Department of Education

Public Access to the Department
Community
awareness of
the agency
and its
services 9
The Communication Services Unit and the Marketing
and Information Services Unit delivered the following
services to all areas of the department:
• public communication and marketing advice
• support to develop publications and websites
• coordination of major public information campaigns.
Opportunities for media coverage promoting education
and information services were routinely identified
and developed by both units. These included launches
and events, feature stories and interviews showcasing
departmental programs.
9 Lists of departmental publications and contact officers are located in the appendices.
Public
interest
disclosures
The main objective of the Public Interest Disclosures
Act 2002 is to encourage and facilitate disclosures
about improper conduct or detrimental action by
public officers and public bodies. The department’s
Public Interest Disclosures Policy and Model Procedures
are available on the department’s website and available
for viewing at Letitia House, Olinda Grove, Mount
Nelson, during office hours. From 1 July 2010 through to
30 June 2011, the department did not receive any public
interest disclosures.
Appeals
against
decisions of
the agency
Legislation administered by the department contains
provisions for appeals against departmental decisions.
The Conduct and Investigations Unit assists employees
and members of the public with grievance and appeal
matters. Accordingly, all enquiries should be directed to:
Manager, Conduct and Investigations
Department of Education
GPO Box 169, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001
Ph (03) 6233 7538
Right to
Information
Requests
During the 2010–11 year, the department received
42 requests under the Right to Information Act 2009.
This is the first year of operation under this Act.
Assessments under this Act are more comprehensive
due to the legislative concept making more
departmental information available to the public.
Of the 42 applications for assessed disclosure accepted
by 30 June 2011, 12 were provided within the time limit
of 20 days. A further seven were resolved within one
week of the due date. Nine remained unresolved as at
30 June 2011. The average response time was 30 days.
A total of 28 of the applications were received from
politicians or media and were complex requests involving
a large amount of information across various areas of the
department.
Right to information requests
Number
Granted in full 11
Granted in part 12
Refused/exempt/information not held 8
Withdrawn 0
Not assessed disclosure 2
Not decided as at 30 June 2011 9
Total requests received in 2010–11 42
Requests for personal information 10
Requests for other information 32
Requests to amend documentation 0
Required Reporting – Public Access to the Department
51