Apply for FOI review
Contact our office if you would like support to apply for a review of Ahpra's FOI decision
How to make an application
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Step 1Make sure you're in the right place
Find out whether we're the best organisation to contact about your concern.
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Step 2Request an internal review from Ahpra first if you can
Call Ahpra on 1300 419 495 or visit Ahpra's website.
Make sure you're in the right place
Our office can review decisions made by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) about requests for access to documents under Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation.
If you want to apply for an FOI review, you should know what to expect from our FOI review process and what outcomes are possible.
This is also important, because depending on what you want, it may be better for you make a complaint to the Ombudsman about the handling of the matter that led you to make an FOI request.
Request an internal review from Ahpra first if you can
We encourage you to raise your concerns directly with Ahpra’s FOI team and request an internal review of the FOI decision. You can do this by contacting Ahpra.
This may be the quickest way to have the FOI decision reviewed. Ahpra has 30 days to make an internal review decision once it has received a request. Our office does not have a set timeframe for making a decision.
Apply for FOI review by the Commissioner
In general, an FOI review application must be made to the Commissioner within 60 days of the decision. If, however, you are applying for a review of a decision to grant another person access to documents that concern you, this application must be made within 30 days.
If your application is made after the relevant timeframe, or you need more time to prepare, you can ask our office for an extension of time.
To ask for an extension of time, download an extension of time application form or call us on 1300 795 265.
We will consider your application for an extension of time and decide whether it is reasonable to accept it. Relevant factors that we take into consideration include whether the applicant has experienced significant illness or trauma, or if the applicant was unaware that Ahpra had made the FOI decision.
Apply in writing
The law requires all applications for an FOI review to be in writing. An application must include:
- your contact details for how information can be sent you (this is usually an email address or mailing address)
- a copy of Ahpra’s FOI decision you would like to be reviewed.
You should also explain why you think the decision should be reviewed.
The easiest way to make sure you provide the information we need to assess your application is to download our FOI review application form.
Send your application to the Commissioner
Fill out our online FOI review application form
Please make sure to:
- read and complete all questions you can
- have all the information you would like to attach to your complaint ready because you cannot save and return to the form
- email us with any new information you would like to add or if a file is too big to attach.
Submit an application form online
Post your application to
National Health Practitioner Ombudsman
GPO Box 2630
Melbourne VIC 3001
Email your application to:
Find out more about FOI review
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FOI reviewFOI review
We can conduct a review of a 'Freedom Of Information' decision made by Ahpra.
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FOI review processFOI review process
Learn more about how we assist with applications for a review of Ahpra's FOI decisions.
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FOI review decisionsFOI review decisions
View all of the decisions made by the Commissioner following review of a Freedom of Information (FOI) decision made by Ahpra.
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FOI complaintsFOI complaints
We can consider complaints to the Ombudsman about how Ahpra handled a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.