Freedom of Information Officer

**About the Department**

The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services.

The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.

**About the Division**

The Assurance, Knowledge and Executive Services Division (AKESD) has the following functions under the Assurance Branch, Knowledge, Privacy and Records Branch, and Executive and Ministerial Services Branch:

- internal audit planning and delivery, School Council Financial Assurance program and follow-up of audit action implementation
- supporting the Victorian Auditor-General's Office (VAGO) performance audits and the Audit and Risk Committee (ARC)
- Cabinet and Parliament services, including board appointments and diversity on boards
- Freedom of Information (FOI)
- briefings and correspondence support and services
- departmental Liaison Unit
- Privacy, Intellectual Property and Copyright, Knowledge and Records Management policies, standards, compliance advice and services
- SharePoint user services
- mail, digitisation and archive services.

There are 3 branches within the division:

- Assurance
- Executive and Ministerial Services
- Knowledge, Privacy and Records.

Assurance comprises of 5 units:

- Audit Planning
- Business Assurance and Planning
- Compliance and Operational (Schools)
- Compliance and Operational (Corporate)
- Performance and Data.

The branch is responsible for
- internal audit planning and delivery (including for government schools and the new Early Learning and Childcare Centres)
- following up and reporting on the implementation of audit actions (for corporate and schools)
- improving the use of data management and analytics for audit and assurance activities,
- audit improvement initiatives
- providing secretariat support for the Audit and Risk Committee (ARC)
- coordinating VAGO performance audits.

Executive and Ministerial Services comprises 3 units:

- Cabinet and Parliament
- Freedom of Information (FOI)
- Ministerial and Portfolio Services.

The branch is responsible for leading the department's support services for ministerial offices and managing freedom of information, and cabinet and parliament processes.

The Cabinet and Parliament unit is responsible for the department's Cabinet and Parliament business processes, including providing specialist advice, reporting and coordination. The unit also coordinates and provides policy and business process advice on achieving board diversity, good practice recruitment, remuneration and appointments.

The FOI Unit plays a crucial role in managing FOI requests. The FOI legislation allows individuals to access information held by public authorities, promoting transparency and accountability. When someone submits an FOI request related to education matters, the FOI Unit processes the request ensuring compliance with legislative requirements, facilitating access to relevant documents while safeguarding sensitive information.

The Ministerial and Portfolio Services (MaPS) team coordinates the department's delivery of high quality, accurate and timely advice to our ministers and assists each of our ministers with the efficient functioning of their office as it relates to the department.

The team is responsible for ministerial international travel coordination, and briefings and correspondence coordination, guidance and reporting across the department, the Office of the Secretary, and ministerial offices.

The Knowledge, Privacy and Records comprises 5 units:

- Knowledge Solutions
- Privacy and Knowledge Management
- Records and Mail Services
- Strategic Operations
- Safeguarding Personally Identifiable Information Project.

The branch is responsible for leading the department's management of corporate knowledge, privacy, intellectual property and records, which includes supporting departmental compliance with relevant legislation, policy and standards.

The branch is also leading 3 major, multi-year projects:

- Records Management Program
- Digital Content Management Program
- Safeguarding Personally Identifiable Information Project.

**About the Role**

The Freedom Information Officer reports to the Manager of the FOI Unit. The role will support the Team Leader with the delivery of timely FOI services to applicants; in conjunction with supporting management and the team to process requests in accordance with the _Freedom of Information Act 1982_ (the FOI Act).

**Attributes**

To be successful in this role you will have:

- Extensive experience processing requests under the FOI Act;
- to process requests and make FOI decisions in accordance with the legislative requirements of the FOI Act and Professional Standards;
- the ability