Freedom of information

Freedom of information

The Freedom of Information Act 1991 (SA) requires Adelaide University to provide access to certain documentation held by the University. This includes electronic records, paper documents, as well as audio and visual information relating to the University’s operations, decisions, and personal information about individuals.

Under the FOI Act, you can:

  • Request access to documents held by the University.
  • Request amendments to documents about you that are incomplete, incorrect, out-of-date, or misleading.
  • Seek a review of a decision made in response to an FOI application.

The University is committed to transparency and accountability and complies with its obligations under the FOI Act.

A Freedom of Information request must be made in writing, and can be submitted using the FOI application form, or sent via mail to the University’s Freedom of Information Officer:

The Freedom of Information Officer 
Adelaide University
Email: foi@adelaide.edu.au
Address:
FOI Officer
Adelaide University
Level 4, 108 North Terrace
Adelaide 5000

If using an alternative means of written submission to the form on our website, your request must clearly state that you are submitting an application for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act.

All submissions should also provide clear, detailed information about the documentation you wish to access. This can include:

  • Subject of records and context, including any reference numbers that you might be aware of
  • Date or a date range for the records you are seeking
  • Details of specific colleges or portfolios that you believe may be involved
  • Names and or job titles of any people you believe may be involved
  • Format of records that you are looking for (eg. Emails, reports, memoranda, etc.)
  • Provide an Australian postal address for receiving notices under the FOI Act
  • Include confirmation of your application fee payment if you do not qualify for a waiver

You do not need to provide a reason for your request.

Once we receive your application, we will:

  • Acknowledge receipt of your request via email or post
  • Assess the request in line with the FOI Act
  • Provide a written determination within 30 calendar days

If your request is unclear or incomplete, we may contact you to clarify or redirect it.

You have the right to access personal information the University holds about you, and to request corrections if that information is inaccurate, incomplete, out-of-date, or misleading.

To do this, you can:

  • Submit a formal FOI request
  • Contact the relevant University area directly to access or update routine personal details

There is no fee to request an amendment to your personal information. If your request is refused, you may ask for a notation to be added to the record and/or seek a review of the decision.

The standard application fee is $43.30

Additional charges may apply depending on the time and resources required to process your request. These may include:

Fees and charges

The following fees and charges may apply to your request depending on scope and circumstances.

  1. On application for access to the University's documents ($43.30)
  2. In addition to the fees specified in subclause 1, the following fees are payable in respect of the giving of access to a University document:
    1. in the case of a document that contains information concerning the personal affairs of the applicant:
      1. for up to the first two hours spent by the University in dealing with the application and giving access (No charge)
      2. for each subsequent 15 minutes spent by the University ($16.40)
    2. in any other case - for each 15 minutes so spent by the University ($16.40)
    3. where access is to be given in the form of a photocopy of the document ($0.30/page)
    4. where access is to be given in the form of a written transcript of words recorded or contained in the document ($9.70/page)
    5. where access is to be given in the form of a copy of a photograph, x-ray, video tape, computer tape or computer disk (the actual cost incurred in producing the copy)
    6. where a document is to be given to the applicant by post or delivery (the actual cost incurred in posting or delivering the document)
  3. On application for review of a determination made by the University ($43.30)

You may be eligible for a fee waiver if you hold a concession card or can demonstrate financial hardship. Please include supporting documentation with your application.

While the FOI Act promotes access to information, some documents may be exempt from release. These include:

  • Documents subject to legal professional privilege.
  • Information that would unreasonably disclose the personal affairs of others.
  • Commercially sensitive information, including trade secrets.
  • Internal documents prepared for decision-making or research.
  • Documents containing confidential contractual terms.

Each exemption is assessed on a case-by-case basis. If access is refused, we will explain the reasons and outline your review options.

In some cases, where only part of the record is deemed exempt from release, the exempt information may be redacted within the context of the wider document provided as part of your application.

If you are dissatisfied with a determination, you may request an Internal Review by the University within 30 calendar days of receiving the decision. A fee may apply unless the review relates to a request to amend personal records.

If you are unsatisfied with the response to your request for an Internal Review, you may request an External Review by the Ombudsman SA or the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT).

There is no fee for an external review.

Not all requests require a formal FOI application. The University routinely publishes a wide range of information, including:

  • Policies and procedures.
  • Annual reports and strategic plans.
  • Committee minutes (where appropriate).
  • Research publications and statistics.

Before submitting an FOI request, we encourage you to check whether the information is already publicly available on our website or by contacting the relevant University area.