Managing FOI requests effectively

Who should attend

This course is suitable for FOI coordinators or contact officers, employees at all levels who are responsible for dealing with FOI requests or need to be aware of FOI in the course of their duties and employees wanting a refresher course in FOI principles.

Course outline

The course introduces participants to the operations of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, and is designed to develop the practical knowledge and skills of FOI practitioners in the procedural aspects of handling FOI requests and engaging with the applicants who make them and stakeholders affected by them. 

The course will cover

• Introduction to FOI purpose and function
• The right of access to information under FOI
• Aspects of FOI processing including:
  • interpreting the request, searching for documents and managing timeframes
  • consultations and other investigations
  • handling big/complex FOI requests and dealing with problematic applicants
• Bringing together FOI processing issues.

Exercises are used to involve participants in the actual handling of requests, and effective navigation of the FOI process including decisions involving searches and practical refusal issues. 

A reference manual, with practical exercises and guidance on procedures will be provided.

Objectives

Participants will leave with a sound understanding of those procedural aspects of the FOI Act, insights into how and when to apply them in their role as a FOI practitioner and develop a practical understanding for dealing with FOI applicants and third parties. Participants also benefit from insights into perspectives for other agencies dealing with FOI requests across the Commonwealth.

Presenters

Our presenters are AGS lawyers who have a great depth of knowledge of the government environment and who practise extensively in the areas of information access and administrative law.