997.
ACT Ombudsman Review
When we have made a decision about your access application or a request to amend your personal information, we will send you a letter explaining our decision and your review appeal rights. If you are not satisfied with our decision, you can ask the ACT Ombudsman to review the decision.
You can also make a complaint to the ACT Ombudsman about our actions, or failure to take action.
Contact
For freedom of information queries about Canberra Health Services, including the North Canberra Hospital contact us on the details below:
Freedom of Information Coordinator
ACT Health
GPO Box 825
Canberra City ACT 2601
