Freedom of Information Forums

Ombudsman SA hosts live and pre-recorded Freedom of Information forums for accredited FOI officers in state and local government agencies. The forums are an opportunity to hear from Ombudsman SA about FOI procedure, the application of specific exemption clauses to documents, and recent developments in case law.

If your agency is interested in signing up to the Ombudsman SA FOI Forum mailing list please contact us at ombudsman@ombudsman.sa.gov.au.

Access to information Icon

Ombudsman SA encourages South Australian state and local government agencies to adopt the standard ‘access to information’ icon that is being used at all levels of government across Australia.

By acting as an immediate visual cue, the icon facilitates access to information, regardless of the structure of individual agencies’ websites or the user’s knowledge about accessing government information.

The access to information icon is intended to be displayed on the agency’s homepage (for example, within the footer) and to link to an access to information homepage that explains how members of the public can access information the agency holds.

The access to information page should contain information or link to other pages about:

  • how to make an FOI request
  • other access schemes, mechanisms or arrangements for obtaining agency information (for example, how to access information: held by ReturnToWork SA and claims agents about workers compensation claims; or care leaver records under the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017)
  • the agency’s FOI information statements (see ss 9 and 10 of the Freedom of Information Act 1991
  • information released under the agency’s proactive disclosure obligations (e.g. as required by Premier and Cabinet Circular 035 or section 132 and Schedule 5 of the Local Government Act 1999)
  • the agency’s FOI disclosure log (e.g as required by Premier and Cabinet Circular).

We encourage state and local government agencies to download and use this updated icon to link to access to information pages and signal a consistent approach to transparency across government.

Download the Access to Information Icons (ZIP,22MB)

Instructions for use

For maximum visual recognition it’s important that the icon is displayed consistently across government. The following conventions will help ensure the ‘access to information’ icon is immediately recognisable.  The below access to information guides provide advice about appropriate use  of the icons.