ACECQA Information Publication Plan

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Introduction

The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) and is required to comply with the Information Publication Scheme (IPS) requirements. This agency plan describes how ACECQA achieves compliance, as required by s 8(1) of the FOI Act.

ACECQA is an independent statutory authority established by the Education and Care Services National Law 2010 (the National Law). ACECQA commenced operations on 1 January 2012, providing national leadership in promoting quality and continuous improvement in early childhood education and care and school age care in Australia. It is governed by the ACECQA Board which is accountable to the Education Ministers Meeting.

Purpose

The purpose of the IPS is to promote a pro-disclosure culture across government and build a stronger foundation for greater openness and transparency in government.

The purpose of ACECQA’s Information Publication Plan is to:

  • assist ACECQA to put appropriate procedures in place to proactively publish its information under the IPS
  • assist members of the public to understand the information and documents ACECQA is able (and not able) to publish
  • demonstrate ACECQA’s compliance with Section 8(1) of the FOI Act.

Objectives

This plan outlines the mechanisms and procedures that ACECQA will put into place in relation to the:

  • management of its IPS entry;
  • proactive identification/publication of all information required to be published including this plan;
  • proactive identification and publication of other information where appropriate;
  • review of the information published on a regular basis so as to ensure the information published under the IPS is accurate, up-to-date and complete;
  • assurance that information published as part of the IPS entry is easily discoverable, understandable, machine-readable, re-usable and transformable.

Establishing and administering ACECQA’s IPS entry

Since its establishment, ACECQA has been committed to publishing information of interest to its stakeholders and the public at large. This comes as a result of the operation of the FOI Act, as applied and modified by the National Law and Regulations, as well as other publishing requirements under the National Law.

The following is taken into account by ACECQA's Board and Company Secretary in developing and maintaining the IPS entry:

  • feedback received from the public
  • input from internal and external stakeholders
  • further guidance and recommendations issued by the National Education and Care Services Freedom of Information Commissioner (including any determinations)
  • emerging best practice
  • annual review and update of compliance with the IPS requirements.

ACECQA monitors the information published under the IPS to ensure existing published information remains current, accurate and complete, and identify any new information to be published.

Given that all information is made available online through the ACECQA website, there may be circumstances where it may not be practical for ACECQA to publish certain information or data to its website.

In such circumstances, details will be provided by ACECQA explaining how a person can request access to the information.

In making information available in another form, ACECQA may incur costs (including reproduction costs). ACECQA may decide to impose a charge to recoup these publishing costs and where charges do apply, the details will be published on our website. 

IPS Information architecture

Information required to be published under the IPS will generally be located on a dedicated webpage, with hyperlinks to information located elsewhere on the ACECQA website. A link to the IPS webpage will be clear and visible on the ACECQA homepage outlining the Authority’s 'Freedom of information' approach. A search function is also available on the ACECQA website which makes information published under the IPS searchable and easily accessible.

Information required to be published under the IPS

This plan has been updated and published pursuant to section 8B of the FOI Act, which requires ACECQA to ensure that all information published under the IPS, including the agency plan, is ‘accurate, up to date and complete’.

On ACECQA’s Information Publication Scheme webpage, the Authority publishes:

  • this agency plan
  • details of the structure of ACECQA’s organisation
  • details of ACECQA’s functions, including its decision making powers and other powers affecting members of the public
  • details of ACECQA appointments that are made under Acts
  • ACECQA’s annual reports
  • details of ACECQA’s consultative arrangements
  • information in documents to which ACECQA routinely gives access in response to FOI requests
  • details of an officer who can be contacted about access to ACECQA’s information or documents under the FOI Act
  • ACECQA’s operational information.

Where the above information is already published on another location of the ACECQA website, the Authority may publish a link to the relevant webpage.

Other information to be published under the IPS

ACECQA will continue its proactive approach in publishing information in addition to the information required under the IPS. This includes relevant policies, the organisation’s priorities and operational activity data.

If you think ACECQA is not complying with the IPS

 ACECQA will review this agency plan and IP compliance at least annually. If you think ACECQA is not complying with its obligations under the Scheme, you can contact the FOI Officer in the first instance in one of the following ways: 


By email:   
[email protected]     

By post:     
FOI Officer 
ACECQA 
PO Box A292
Sydney NSW 2000

By Phone:
1300 422 327


If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the National Education and Care Services Freedom of Information Commissioner about ACECQA’s performance under the IPS. More information can be obtained directly from the website of the National Education and Care Services FOI Commissioner.