Medical exemption for covid

The request was partially successful.

Dear Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI),

Hope this finds you well. Can you please provide some clarification to the time given for exemption for covid after acute major medical illness please.

I have read your documentation dated 18/2:22 which states it has been reduced from 6 months to 4 months.

Do doctor surgeries have the right to apply their own time frames under 4 months? Or Is it a clear solid 4 month exemption as stated on this document.

It is my understanding that by law as health practitioners that we as individuals have the right to this 4 months exemption.

Can you please advice, or how I can escalate this further.

Yours faithfully,

Michelle

FOI, Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI)

Dear Michelle,

Thank you for your two emails dated 29 April 2022.

Please be advised that the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) sits within the Department of Health (the department), and as such your requests have been directed to the department's FOI team for action. Your requests appears to be duplicated, and going forward, the department will be treating them as one request.

The FOI team is seeking to clarify the scope of your request, specifically you have stated:

Can you please provide some clarification to the time given for exemption for covid after acute major medical illness please.

I have read your documentation dated 18/2:22 which states it has been reduced from 6 months to 4 months.

Do doctor surgeries have the right to apply their own time frames under 4 months? Or Is it a clear solid 4 month exemption as stated on this document.

It is my understanding that by law as health practitioners that we as individuals have the right to this 4 months exemption.

A request for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) must provide sufficient information as is reasonably necessary to enable a responsible officer in the department to identify the document requested. The FOI Act does not provide a mechanism for questions to be raised and answers provided, and it does not require the department to create a response to such questions, except in very limited circumstances.

Where a request does not satisfy the validity requirements of the FOI Act, the department must undertake a request consultation process with you.

Request consultation process

You have not provided sufficient information for a responsible officer in the department to identify the documents you are seeking access to and as such, your request is not currently a valid FOI request.

The Department is providing you with a reasonable opportunity to take steps to provide sufficient information that would enable the department to identify the documents you are seeking access to, and to submit a request that is valid for the purposes of section 15 of the FOI Act.

Timeframes

As this is not currently a valid request, the statutory processing timeframes have not commenced.

The consultation period during which you may revise the scope of your request is 14 days from the date of this email. If the department does not hear from you before the end of the 14-day consultation period, your request will be regarded as an invalid request and no further action will be taken on it by the department.

If you require assistance to modify your request to ensure that is a valid request, you may contact the FOI team on (02) 6298 1666 or by email at [Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) request email].

Kind regards,

FOI Officer
Freedom of Information Section

Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [email address]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to all Elders past and present.

-----Original Message-----
From: Michelle shield <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, 29 April 2022 2:41 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Medical exemption for covid

REMINDER: Think before you click! This email originated from outside our organisation. Only click links or open attachments if you recognise the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI),

Hope this finds you well. Can you please provide some clarification to the time given for exemption for covid after acute major medical illness please.

I have read your documentation dated 18/2:22 which states it has been reduced from 6 months to 4 months.

Do doctor surgeries have the right to apply their own time frames under 4 months? Or Is it a clear solid 4 month exemption as stated on this document.

It is my understanding that by law as health practitioners that we as individuals have the right to this 4 months exemption.

Can you please advice, or how I can escalate this further.

Yours faithfully,

Michelle shield

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[email address]

Is [Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI)? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately and delete all copies of this transmission."

hide quoted sections

FOI, Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI)

Dear Michelle,

Thank you for your two emails dated 29 April 2022.

Please be advised that the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) sits within the Department of Health (the department), and as such your requests have been directed to the department's FOI team for action. Your requests appears to be duplicated, and going forward, the department will be treating them as one request.

The FOI team is seeking to clarify the scope of your request, specifically you have stated:

Can you please provide some clarification to the time given for exemption for covid after acute major medical illness please.

I have read your documentation dated 18/2:22 which states it has been reduced from 6 months to 4 months.

Do doctor surgeries have the right to apply their own time frames under 4 months? Or Is it a clear solid 4 month exemption as stated on this document.

It is my understanding that by law as health practitioners that we as individuals have the right to this 4 months exemption.

A request for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) must provide sufficient information as is reasonably necessary to enable a responsible officer in the department to identify the document requested. The FOI Act does not provide a mechanism for questions to be raised and answers provided, and it does not require the department to create a response to such questions, except in very limited circumstances.

Where a request does not satisfy the validity requirements of the FOI Act, the department must undertake a request consultation process with you.

Request consultation process

You have not provided sufficient information for a responsible officer in the department to identify the documents you are seeking access to and as such, your request is not currently a valid FOI request.

The Department is providing you with a reasonable opportunity to take steps to provide sufficient information that would enable the department to identify the documents you are seeking access to, and to submit a request that is valid for the purposes of section 15 of the FOI Act.

Timeframes

As this is not currently a valid request, the statutory processing timeframes have not commenced.

The consultation period during which you may revise the scope of your request is 14 days from the date of this email. If the department does not hear from you before the end of the 14-day consultation period, your request will be regarded as an invalid request and no further action will be taken on it by the department.

If you require assistance to modify your request to ensure that is a valid request, you may contact the FOI team on (02) 6298 1666 or by email at [Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) request email].

Kind regards,

FOI Officer
Freedom of Information Section

Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [email address]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to all Elders past and present.

