»ÆÆ¬ÊÓÆµ

Statutory compliance

Freedom of Information Act 1982

»ÆÆ¬ÊÓÆµ (AV) received 2,991 requests (three of these requests were transferred to AV from other agencies) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the Act) for the 2024-25 FY.

Full access to documents was provided in 1,793 requests.

Exemptions under the Act were applied to 637 requests.

Partial access was granted for 637 requests whilst three requests were denied in full.

The most common reason for AV seeking to partially exempt documents was the protection of personal privacy in relation to request for information about persons other than the applicant. Other exemptions applied under the Act included internal working documents, documents containing material obtained in confidence and documents relating to trade secrets, etc.

The below table shows most applications were received from members of the public, doctors/hospitals and solicitors. The Freedom of Information (FOI) unit also received requests from media and Members of Parliament.

Non-statute FOI requests 2024-25

Origin of requestRequests
Public436
Dr/Hospital497
Insurance178
Media2
Member of Parliament4
Solicitor1,797
Other37
Psychologist22
WorkCover18
Total2,991

The FOI unit collected $66,960.80 in application fees under The Act. AV collected nil dollars in access charge fees to facilitate access to documents. In addition, the FOI unit processed the below requests outside of the Act applying the relevant statute law.

Statute FOI requests 2024-25

Origin of requestRequests
Coroner374
Child Protection/DFFH270
TAC542
Aged Care Commissioner6
Other34
Medical Practitioners Board-
Total1,226

FOI requests2024-25
Requests received during the year2,988*
Request transferred to another agency0
Request transferred from another agency3
Request withdrawn or not proceed with by the applicant91
Access granted in full1,793
Access granted in part (exemptions applied)637
Access denied in full (exemptions applied)3
Request where no relevant documents could be located264
Request not deemed valid102
Requests awaiting completion at the end of the FY101
Request not completed within the statutory period of 30 days153

*Total requests was 2,991, with three of these requests transferred to AV from other agencies.

Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner and VCAT 2024-25
Reviews/Complaints accepted by FOI Commissioner5
VCAT appeal lodged1

Victoria Police

The FOI unit also processed the following requests from Victoria Police for patient care records and paramedic statements and processed subpoenas for documents and summons for documents and paramedics to attend court.

Victoria Police requests
PCR only737
Statement only384
PCR and statements361
PCR, statements & details6
Statements & details28
PCR and details28
Paramedic details106
Other request103
Total1,753
Subpoena/Summons
To attend court61
To produce documents137
Total198

Carers Recognition Act 2012

AV acknowledges the essential contribution carers make to the wellbeing of individuals and the broader community. In alignment with statutory obligations and our organisational values, AV remains committed to ensuring that our services and workforce practices uphold the rights and needs of carers. We continue to embed carer recognition across our operations and strengthen practices that support carers both as service users and employees.

Building Act 1993

AV is compliant with Victoria’s legislative framework for building activity. All building construction during the year was conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Building Act 1993, the Building Regulations 2018 and the applicable provisions of the National Construction Code. These frameworks collectively govern the design, construction, and maintenance of new ambulance stations, refurbishment of existing facilities or when undertaking building fit outs.

Maintenance and annual reporting of Essential Safety Measures (ESM) form a critical component of »ÆÆ¬ÊÓÆµâ€™s governance and compliance obligations. All ESM reporting and maintenance was completed in accordance with requirements of the Building Regulations 2018.

Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012

Under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012, complaints and allegations about improper conduct involving public health services in Victoria should be made directly to the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC). AV is required to encourage concerned individuals to make relevant public interest disclosures (within the meaning of the Act) directly to IBAC and to establish and publish public interest disclosures policy and procedures.

Statement on National Competition Policy

The State of Victoria is a party to the intergovernmental Competition Principles Agreement, which is a key document in Australia’s National Competition Policy framework. The Victorian Government is committed to the ongoing implementation of the National Competition Policy in a considered and responsible manner.

This means public interest considerations should be taken into account explicitly in any government decisions on the implementation of this policy. AV adheres to this and complies, to the extent applicable, with the National Competition Policy.

Gender Equality Act 2020

As a defined entity under the Gender Equality Act 2020, AV has been progressively taking steps to meet its legislative obligations. This year we continued our implementation of the Gender Equality Action Plan 2022-2025 including establishment of a cross-functional gender equality working group, development of the inclusive language guide, active engagement across the health, emergency services and government sector, continued to investigate the impacts of the gender pay gap, and developed an approach for the collection of diversity data.

AV continues to report to the Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector on our progress, including a Workplace Gender Audit.

Local Jobs First Act 2003

The Local Jobs First Act 2003 applies to all projects valued at $3 million or more in metropolitan Melbourne or state-wide. The policy also applies to projects in regional Victoria valued at $1 million or more.

During 2024-25 AV commenced three Local Jobs First Standard contracts totalling $38.6 million. All contracts were state-wide.

The Local Jobs First commitment outcomes expected from these contracts are:

  • An average of 91.51 per cent of local content committed.
  • A total of 168.44 jobs (annualised employee equivalent) committed, including the creation of 63.72 new jobs and the retention of 104.72 jobs.
  • A total of 19.28 positions for apprentices, trainees and cadets committed, including the creation of 18.61 new apprenticeships, traineeships and cadets, and the retention of 0.67 existing apprenticeships, traineeships and cadets.

During 2024-25 AV completed four contracts subject to the Local Jobs First policy totalling $276.86 million. Three of these contracts were statewide. The Major Project Skills Guarantee Policy applies to all construction projects valued at $20 million or more. No projects during 2024-25 were subject to policy.

Code of Conduct

AV employees are subject to the Code of Conduct for Victorian Public Sector Employees (Code). AV has policies and procedures that are consistent with the Code. These documents contain the expected workplace conduct and behaviours specific to AV.

The AV Code of Conduct is built on our values, professional and ethical standards, and the additional obligations we are required to adhere to as a Victorian Government Agency. Our policies and procedures are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure compliance with our legal obligations.

Additional information available upon request

In compliance with the Standing Directions 2018 under the Financial Management Act 1994, AV advises that the following information, where applicable, is available to the Minister for »ÆÆ¬ÊÓÆµ Services, Members of Parliament, and the public on request (subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1982):

Declarations of pecuniary interests have been duly completed by all relevant officers.

  • Details of shares held by senior officers as nominee or held beneficially.
  • Details of publications produced by the entity about AV, and how these can be obtained.
  • Details of changes in prices, fees, charges, rates and levies charged by AV.
  • Details of any major external reviews carried out on AV.
  • Details of major research and development activities undertaken by AV that are not otherwise covered either in the report of operations or in a document that contains the financial statements and report of operations.
  • Details of overseas visits undertaken including a summary of the objectives and outcomes of each visit.
  • Details of major promotional, public relations and marketing activities undertaken by AV to develop community awareness of AV and its services.
  • Details of assessments and measures undertaken to improve the occupational health and safety of employees.
  • A general statement on industrial relations within AV and details of time lost through industrial accidents and disputes, which is not otherwise detailed in the report of operations.
  • A list of major committees sponsored by AV, the purposes of each committee and the extent to which those purposes have been achieved.

Details of all consultancies and contractors including consultants/contractors engaged, services provided, and expenditure committed for each engagement. The AV website contains information about AV and is regularly updated with the latest statistics, developments and media releases.

Requests for access to this information can be directed to AV’s FOI unit.

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