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Events and Education
A key function of OVIC’s regulatory powers is to provide advice, education, and guidance to organisations and the public on their information rights and responsibilities. In this section, you will find information on upcoming events, education, online learning and presentations.
Events
OVIC regularly hosts a range of free face to face and webinars and events to assist Victorian public sector (VPS) staff and the public understand their rights and responsibilities in relation to how the public sector collects, uses and discloses information.
Face to face events
When advised it is safe to do so, OVIC will return to offering face to face seminars and workshops on freedom of information, privacy and information security. Please take a look at the event information, to see if the session you are interested in is available to VPS staff only, or open to the public.
See below for a list of upcoming events and details on how to register.
IAS Panel Discussion: Breaking down the culture of FOI – Opportunities for change
OVIC will be holding an Information Access Series (IAS) webinar as part of International Access to Information Day (IAID) on Wednesday 29 September. This panel discussion will explore two recent OVIC reports on the culture of administering FOI in Victoria...
Lightning Talk: OVIC’s role in promoting information access through the FOI Act
In our second virtual lightning talk for International Access to Information Day (IAID) 2021, OVIC’s Public Access Team will provide an overview of our FOI review and complaint functions, informal resolution processes, and the use of preliminary views. We will explain what...
IAS: Timely access to information in Victoria – OVIC investigation findings
OVIC will be holding a virtual Information Access Series (IAS) session on 27 October from 12pm – 1pm on the topic of ‘Timely access to information in Victoria: OVIC investigation findings’. Please join us to hear OVIC’s Investigations and Assurance...
Training
OVIC offers free monthly training webinars for VPS staff in relation to the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (PDP Act) and the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) (FOI Act).
Introduction to Information Privacy and The Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014
This training has been developed to provide VPS staff guidance on interpreting information privacy, the PDP Act, and a detailed understanding of each stage of the information lifecycle.
Administering the Freedom of Information Act 1982
This training has been developed to provide VPS staff with a general understanding of the FOI Act and guide them through how to process a FOI request.
Register to one of the upcoming training sessions below or read more information about OVIC’s training.
Introduction to Information Privacy and the Privacy and Data Protection Act webinar – October
Introduction to Information Privacy and the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 looks at interpreting information privacy and the Act, whilst also providing public sector employees with a detailed understanding of each stage of the information lifecycle. This training...
Administering the FOI Act Webinar – October
The Administering of the Freedom Of Information Act webinar has been developed to provide VPS employees with a general understanding of the FOI Act and guide them through how to process a request. These sessions include live chats, polls...
Introduction to Information Privacy and the Privacy and Data Protection Act webinar – November
Introduction to Information Privacy and the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 looks at interpreting information privacy and the Act, whilst also providing public sector employees with a detailed understanding of each stage of the information lifecycle. This training...
Administering the FOI Act Webinar – November
The Administering of the Freedom Of Information Act webinar has been developed to provide VPS employees with a general understanding of the FOI Act and guide them through how to process a request. These sessions include live chats, polls...
Webinars
To make our events more accessible to a wider audience across metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria we have increased our virtual training and events offerings. We deliver free webinars on freedom of information, privacy and information security.
Please take a look at the event information, to see if the session you are interested in is available to VPS staff only, or open to the public.
See below for a list of upcoming webinars and details on how to register.
IAS Panel Discussion: Breaking down the culture of FOI – Opportunities for change
OVIC will be holding an Information Access Series (IAS) webinar as part of International Access to Information Day (IAID) on Wednesday 29 September. This panel discussion will explore two recent OVIC reports on the culture of administering FOI in Victoria...
Lightning Talk: OVIC’s role in promoting information access through the FOI Act
In our second virtual lightning talk for International Access to Information Day (IAID) 2021, OVIC’s Public Access Team will provide an overview of our FOI review and complaint functions, informal resolution processes, and the use of preliminary views. We will explain what...
Introduction to Information Privacy and the Privacy and Data Protection Act webinar – October
Introduction to Information Privacy and the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 looks at interpreting information privacy and the Act, whilst also providing public sector employees with a detailed understanding of each stage of the information lifecycle. This training...
Administering the FOI Act Webinar – October
The Administering of the Freedom Of Information Act webinar has been developed to provide VPS employees with a general understanding of the FOI Act and guide them through how to process a request. These sessions include live chats, polls...
IAS: Timely access to information in Victoria – OVIC investigation findings
OVIC will be holding a virtual Information Access Series (IAS) session on 27 October from 12pm – 1pm on the topic of ‘Timely access to information in Victoria: OVIC investigation findings’. Please join us to hear OVIC’s Investigations and Assurance...
Introduction to Information Privacy and the Privacy and Data Protection Act webinar – November
Introduction to Information Privacy and the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 looks at interpreting information privacy and the Act, whilst also providing public sector employees with a detailed understanding of each stage of the information lifecycle. This training...
Administering the FOI Act Webinar – November
The Administering of the Freedom Of Information Act webinar has been developed to provide VPS employees with a general understanding of the FOI Act and guide them through how to process a request. These sessions include live chats, polls...
Online Learning
OVIC offers a range of free eLearning modules available to VPS staff and the public on our online learning portal.
Our online learning portal hosts the following modules:
Privacy
- Introduction to privacy in the Victorian public sector;
- Privacy Impact Assessments; and
- Managing the privacy impacts of data breaches.
Freedom of Information
- Processing a request;
- Professional Standards;
- Introduction to the exemptions in Part IV of the FOI Act;
- Section 30;
- Section 32;
- Section 33;
- Section 34;
- Section 35; and
- Section 38.
To log in and complete one of the above Online Learning modules please visit OVIC’s online learning portal.
Speeches and presentations
We regularly publish presentations and resources generated by OVIC’s events or our education programs. You can view recorded presentations, forums and other events on our Periscope channel or Vimeo channel.
See below for a list of speeches from our Commissioners.
2019
Faculty of Law, University of Wellington – Automatic Facial Recognition Technology: legal and ethical issues Rachel Dixon, Privacy and Data Protection Deputy Commissioner 20 October 2019
Victorian Privacy Network meeting – Cloud services Rachel Dixon, Privacy and Data Protection Deputy Commissioner 9 October 2019
City of Kingston Right to Know Day Forum – Keynote address Sven Bluemmel, Information Commissioner 26 September 2019
OVIC VPS Graduate PresentationSven Bluemmel, Information Commissioner 16 July 2019
Australian & New Zealand Parliamentary Information Technology Forum- Presentation Sven Bluemmel, Information Commissioner 10 January 2019
2018
Victoria’s new FOI and Privacy Regime – The first 12 months – Keynote address Sven Bluemmel, Information Commissioner 7 December 2018
AI – Protective Security in Government Conference Sven Bluemmel, Information Commissioner 14 August 2018
Cybersecurity, Privacy and Big Data – Opening remarks – UNSW Sven Bluemmel, Information Commissioner 17 July 2018
LIV Government Lawyers Conference – Keynote address Sven Bluemmel, Information Commissioner 22 June 2018
Sir Rupert Hamer Records Management Awards 2018 – Keynote Sven Bluemmel, Information Commissioner 3 May 2018
Leadership in Information Rights in Victoria – The National Public Sector Managers and Leaders Conference Sven Bluemmel, Information Commissioner 22 March 2018
Information access and privacy, data protection and sharing – A new approach for modern government – VGSO presentation Sven Bluemmel, Information Commissioner 27 February 2018
2017
Driving change in FOI, privacy and data protection – Leo Cussen FOI & Privacy Conference Sven Bluemmel, Information Commissioner 30 November 2017