If not delivered return to PO Box 7820 Canberra BC ACT 2610 
 
 
12 April 2019 
 
 
 
Our reference:  LEX 43631 
Alissa Pattrick  
 
Only by email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx  
 
 
Dear Ms Pattrick  
 
Acknowledgement of your Freedom of Information Request 
 
I refer to your request, dated and received by the Department of Human Services 
(department) on 6 April 2019,  for access to the following documents under the Freedom of 
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act):   
'Any complaints/feedback/correspondence to the department from licensed medical 
professionals regarding the short and long term health outcomes of their patients in 
regards to immunisation and the removal of vaccine exemptions. 
Any correspondence to the department in relation to licensed medical professionals 
having their ability to write valid vaccine exemptions removed. 
Any internal discussion in relation to the above.' 
Your request was received by the department on 6 April 2019 and the 30 day statutory 
period for processing your request commenced from the day after that date. You should 
therefore expect a decision from us by 6 May 2019.The period of 30 days may be extended if 
we need to consult third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens. 
 
Charges  
 
The department will advise you if a charge is payable to process your request and the 
amount of any such charge as soon as practicable. No charge is payable for providing a 
person with their own personal information. 
 
Your Address 
 
The FOI Act requires that you provide us with an address which we can send notices to. You 
have advised your email address is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx. We will 
send all notices and correspondence to this address. Please advise us as soon as possible if 
you wish correspondence to be sent to another address or if your address changes. If you do 
not advise us of changes to your address, correspondence and notices will continue to be 
sent to the address specified above. 
 
Administrative Release of Documents  
The department has administrative access arrangements (arrangements) for the release of 
certain documents without the need for a formal FOI request. Unless you advise us 
otherwise, in processing your request we may provide you with documents under these 
arrangements where appropriate. The arrangements do not extend to information or 
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materials of third parties. You will be notified when documents are released to you under the 
arrangements. 
Disclosure Log 
 
Please note that information released under FOI Act may be published in a disclosure log on 
the department's website. Section 11C of the FOI Act requires this publication, however it is 
subject to certain exceptions, including where publication of personal, business, professional 
or commercial information would be unreasonable. 
 
Exclusion of junior staff details 
 
The department is working towards ensuring that all staff have a choice about whether they 
provide their full name, personal logon identifiers and direct contact details in response to 
public enquiries. Where such details are included in the scope of a request, this may add to 
processing time and applicable charges as it may be necessary to consider whether the 
details are exempt under the FOI Act. On this basis, unless you tell us otherwise, we will 
assume that these details are out of scope of your request and they will be redacted under 
section 22 of the FOI Act. 
 
Further assistance 
If you have any questions please email xxx.xxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx.  
 
Yours sincerely 
 
Molly  
FOI Registration Officer 
Freedom of Information Team 
Employment Law and Freedom of Information Branch | Legal Services Division  
Department of Human Services 
 
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Department of Human Services 

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