Freedom of Information

Ambulance Victoria (AV) is governed by the Victorian Government's Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 1982 which gives members of the public:

• A legal right of access to information held by Ministers, State Government Departments including Ambulance Victoria, agencies and statutory authorities; and
• A legal right to apply for incorrect, out of date or misleading information about them to be amended or removed from their personal files.

The rights of access are limited by exemptions that are deemed necessary for the protection of public interest, and private and business affairs.

Click here to go to the Freedom of Information Online Victoria website for more information about Freedom of information in Victoria.

AV and Freedom Of Information

Ambulance Victoria each year receives more than 900 applications for access to documents under the FOI Act 1982. These statistics are provided on an annual basis to the Department of Justice. The applications generally fall into two main categories:

• Requests for copies of Patient Care Records (PCRs). These requests are usually received from people that AV has treated, their next of kin or legal representatives;
• Requests from Members of Parliament, the media or members of the public relating to any issues of high public interest.

Guidelines for Access to Information

All requests for access to information must be in writing, giving sufficient information to enable AV to identify the document(s) to which access is sought.

An application fee applies to all FOI requests. AV may waive or reduce the fee if payment of the fee would cause hardship to the applicant.

Other charges may apply to the release of some documents. These charges are in line with those set by the FOI Act. Click here to access the fees and charges set by the Act.

Applications should be addressed to:

Manager Freedom of Information
Ambulance Victoria
PO BOX 2000
DONCASTER VIC 3108

To print out the FOI application form click here.

Requirement to Provide Identification and Authority

AV Patient Care Records (PCRs) are of a highly confidential and sensitive nature. They directly relate to the personal affairs of patients. AV not only has a responsibility to the medical care of its patients but must also ensure that their privacy rights are upheld. For this reason proof of identity and authority must be provided before an application can be processed.

It is AV Policy that any applicant requesting documents relating to their own or other parties personal affairs, must first provide suitable evidence of identification and authority before AV makes any decision regarding release of documents falling within the terms of the request. This may be provided in the form of:

• Your signed application;
• Copy of a document which includes your signature eg. copy of a drivers licence.

The signature is then compared to the original application letter to ensure the application is bona fide.

What happens after an Application is received?

Under the Act, the AV has 45 days to process a request and advise the applicant of its decision whether to release the documents or to withhold them. If the documents are released the matter is closed. If not, then the applicant can request an internal review of the decision.

Applications for internal review must be submitted to AV within 28 days of receiving the initial decision. The officer appointed to conduct the internal review has 14 days to decide if the documents should be released or withheld. Again if the decision is to allow the documents to be released, then the matter is closed. However, if the request is again denied, then the applicant has 60 days from the receipt of the internal review decision to apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a review of the decision.

AV upholds the basic principles of the FOI Act 1982 and every endeavour is carried out to ensure that all legislative requirements of the Act are followed.