MATES program
Dear Department of Veterans' Affairs,
BACKGROUND:
In May 2023 the OAIC found DVA had breached the privacy of a veteran in relation to the MATES program.
INFORMATION I AM SEEKINNG:
In regard to the MATES program, I am seeking all correspondence including minutes of meeting, internal emails within DVA, plus all written communication both to and from DVA to the University of South Australia, University of Adelaide and Phoenix Australia for the period 1 April 2023 to 17 October 2023.
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 May 2023 the OAIC found DVA had breached the privacy of a veteran in
relation to the MATES program.
INFORMATION I AM SEEKINNG:
In regard to the MATES program, I am seeking all correspondence including
minutes of meeting, internal emails within DVA, plus all written
communication both to and from DVA to the University of South Australia,
University of Adelaide and Phoenix Australia for the period 1 April 2023
to 17 October 2023.''
Your request was received by the department on 17 October 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 #10764 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
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][IMG][6][IMG][7][IMG][8][IMG]
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #10764 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 Mr Ashmore,
I refer to your request for information to the Department of Veterans’
Affairs under LEX 61891 for the following:
'BACKGROUND:
In May 2023 the OAIC found DVA had breached the privacy of a veteran in
relation to the MATES program.
INFORMATION I AM SEEKINNG:
In regard to the MATES program, I am seeking all correspondence including
minutes of meeting, internal emails within DVA, plus all written
communication both to and from DVA to the University of South Australia,
University of Adelaide and Phoenix Australia for the period 1 April 2023
to 17 October 2023.'
We are actively processing your request and are awaiting a response from
the business areas, which is expected in due course. 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 15 December 2023.
I apologise for the short turnaround time however this will allow us to
consult with the OAIC prior to the 16^th of November 2023 should you not
agree to this request. Would you please respond by close of business
5pm(AEST) Wednesday 15 November 2023.
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 INFORMATION.ACCESS,
I apologize for my late response but I have had other issues on and wasn't able to respond within the short time frame I was given to respond.
If it is not too late I am prepared to agree to your request of 14 November 2023 in the hope you don't need the additional full 30 days.
I write the above in good faith and in full knowledge the privacy breach resulting from the MATES program was not of the making of your work area.
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 to the Department under
reference number 61891.
Please find attached the Departments section 24AB consultation notice.
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 Mr Ashmore,
I refer to your request for information under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (FOI Act). Your request was received by the Department on 17
October 2023 and was made in the following terms:
'BACKGROUND:
In May 2023 the OAIC found DVA had breached the privacy of a veteran in
relation to the MATES program.
INFORMATION I AM SEEKINNG:
In regard to the MATES program, I am seeking all correspondence including
minutes of meeting, internal emails within DVA, plus all written
communication both to and from DVA to the University of South Australia,
University of Adelaide and Phoenix Australia for the period 1 April 2023
to 17 October 2023.'
On 28 November 2023, the Department issued you with a request consultation
notice under s 24AB of the FOI Act. This notice advised you that a
practical refusal reason existed because the processing of your request,
in its current terms, would likely result in the substantial and
unreasonable diversion of the Department’s resources, in accordance with s
24AA(1)(a)(i).
You were invited to do one of the following during the request
consultation period, which ended on 12 December 2023:
· Withdraw the request;
· Make a revised request; or
· Indicate that you do not wish to revise the request.
Pursuant to s 24AB(7) of the FOI Act, as no response was received during
the consultation period, your request was taken to be withdrawn.
Should you still require this information, you are invited to submit a new
information access request to the Department. In doing so, we ask that you
take into consideration the information provided in the practical refusal
consultation notice dated 28 November 2023.
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
Our reference: RQ23/05640
Agency reference: 61891
Department of Veterans' Affairs
Alan Ashmore
Extension of time under s 15AB
Dear Parties,
Please find attached an extension of time decision relating to Mr
Ashmore’s FOI request with the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
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]
The OAIC acknowledges Traditional Custodians of Country across
Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and
communities. We pay our respect to First Nations people,
cultures and Elders past and present.
[3]Subscribe to Information Matters
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References
Visible links
1. https://www.oaic.gov.au/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.oaic.gov.au/engage-with-us/n...