Department Reference: FOI 1847
John Smith
Via email
: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Mr Smith
NOTICE OF DECISION UNDER SECTION 24A
OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982
I refer to your request of 23 July 2020 to the Department of Health (the department)
seeking access under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (the Act) to the
following documents:
I seek the following information;
The number of medical specialists that have successfully completed their training
courses; run by the specialist Australian medical colleges. I seek this information for the
17/18, 18/19, and 19/20 financial years.
I would like that information provided on a state-by-state basis; as in I would like to
know the amount of specialists being trained in each state for each speciality.
For example, the dataset would tell me how many Dermatologists have completed their
training in WA, SA (and all the other states), for each of those three years. (In addition
to all of the other medical specialties).
FOI decision
I am authorised under subsection 23(1) of the Act to make decisions in relation to
Freedom of Information requests. I am writing to notify you of my decision on your
request.
Appropriate steps have been taken to find the documents referred to in your request
including searches of departmental file management systems.
Freedom of Information Unit (MDP 516) GPO Box 9848 Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone: (02) 6289 1666 ABN: 83 605 426 759
I am satisfied, on the basis of the searches conducted, that the documents referred to
in your request do not exist.
As a consequence, relying on section 24A of the Act, I cannot provide access to the
documents you requested.
FOI review rights
If you are dissatisfied with my decision, you may apply for a review.
Internal review
Under section 54 of the FOI Act, you may apply in writing to the department for an
internal review of my decision. The internal review application must be made within
30 days of the date of this notice (or such further period as the department allows). To
assist in the internal review process, please provide reasons you consider review of
my decision is necessary. The internal review will be carried out by another officer of
this department within 30 days of receipt of your application.
An application for an internal review should be sent to:
Email:
xxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx
Mail:
FOI Unit (MDP 516)
Department of Health
GPO Box 9848
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Information Commissioner review
Alternatively, under section 54L of the FOI Act, you may apply to the Office of the
Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) for review of my decision by the
Information Commissioner. An application for review must be made in writing within
60 days of this notice (if you do not request an internal review).
More information about Information Commissioner review is available on the OAIC
website at:
https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/reviews/
The OAIC can be contacted by:
Email:
xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
Phone: 1300 363 992
You may also make a complaint to the OAIC about action taken by the department in
relation to your application. Further information about this process is available on the
OAIC website.
Freedom of Information Unit (MDP 516) GPO Box 9848 Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone: (02) 6289 1666 ABN: 83 605 426 759
Relevant provisions of the FOI Act
The FOI Act, including the provisions referred to in this letter, can be accessed from
the Federal Register of Legislation website:
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2020C00110
Additional information
While the department does not hold documents relevant to your request, the
following information, provided outside the FOI Act, may be of assistance to you.
Information relevant to your request, including Medical Education and Training report
tables and Publications is publicly available on the department’s website at the
following links:
•
https://hwd.health.gov.au/met.html
•
https://hwd.health.gov.au/publications.html
The department also hosts the Health Online Data Tool which provides more detailed
information. Members of the public are welcome to create an account and access the
information available using the following link:
•
https://hwd.health.gov.au/webapi/jsf/dataCatalogueExplorer.xhtml
Contacts
If you require clarification of any of the matters discussed in this letter you should
contact the department’s Freedom of Information Unit on (02) 6289 1666 or at
xxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx.
Yours sincerely
K. Bishop
Principal Lawyer
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
16 September 2020
Freedom of Information Unit (MDP 516) GPO Box 9848 Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone: (02) 6289 1666 ABN: 83 605 426 759