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Freedom Of Information

The Accident Compensation and Conciliation Service (ACCS) is a statutory body established under the Accident Compensation Act 1985 (Vic) to facilitate timely and cost effective resolution of worker’s compensation disputes.

The ACCS makes information available to the public on its website and in print materials.  We provide information this way to reduce the need for members of the public to submit FOI requests. These statements are a statutory requirement under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic). This Statement  provides a snapshot of the types of locations of documents held by ACCS. It does not include all ACCS documents.  A copy of the FOI Statement is available here.

For more information about freedom of information, visit the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner’s website (link https://ovic.vic.gov.au/).

To seek further information about the functioning of the ACCS, please contact us:

GPO Box 251 Melbourne VIC 3000 or

Ph: 1800 635 960 (free call during office hours)

Email: info@conciliation.vic.gov.au

Lodging FOI request

Under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) you have a right to request information and access documents about your personal affairs and the ACCS’s activities.

How to make an FOI request

Requests for documents in the possession of the ACCS should be addressed to:

Freedom of Information Officer

Accident Compensation and Conciliation Service Level 1, 215 Spring Street

Melbourne VIC 3000

Email: foi@conciliation.vic.gov.au

What type of information can you ask for?

Under the FOI Act you can request:

  • access to documents we hold about your personal affairs and our activities; or
  • the amendment or removal of incorrect or misleading information about you held by us.

You may ask for a copy of the document or request access to the document.

The word ‘document’ includes paper documents and a broad range of media (including maps, films, microfiche, photographs, computer printouts, emails, computer discs, tape recordings and videotapes). ‘Document’ is defined term in section 5(1) of the FOI Act.

Exempt documents

The ACCS can refuse to grant access, or may decide to grant partial access, to certain documents or information that we hold based on exemptions under the Act (‘exempt documents’). Exempt documents include (for example):

  • Some internal working documents (section 30);
  • Law enforcement documents (section 31);
  • Documents covered by legal professional privilege, such as legal advice (section 32);
  • Documents containing personal information about other people (section 33);
  • Documents containing information provided to an agency in confidence (section 35);
  • Documents containing information provided to an agency by a business (section 34); and
  • Documents which are covered by secrecy provisions in other legislation (section 38).
Can someone make an FOI request on your behalf?

You can authorise another person (e.g. a solicitor) to make a request on your behalf. If you would like someone to make a request on your behalf for your personal information, you must give them written authorisation.

How much does it cost to make an FOI request?

A non-refundable fee is charged when you make an FOI request (the ‘application fee’). You can claim a waiver of the application fee if payment of the fee would cause you financial hardship. Evidence of financial hardship must be included with your FOI request if you wish to seek a waiver. If you have any questions or queries about waiver of the fee, please contact us.

Additional charges apply in certain circumstances (‘access charges’). Access charges are the costs incurred in granting access to the requested documents (e.g. photocopying the documents to provide copies to the applicant).

These costs may or may not apply depending on the nature of your request. All fees and charges are exempt from GST. To view the current application fee and access charges, please visit the FOI Onlinewebsite.

Alternative ways of accessing our information
  • You may be able to access our information without going through the FOI process. Before you submit an FOI request, it may be worthwhile to contact us to find out if we can provide the information to you outside the FOI process.
  • If you need documents for a court case or some type of litigation, speak to your legal advisor about your options for accessing those documents.
  • The FOI Act does not apply to documents which contain information that is available for purchase by the public in accordance with arrangements made by the ACCS.
What happens after we receive your FOI request?

Once we receive your request, we will conduct an initial assessment. If your request is valid, we will process it. We will contact you if we require further information or clarification.

How quickly will your request be processed?

We have 30 days after the day we receive a valid FOI request to process it.

Pursuant to section 21 of the FOI Act, an agency may extend the 30 day due date when consultation is required under section 29, 29A, 31, 31A, 33, 34 or 35 of the FOI Act.

Possible outcomes of an FOI request

When the ACCS has reached a decision about your request, we will send you a letter informing you of the decision. The ACCS may decide to:

  • refuse access in full or in part to a document;
  • refuse to amend a personal record;
  • defer access to a document; or
  • not waive or reduce an application fee.

An application for a review must be made to the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) within 28 days of you receiving the decision of the ACCS.

If your request has not been processed within the time limit, this is taken to be a refusal to grant access to the requested information under the FOI Act (a ‘deemed refusal’). If this occurs, you can apply directly to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for review of the deemed refusal.

What can you do if you are not satisfied with the ACCS’s decision?

You can submit your application for review to OVIC by email or post. An application for review must:

  • be in writing;
  • identify that the ACCS is the agency concerned; and
  • identify the decision you would like reviewed.

You can send your review application form and supporting documents to enquiries@ovic.vic.gov.au.

Alternatively you can send your application to:

Victorian Information Commissioner Freedom of Information Reviews PO Box 24274

Melbourne Victoria