Right to Know Week NSW 2024
Right to Know Week NSW 2024
Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation
in the Public Sector in NSW
23 - 29 September 2024
About Right to Know Week NSW 2024
28 September marks the International Day for Universal Access to Information. The United Nations declared this international day in support of the right to seek and receive information encapsulated by Article 19 of the United Nations’ Declaration of Human Rights.
The IPC celebrates an annual, week-long celebration around this international day: Right to Know (RTK) Week. Our RTK event focuses on educating NSW agencies and the public about the GIPA Act and raising awareness about rights and obligations for accessing NSW government-held information.
RTK Week will run from 23 September – 29 September 2024 and will celebrate the 2024 theme of Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector in NSW.
IPC has been actively supporting Right to Know Week since 2014 and invites NSW public sector agencies, universities, and councils to collaborate with us to champion public sector transparency.
From the Information Commissioner
I am delighted to be leading this year's Right to Know Week NSW 2024 campaign, which focuses on mainstreaming access to information and public participation in the public sector in NSW.
Transparency is a core pillar for supporting public participation in the public sector. Mandated openness under legislation is one reason the NSW Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act) is a world-leading example of how to mainstream transparency in the public sector.
Rights to access government information make public participation both possible and meaningful. Successful public participation can help create more responsive and effective policies and increase trust between community and public institutions.
This Right to Know Week NSW 2024, the IPC invites NSW government departments and agencies, universities, local councils, ministers’ offices and state-owned corporations to take a proactive step towards supporting public participation through greater transparency.
I hope you will join me in celebrating the week.
Rachel McCallum
Information Commissioner
What's On this Week
IPC Right to Know Week NSW 2024 Panel Discussion - Transparency and Empowering Public Participation
About: The panel discussion explores the intersection of public participation, transparency, and technology.
The panel discussion focuses on automated decision-making and record-keeping, and how these issues can impact open government and public participation. Hear from examples of panellists Chris Clayton from NSW Ombudsman, John Davies from the Office of Local Government, and Martyn Killion, from State Records NSW. The panel highlights what agencies can do to be more transparent in their approach to decision-making in the context of new technologies.
Office of the Victoria Information Commissioner (OVIC) Event
Date: 24 September, 1:00 - 2:00pm
About: A special cross-jurisdiction panel event, with Information Commissioners from New South Wales, Queensland and the Commonwealth.
The discussion will be focused on the IAID theme with panellists touching on a range of matters relevant to information access:
Register here.
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) Event
Date: 25 September 2024
About: Hear from the Australian Information Commissioner and FOI Commissioner, National Data Commissioner Gayle Milnes, CEO of the Digital Transformation Agency Chris Fechner and Chief Executive Office of Digital Health, Amanda Cattermole PSM.
Visit OAIC website for more information.
Office of the Information Commissioner, Queensland (OIC) Event
Date: 26 September 2024
About: Professor AJ Brown AM from Griffith will give this year's Solomon lecture, which will be followed by a facilitated panel discussion on this year's IAID theme.
Register here.
UNESCO Global Conference - The Celebration of International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) 2024
Date: 1 - 2 October 2024
Location: Accra, Ghana
Format: Hybrid
About: Hosted by the government of Ghana and UNESCO, the conference will align with the International Day for Universal Access to Information and will celebrate the day worldwide through advocacy activities, panel discussions, and global conversations with experts, highlighting the latest trends and best practices with regards to access to information.
ICIC Event - International Day of Universal Access to Information 2024
Date: 27 September 2024, 1:00 am AEST
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Format: Hybrid
About: The objective of this event is creating a space for dialogue and reflection to commemorate the International Day of Universal Access to Information 2024 that makes visible, from a comparative perspective, the contributions of transparency, access to information, integrity and public ethics policies.
Resources
Information in your language
The Information Commissioner has highlighted the following resources for RTK Week:
For Right to Know Week NSW, the IPC has released translated guidance and developed new information pages in over 10 languages. These new pages and translated guidance aim to support NSW’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities and support understanding of information access and privacy rights.
Our dedicated Information in your language page contains links to the various languages available.
Resources for the public
- Fact Sheet - Simplified guide for information access
- Fact Sheet - Open Access information for citizens
- Fact Sheet - Automated decision-making, digital government and preserving information access rights
- Fact Sheet - How to access your personal information from government agencies
- Animation - Ways to access government information in NSW
2024 Champion Program
Thank you Champions for supporting the Right to Know Week NSW 2024 campaign
Council, University & State-Owned Corporations
NSW Government Agencies
Audit Office of NSW
Cyber Security NSW
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Department of Communities and Justice
Department of Customer Service
Department of Education
Department of Planning, House and Infrastructure
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Digital NSW
HealthShare NSW
Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART)
Independent Review Office
Local Land Services
Metropolitan Memorial Parks
Murrumbidgee Local Health District
Museums of History NSW
NSW Ambulance
NSW Department of Education
NSW Education Standards Authority
NSW Environment Protection Authority
NSW Fair Trading
NSW Health Pathology
NSW Ministry of Health
NSW Police Force
NSW Trustee & Guardian
Personal Injury Commission
SafeWork NSW
State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA)
Southern NSW Local Health District
State Records NSW
Sydney Local Health District
The Cabinet Officer and Premier's Department
Western NSW Local Health District
