Freedom of Information
In New South Wales, the Freedom of Information Act 1989 gives you the legal right to obtain access to information held as records by State Government agencies, local government and other public bodies. It also gives you the right to request amendment to a record of a personal nature held by that agency if you believe it is incomplete, incorrect, misleading or out-of-date. Personal or non-personal information can be requested.
Personal applications for access to a person’s medical record can be processed through a simpler method under the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 and Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. See Application for your Health Records
Applications must be made in writing and specify that it is being made under the Freedom of Information Act. The attached application form may be used. Provide as much detail as possible to assist us to identify the documents you are requesting.
Applications should be forwarded to the Freedom of Information Coordinator at the address below. Under the legislation, Freedom of Information applications must be processed within 21 days, unless third party consultation is required.
If you are requesting documents relating to your personal affairs you may be asked for proof of identity. If you are not the patient then you will need to include written consent from the patient clearly indicating that we can disclose the record to you.
The application fee is $30 which covers 20 hours of processing for a request for personal documents. We provide a 50 per cent discount in cases of hardship. Processing charges for non-personal documents are $30 per hour.
We may refuse access if the document you seek is exempt under the legislation or if your request would unreasonably divert the agency’s resources from its normal functions.
Under Section 25 (1) (c) of the Act an agency may refuse access to a document under Freedom of Information if the document is available for purchase.
For further information contact:
Freedom of Information Coordinator, Ambulance
Service of NSW, State Headquarters Locked Bag 105, ROZELLE NSW 2039
Phone:
(02) 9320 7606 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday.
For inquiries or further information relating to Freedom
of Information please telephone 9320 7606 from 9am – 5pm,
Monday to Friday.