The IPC celebrates Information Awareness Week 2024

Information Awareness Week (IAW) is on 18 – 22 March and marks a significant shift from the usual Information Awareness Month (IAM) campaign in May to the dawn of a week-long celebration. IAW brings together the records, archives, library, knowledge, information, and data management communities to promote public awareness of information and improve management practices across Australia.

This year’s IAW theme is ‘IM The Next Wave: Leading the Future’. The theme sets the tone for a forward-looking exploration of the Information Management landscape. This week, IAW will unite industry practitioners to work towards fostering a truly inclusive environment. 

Making information more transparent, open, and accountable between agencies and citizens encourages better decision-making across government. In celebration of IAW, the IPC is highlighting its resources for agencies to assist them to build trust in their information access management practices.

The IPC has also highlighted resources that can assist citizens in understanding more about their rights under information access legislation in NSW.

• Open Data guideline
  Open data means simply that information an organisation holds that is stored digitally should be made freely available to the community. This is usually done by making a digitised dataset accessible from the organisation’s website. Anyone who accesses and downloads the data is then free to use it, rearrange it and publish it as they wish. They are not restricted in doing so by principles of copyright or original authorship or ownership.
• Checklist – Tips for framing your information access application
  An agency may refuse to deal with your GIPA application if dealing with the application causes an unreasonable and substantial diversion of resources for the agency. Therefore, it is important that your request for information under the GIPA Act is described clearly and specifically. This will enable an agency to better understand what information you seek and deal with the application.
• Simplified guide to information access
  This fact sheet can assist citizens in making an application for information to NSW government agencies under the Government Information (Public Access) Act (or GIPA Act).
• Animation – e-Governance and Digital Government 
  Government service delivery in NSW is increasingly digital, and more information is being collected, stored and applied using digital technology. Modern democratic governments allow citizens to participate in decision-making and they must be accountable.
• Animation – Artificial Intelligence, e-Governance and access
  Increasingly, government information is held digitally, and this information and other data is used to make important decisions about services and policies. These decisions can also be made using technology including AI.
• Essential Guidance Toolkit on information access and privacy fundamentals
  This compendium identifies the key guidance provided by the IPC to ensure that agencies can meet their fundamental requirements under the GIPA Act. The guidance has been arranged on a functional basis that reflects agency, senior executive and decision-maker responsibilities.
• Animation – Ways to access government held information in NSW
  This animation aims to assist citizens in understanding the four pathways they can take to seek access to information held by NSW public sector agencies.
• Informal release of information frequently asked questions
  This fact sheet is designed to address issues or questions you may have when considering asking for information from an agency informally or when an agency offers to release information informally.
• Informal Access Guideline 11 – Informal Release of Information
  This guideline is made to assist agencies to determine the public interest considerations in favour of and against disclosure of information via informal release under section 8 of the GIPA Act. Additionally, it provides practical information to promote the informal release of information supported by sound administrative processes and decision-making.

For more information on IAW and events near you, visit the IAW webpage.