MATES - Ethical approval of specific study
Dear Department of Veterans' Affairs,
BACKGROUND:
In the Veterans’ Mates Report – 2004-2010 reference is made to a study, “Pharmaceutical brand substitution in Australia: Identifying factors associated with having multiple brand substitutions.” It notes, “Ethical approval to conduct the study was obtained from the DVA Human Research Ethics Committee.”
INFORMATION I AM SEEKING:
I am seeking all background documentation and the formal approval of DVA's Human Research Ethics Committee to conduct the study, “Pharmaceutical brand substitution in Australia: Identifying factors associated with having multiple brand substitutions.
Yours faithfully,
Alan ASHMORE
Thank you for your email. Please accept this automatic reply as
confirmation the Information Access Unit (IAU) has received your email.
Please note the IAU is currently experiencing a high volume of requests.
We are working as quickly as possible to process your request. We
appreciate your patience.
Dear Mr Ashmore,
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (the department) has received your
request for access to information under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (FOI Act). I note you have requested access to the following:
'...BACKGROUND:
In the Veterans' Mates Report - 2004-2010 reference is made to a study,
"Pharmaceutical brand substitution in Australia: Identifying factors
associated with having multiple brand substitutions." It notes, "Ethical
approval to conduct the study was obtained from the DVA Human Research
Ethics Committee."
INFORMATION I AM SEEKING:
I am seeking all background documentation and the formal approval of DVA's
Human Research Ethics Committee to conduct the study, "Pharmaceutical
brand substitution in Australia: Identifying factors associated with
having multiple brand substitutions...'
Your request was received by the department on 28 November 2023 and the
ordinary 30 day statutory period for processing your request commenced
from the day after that date.
If we are in a position to make a decision on your request earlier than
this date, we will endeavour to do so.
The statutory period may also be extended if we need to consult third
parties or for other reasons permitted under the FOI Act. We will advise
you if this happens.
Charges
The Department will notify you within 14 days of an estimate of the
charges that will apply to your request for non-personal information
before we process any requested documents or impose a final charge.
Your address
The FOI Act requires that you provide us with an address that we can send
notices to. You have advised your contact address is
[1][FOI #10921 email] . Unless you tell us
otherwise, we will send all notices and correspondence to this address.
Disclosure log
Information released under the FOI Act may be published on a disclosure
log on our website, subject to certain exceptions. These exceptions
include where publication of personal, business, professional or
commercial information would be unreasonable.
Further assistance
If you have any questions about your request, please email
[2][DVA request email]
Yours sincerely
Kevin| Information Access Officer
Position 62373493
Information Access Unit
Ministerial, International & Stakeholder Relations Branch
Ministerial, Communication & Engagement Division
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)
[3][DVA request email]
[4]www.dva.gov.au
[5]cid:image008.jpg@01D8EA24.8F7FA8A0
[6]cid:image009.jpg@01D8EA24.8F7FA8A0
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #10921 email]
2. mailto:[DVA request email]
3. mailto:[DVA request email]
4. http://www.dva.gov.au/
Dear Mr Ashmore,
I refer to your request for information to the Department of Veterans’
Affairs under LEX 62926 received on the 28^th of November 2023 for the
following:
“...BACKGROUND:
In the Veterans’ Mates Report – 2004-2010 reference is made to a study,
“Pharmaceutical brand substitution in Australia: Identifying factors
associated with having multiple brand substitutions.” It notes, “Ethical
approval to conduct the study was obtained from the DVA Human Research
Ethics Committee.”
INFORMATION I AM SEEKING:
I am seeking all background documentation and the formal approval of DVA's
Human Research Ethics Committee to conduct the study, “Pharmaceutical
brand substitution in Australia: Identifying factors associated with
having multiple brand substitutions...”
We are actively processing your request and are awaiting a response from
the business areas, which is expected in due course.
Bear in mind that due to the end of year shurdown period, your request
that is due on the 28^th of December 2023 would need to be completed by
the 22^nd of December 2023.
Therefore we are seeking your agreement to an extension of time for up to
30 days under 15 AA of the FOI act, with a decision expected no later than
the 29^th of January 2024.
If you could please respond to this email by the 15^th of December 2023
that would be appreciated as this will allow us time to consult with the
OAIC should you not agree to this request.
Kind regards,
Jesse | Information Access Officer
Position Number : 62371652
Information Access Unit
Ministerial, Parliamentary & Stakeholder Engagement Branch
Engagement, Communications and Ministerial Division
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 838 372
[1][email address]
[2]www.dva.gov.au
[3]cid:image002.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[4]cid:image003.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[5]cid:image004.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[6]cid:image005.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590
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[8]cid:image006.jpg@01D8E9DA.F8F2BE70
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.dva.gov.au/
3. https://www.facebook.com/DVAAus
4. https://twitter.com/DVAAus
5. https://au.linkedin.com/company/australi...
6. https://www.youtube.com/DVATVAus
Dear INFORMATION.ACCESS,
I understand you are all under the pump at the moment, so I agree to your request. Hope it can be finalized quickly.
Yours sincerely,
Alan ASHMORE
Thank you for your email. Please accept this automatic reply as
confirmation the Information Access Unit (IAU) has received your email.
Please note the IAU is currently experiencing a high volume of requests.
