The IPC celebrates Information Awareness Month and Open Government Week 2023

 
The month of May marks Information Awareness Month (IAM) which brings together the records, archives, library, knowledge, information, and data management communities to promote public awareness of information and improve information management practices across Australia.

This year’s IAM theme is ‘The Next Wave: empowering information professionals for the future’. The theme encourages information professionals to embrace the dynamic and evolving nature of information governance and the introduction of new technologies. Better understanding of technology empowers decision-making and drives innovation.

Open Government Week (OGW) is on 8-12 May and invites open government doers, leaders, and thinkers from around the world to come together and share ideas, discuss solutions, and commit to new levels of citizen participation in government. We all share the responsibility to promote open government.

Later this week, the Information Commissioner will be releasing a new report on the informal release pathway following research undertaken in conjunction with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) as well as a compliance audit on the practices of NSW agencies regarding the informal release pathway. In September during Right to Know Week NSW 2023, the Information Commissioner will be publishing accompanying guidance and tools to support agencies with informal release.

In celebration of IAM and OGW this month, the IPC is highlighting its resources for agencies to assist them to build trust in their information access management:

• 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 to information
  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 are able to 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.

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