Freedom of Information 1982 - Information Publication Scheme (IPS) – Agency Plan

Background
Purpose
Establishing & Administering the Family Court's IPS contribution
IPS information architecture
Information required to be published under the IPS
Other information to be published under the IPS
IPS compliance review
Feedback

Introduction

Background

The Family Court of Australia is a superior court of record and deals with complex family law matters.

The Family Court of Australia is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) only in relation to administrative matters (not judicial matters) and is required in that regard to comply with the Information Publication Scheme (IPS) requirements.

Purpose

The purpose of this plan is to:

assist the Family Court in developing its contribution to the IPS and
describe the information the Court proposes to publish (referred to as the IPS information holdings), how the information will be published and how the Family Court will otherwise comply with the IPS requirements.

Note: in this plan, information to be published by the Family Court under the IPS is referred to as the IPS information holdings, or as the IPS documents when referring to individual documents.

Establishing and administering the Family Court’s IPS contribution

The Chief Information Officer is the senior officer responsible for leading the Court’s compliance with the IPS.

The Chief Information Officer is supported by the IPS Project Team to establish the Court’s contribution to the IPS

The IPS Project Team comprises:

the Court’s legal counsel;
staff responsible for administrative law matters;
staff with information technology expertise to publish the relevant documents;
staff responsible for communications and publications; and
staff responsible for records management.

The Project Team deliverables

identify and publish all information required to be published under the scheme (s 8(2));
identify and publish any optional information to be published under the scheme (s 8(4));
develop an information asset management framework and an IPS information register;
review and ensure regularly that information published under the IPS is accurate, up to date and complete (s 8B);
ensure that all information published under the IPS conforms, or will conform as soon as practicable, to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (Version 2) (WCAG 2.0), and is or will be easily discoverable, understandable, machine-readable, re-useable and transformable; and
adopt best practice initiatives in implementing and administering the Family Court’s contribution to the IPS.

The Court may charge a person for accessing any IPS document which it is impracticable to publish online and where the agency has incurred specific reproduction or incidental costs in allowing access to that information under the IPS (s 8(4)). If these circumstances apply, it will be at the lowest reasonable cost.

Any charges levied will correspond with FOI charges as described on the page http://www.familycourt.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/FCOA/home/about/FOI/FCOA_FOI_requests_transcripts

IPS information architecture and accessibility

The Court will ensure that all information newly published on its website conforms as soon as practicably possible, with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (Version 2) (WCAG 2.0).

To ensure that the IPS information holdings (and individual IPS documents) are, to the greatest extent possible, easily discoverable, understandable and machine-readable, the Court has:

published an IPS entry point on its website using the icon recommended by the Information Commissioner;
published a sitemap for its website, to help individuals identify the location of information published under ss 8(2) and 8(4);
provided a search function for its website;
established links to this agency plan and to the sitemap at www.directory.gov.au; and
committed to respond to community feedback about its IPS including about whether the IPS information holdings (and individual IPS documents) are easily discoverable, understandable and machine-readable.

Information required to be published under the IPS (s 8(2))

The Court's IPS information holdings that are required to be published are available on the Family Court website and are accessible through links under the following headings:

Other information to be published under the IPS

Other information to be published The IPS information holdings that are available on the Family Court website and is accessible through links under the following headings:

The Family Court will consider on an ongoing basis publication under the IPS of any documentation deemed as suitable. This will take place in accordance with a regular and formal procedure currently being developed by the project team.

IPS compliance review (s 8F)

The Court will review the IPS Plan annually, and the operation of its IPS from time to time and at least every three years, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Information Commissioner about IPS compliance review.

Feedback

We invite you to provide comments about our Information Publication Scheme entry, particularly in relation to any documents that appear not to be discoverable, understandable or machine-readable. See our general contacts page for information on contacting us or send an email to clientfeedback@familycourt.gov.au

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