We are working as quickly as possible to process your request. We
appreciate your patience.
Dear Mr Ashmore,
Thank you for your Information Access request.
Your request has now been finalised. Please refer to the attached
documentation and contact me back using the details below if I can be of
any further assistance.
Kind regards,
Jesse | Information Access Officer
Position Number : 62371652
Information Access Unit
Ministerial, Parliamentary & Stakeholder Engagement Branch
Engagement, Communications and Ministerial Division
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 838 372
[1][email address]
[2]www.dva.gov.au
[3]cid:image002.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[4]cid:image003.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[5]cid:image004.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[6]cid:image005.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590
[7]cid:image005.jpg@01D8E9DA.F8F2BE70
[8]cid:image006.jpg@01D8E9DA.F8F2BE70
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.dva.gov.au/
3. https://www.facebook.com/DVAAus
4. https://twitter.com/DVAAus
5. https://au.linkedin.com/company/australi...
6. https://www.youtube.com/DVATVAus
Dear Department of Veterans' Affairs,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Veterans' Affairs's handling of my FOI request 'MATES - Ethical approval of specific study'.
My specific request was, "I am seeking all background documentation and the formal approval of DVA's Human Research Ethics Committee to conduct the study, “Pharmaceutical
brand substitution in Australia: Identifying factors associated with having multiple brand substitutions...”
I note receipt of some of the requested documents and note as part of the "all background documentation," some was missing. I note background documentation would have to include the formal application to conduct the study that I note was approved by DVA Ethics Committee.
To the person conducting this internal review I ask that you belatedly supply me with the formal application to conduct the study and any other documentation that should have been supplied but failed to do so.
I could have contacted the OAIC in the first instance but have given DVA a chance to quickly finalize this matter.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/m...
Yours faithfully,
Alan ASHMORE
Dear Mr Ashmore,
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (the department) has received your
request for internal review of the Department's decision LEX 64862 under
the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). Your internal review
request reads as follows:
'I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Veterans'
Affairs's handling of my FOI request 'MATES - Ethical approval of specific
study'.
My specific request was, "I am seeking all background documentation and
the formal approval of DVA's Human Research Ethics Committee to conduct
the study, "Pharmaceutical
brand substitution in Australia: Identifying factors associated with
having multiple brand substitutions..."
I note receipt of some of the requested documents and note as part of the
"all background documentation," some was missing. I note background
documentation would have to include the formal application to conduct the
study that I note was approved by DVA Ethics Committee.
To the person conducting this internal review I ask that you belatedly
supply me with the formal application to conduct the study and any other
documentation that should have been supplied but failed to do so.
I could have contacted the OAIC in the first instance but have given DVA a
chance to quickly finalize this matter.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on
the Internet at this address:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/m...
Your request for internal review was received by the department on 31
January 2024 and the 30 day statutory period for processing your request
commenced from the day after that date.
Where possible, your request for internal review will be handled by an FOI
officer authorised decision-maker who was not involved in the original
decision.
Your address
The FOI Act requires that you provide us with an address that we can send
notices to. You have advised your electronic address is
[1][FOI #10921 email] . Unless you tell us
otherwise, we will send all notices and correspondence to this address.
Disclosure log
Information released under the FOI Act may be published on a disclosure
log on our website, subject to certain exceptions. These exceptions
include where publication of personal, business, professional or
commercial information would be unreasonable.
Further assistance
If you have any questions about your request, please email
[2][DVA request email]
Kind Regards
Arthur Information Access Registrations Officer
Position Number – 62341836
Information Access Unit
Ministerial, International & Stakeholder Relations Branch
Ministerial, Communication & Engagement Division
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)
[3][DVA request email]
[4]www.dva.gov.au
[5]cid:image001.png@01D8F043.829927E0[6]cid:image002.png@01D8F043.829927E0[7]cid:image003.png@01D8F043.829927E0[8]cid:image004.png@01D8F043.829927E0
[9]cid:image005.jpg@01D8F043.829927E0
[10]cid:image006.jpg@01D8F043.829927E0
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #10921 email]
2. mailto:[DVA request email]
3. mailto:[DVA request email]
4. http://www.dva.gov.au/
5. https://www.facebook.com/DVAAus
6. https://twitter.com/DVAAus
7. https://au.linkedin.com/company/australi...
8. https://www.youtube.com/DVATVAus
Dear INFORMATION.ACCESS,
On 31 January 2024 I requested an Internal Review of a decision make on 25 January 2024.
This meant I should have received DVA's response to this internal review by no later than the close of business on Friday 1 March 2024.
I note your response is overdue and unless I received the result of your Internal Review by no later than the close of business on Thursday 7 March 2024, (one week late), you will leave me no alternative but to lodge a formal complaint with the Information Commissioner, my Federal MP and I reserve the right to raise this matter on social media.
Yours sincerely,
Alan ASHMORE
Our reference: RQ24/00866
Agency reference: 64862
Department of Veterans' Affairs
Alan Ashmore
Extension of time under s 54D
Dear Parties,
Please find attached an extension of time decision relating to the above
referenced FOI request.
Regards,
[1][IMG] Hannah Holswilder
Director, Freedom of Information Branch
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
Adelaide | GPO Box 5288 Sydney NSW 2001
E [2][email address]
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References
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2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.oaic.gov.au/engage-with-us/n...