-----Original Message-----
From: Michelle shield <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, 29 April 2022 2:41 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Medical exemption for covid

REMINDER: Think before you click! This email originated from outside our organisation. Only click links or open attachments if you recognise the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI),

Hope this finds you well. Can you please provide some clarification to the time given for exemption for covid after acute major medical illness please.

I have read your documentation dated 18/2:22 which states it has been reduced from 6 months to 4 months.

Do doctor surgeries have the right to apply their own time frames under 4 months? Or Is it a clear solid 4 month exemption as stated on this document.

It is my understanding that by law as health practitioners that we as individuals have the right to this 4 months exemption.

Can you please advice, or how I can escalate this further.

Yours faithfully,

Michelle shield

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[email address]

Is [Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI)? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately and delete all copies of this transmission."

hide quoted sections

Michelle shield

Dear FOI,
I am wishing to have access to the exact amount of time that a medical exemption is able to be obtained for. Your document has stated 4 months; however is this a solid four months or up to four months. Would like a document that states this clearly to take to my doctor please.

Yours sincerely,

Michelle shield

FOI, Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI)

1 Attachment

  • Attachment

    Picture Device Independent Bitmap 1.jpg

    1K Download

Dear Michelle,
 
Thank you for your follow up email seeking clarification.
 
We have consulted with ATAGI who have advised the only available document
regarding your request is already published on the department’s website,
and can be found here:
 
       
[1]https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publ...
 
Noting the content of that publication, we have been advised that a person
who has an acute illness that continues beyond the already granted
exemption may seek an extension.
 
This is done through a GP who can apply for a subsequent exemption to
extend the timeframe, however it will be considered a separate or
additional exemption rather than a continuation.
 
Finally, the FOI Act provides a right to request access to documents in
the possession of the relevant entity at the time the FOI request is made.
The definition of ‘document’ in section 4 of the FOI Act specifically
excludes material maintained for reference purposes that is otherwise
publicly available.
 
As the document you seek is publicly available, your request is considered
invalid for the purposes of the FOI Act and has been closed.
 
Please do not hesitate to contact us by email at [2][email address]
should you have any further enquiries.
 
Kind regards,
 
Daniel
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information Section
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [3][email address]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
 
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
 
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Michelle shield <[4][FOI #8822 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 7 May 2022 7:34 AM
To: FOI <[5][email address]>
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Medical exemption for covid
[SEC=OFFICIAL]
 
REMINDER: Think before you click! This email originated from outside our
organisation. Only click links or open attachments if you recognise the
sender and know the content is safe.
Dear FOI,
I am wishing to have access to the exact amount of time that a medical
exemption is able to be obtained for. Your document has stated 4 months;
however is this a solid four months or up to four months. Would like a
document that states this clearly to take to my doctor please.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Michelle shield
 
-----Original Message-----
 
Dear Michelle,
 
Thank you for your two emails dated 29 April 2022.
 
Please be advised that the Australian Technical Advisory Group on
Immunisation (ATAGI) sits within the Department of Health (the
department), and as such your requests have been directed to the
department's FOI team for action. Your requests appears to be duplicated,
and going forward, the department will be treating them as one request.
 
The FOI team is seeking to clarify the scope of your request, specifically
you have stated:
 
        Can you please provide some clarification to the time given for
exemption for covid after acute major medical illness please.
 
        I have read your documentation dated 18/2:22 which states it has
been reduced from 6 months to 4 months.
 
        Do doctor surgeries have the right to apply their own time frames
under 4 months? Or Is it a clear solid 4 month exemption as stated on this
document.
 
        It is my understanding that by law as health practitioners that we
as individuals have the right to this 4 months exemption.
 
A request for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (the FOI Act) must provide sufficient information as is reasonably
necessary to enable a responsible officer in the department to identify
the document requested. The FOI Act does not provide a mechanism for
questions to be raised and answers provided, and it does not require the
department to create a response to such questions, except in very limited
circumstances.
 
Where a request does not satisfy the validity requirements of the FOI Act,
the department must undertake a request consultation process with you.
 
Request consultation process
 
You have not provided sufficient information for a responsible officer in
the department to identify the documents you are seeking access to and as
such, your request is not currently a valid FOI request.
 
The Department is providing you with a reasonable opportunity to take
steps to provide sufficient information that would enable the department
to identify the documents you are seeking access to, and to submit a
request that is valid for the purposes of section 15 of the FOI Act.
 
Timeframes
 
As this is not currently a valid request, the statutory processing
timeframes have not commenced.
 
The consultation period during which you may revise the scope of your
request is 14 days from the date of this email. If the department does not
hear from you before the end of the 14-day consultation period, your
request will be regarded as an invalid request and no further action will
be taken on it by the department.
 
If you require assistance to modify your request to ensure that is a valid
request, you may contact the FOI team on (02) 6298 1666 or by email at
[Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) request
email].
 
Kind regards,
 
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information Section
 
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group Legal Advice &
Legislation Branch Australian Government Department of Health
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [email address]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
 
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[6][FOI #8822 email]
 
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
[7]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
 
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
 
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the
addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information. 
If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited.  If you
receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately
and delete all copies of this transmission."

References

Visible links
1. https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publ...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[FOI #8822 email]
5. mailto:[email address]
6. mailto:[FOI #8822 email]
7. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

hide quoted sections