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Agency resources
Find FOI resources for Victorian public sector agencies
Latest updates
New FOI Access Charges Regulations has been published Updated 03/06/2025
The culture of implementing Freedom of Information in Australia has been published Updated 08/08/2024
Proactive and Informal Release Policy – Template and Guide has been updated Updated 20/03/2024
Guidance, practice notes and templates
Find detailed guidance on interpreting and administering the FOI Act, exemptions and Professional Standards.
Discrete guidance on agency obligations and facilitating access to information.
Customise our template letters and processing checklists to suit the needs of your agency.
Proactive and Informal Release Policy – Template and Guide
Find guidance on adopting a proactive and informal release policy.
OVIC review decisions
Search our published review decisions and case notes by keywords, exemptions, and sections.
View our published review decisions by the month and year of publication.
Each month we publish summaries of key decisions made by the Commissioners.
Decisions on Austlii (External link)
View all our published decisions on the Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII) website.
Agency FOI Information Service
Access the Agency FOI Information Service
Our Agency FOI Information Service provides Victorian agencies free tailored advice and guidance on the FOI Act.
Guidelines for using the Agency FOI Information Service
Read the guiding principles for Victorian agencies utilising our Agency FOI Information Service.
Calculators
Use this tool to calculate the due date for a request made under the FOI Act.
Use this tool to estimate the access charges that are payable under the FOI Act.
Professional Standards
The Professional Standards detail how agencies must administer the FOI Act.
Professional Standards Review by KPMG
OVIC welcomes the publishing and recommendations of KPMG’s report following an independent review of the FOI Professional Standards.
Professional Standards Self-Assessment Tool
This Self-Assessment Tool assists agencies to measure their performance against the Professional Standards.
Engagement, reports, and submissions
Investigations and regulatory action
See our investigation and examination reports, and read our Regulatory Action Plan and priorities.
Read our published research and reports on a range of matters related to FOI in Victoria.
See our submissions on matters impacting on freedom of information, information privacy or information security.
Read our response to Monash University's report on the culture of implementing FOI in Australia
International Access to Information Day
International Access to Information Day is held on 28 September to highlight the importance of open government.
Public Access Agency Reference Group
The Public Access Agency Reference Group allows agency representatives to discuss the operation of the FOI Act.
We host a monthly Information Access Series seminar for FOI practitioners in the Victorian public sector.