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GIPA Government Information & Public Access

The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) replaced the Freedom of Information Act 1989 (NSW) on the 1st July 2010.

A. Mandatory release

Under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act) the CEC and all other NSW government agencies are required to publish a range of open access information.

This information includes our disclosure log, details of information not disclosed, details of documents tabled in Parliament, policy documents, publication guide and a register of government contracts.

A.1. Disclosure Log

The CEC is yet to receive any access applications under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act).
As access applications are received that are likely to be of interest to members of the public, the CEC will publish a Disclosure Log, which will detail our response to applications for information about the CEC.

A.2. Information Not Disclosed

i.e. open access information not released by the CEC due to an overriding public interest against disclosure
As the CEC makes decisions about open access information that may not be disclosed due to an overriding public interest, it will publish this information on this website. This will detail the information requested and the reasons behind the CEC deciding not to release the information.

A.3. Parliamentary Documents

Since 1st July 2010, no documents have yet been tabled in Parliament by or on behalf of the CEC.

Should this occur, the CEC will publish links to these documents on this website.

A.4. Policy Documents

The CEC is subject to, and adopts, the Policy Directives issued by NSW Health and these can found at www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/

A.5. Publication Guide

A.5.1. About us:

The Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) was established in 2004 and forms a major component of the Patient Safety and Clinical Quality Program that was designed to provide a comprehensive quality improvement and patient safety program across NSW.

A key role of the Clinical Excellence Commission is building capacity for quality and safety improvement in Health Services. This is driven through training and education initiatives such as Clinical Practice Improvement and Patient Safety programs.

The CEC is a board-governed statutory health corporation with the CEO reporting directly to the NSW Minister for Health.

A.5.2. Our services

The key functions of the CEC are to:

  • Promote and support improvement in clinical quality and safety in health services
  • Monitor clinical quality and safety processes and performance of public health organisations, and to report to the Minister thereon
  • Identify, develop and disseminate information about safe practices in health care on a Statewide basis, including (but not limited to):
    • developing, providing and promoting training and education programs
    • identifying priorities for and promoting the conduct of research about better practices in health care
  • Consulting broadly with health professionals and members of the community
  • Providing advice to the Minister and Director-General on issues arising out of its functions.

The CEC fulfils these functions by:

  • Providing advice to the Minister and Director-General of Health
  • Notifying system-wide safety concerns
  • Conducting quality system assessments
  • Working with public health organisations to facilitate quality improvements
  • Providing a source of expert advice and assistance
  • Developing and promoting a Statewide approach to improving safety and quality
  • Engaging clinicians and the community
  • Identifying and developing training and education strategies and clinical tools
  • Leading the development and system-wide dissemination of evidence-based guidelines
  • Focusing on system issues for improvement across NSW.

A.5.3. Our finances

Details of our finances can be found within our Annual Report which are published on our website at www.cec.health.nsw.gov.au/publications

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with the requirements of applicable Australian Accounting Standards (which include Australian Accounting Interpretations), the requirements of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983 and its regulations, the Health Services Act 1997 and its regulations, the Accounts and Audit Determination and the Accounting Manual for Area Health Services and Public Hospitals.

Our finances and financial statements are subject to both internal and external audit.

A.5.4. Our priorities

The CEC, as part of the NSW health system, supports and contributes towards the seven strategic directions outlined in the State Health Plan released in 2007. Key ways in which the CEC's strategic directions and core activities align with the State Health Plan are outlined below:

i. Make prevention everybody's business

ii. Create better experiences for people using health services

iii. Strengthen primary health care and continuing care in the community

  • The NSW Falls Program
  • Citizens Engagement Advisory Council (CEAC)
  • Clinical Leadership Program across NSW
  • Patient based care
  • Root Cause Analysis Review Committees
  • Clinical Focus Reports
  • Partnerships with primary health care providers and managers
  • Review of incident management data and investigations

iv. Build regional and other partnerships for health

  • Citizens Engagement Advisory Council (CEAC)
  • Clinical Leadership Program provided across NSW
  • Visits by CEC staff to health services across NSW
  • Shared quality and safety reporting function with Department of Health
  • Partnerships with key stakeholders within and outside health sector

v. Make smart choices about the costs and benefits of health services

vi. Build a sustainable health workforce

vii. Be ready for new risks and opportunities

  • Review of internal risk management framework and strategy
  • The Statewide Incident Information Management System Program
  • Partnership with Department of Health regarding quality and safety data
  • Special Reviews
  • Quality Systems Assessment Program
  • Partnership and collaboration with others (e.g. ACSQHC)

A.5.5 Our contact details

The CEC's website is located at www.cec.health.nsw.gov.au

i. Telephone:

within Australia 02 9269 5500
outside Australia +61 2 9269 5500

ii. Fax

within Australia 02 9269 5599
outside Australia +61 2 9269 5599

iii. Right to Information Officer

within Australia 02 9269 5506
outside Australia +61 2 9269 5506

iv. Media Officer

within Australia 0434 308 924
outside Australia +61 4 3430 8924

v. Postal Address

Locked Bag A4062
Sydney South NSW 1235

vi. Main Office Location

Level 13, 227 Elizabeth St
Sydney NSW 2000

 

A. Register of Government Contracts

The CEC is yet to engage in any contracts to the value of more than $150,000 with private sector bodies since 1st July 2010.

As such contracts are established, the CEC will publish these in a register of government contracts.

The information will include details on the name of the contractor and any related company involved in the contract, the start date and duration of the contract, the good and services to be provided under the contract, the amount payable to the contractor, any renegotiation provisions, tender methods if applicable, and any payment provisions for operational or maintenance services under the contract.

B. Proactive Release

You can ask the CEC what information it will make available to the public, in addition to the information contained on its website. Under the GIPA Act, the CEC is encouraged to release as much information as possible, in an appropriate way and free of charge (or at the lowest reasonable cost). The Right to Information Officer can be contacted on 02 9382 7600.

C. Informal Request

You can request specific information from the CEC. The CEC will release information without the need for a formal application, unless there are good reasons to require one. Your first point of contact should be the Right to Information Officer, on 02 9382 7600.

D. Formal Application

This is the last resort, if you haven't been able to get the information you need in any other way. You can formally request specific information from the CEC. In limited circumstances, access to information will require a Formal Access Application.

Please complete the attached form - PDF ~95kb

Your first point of contact should be the Right to Information Officer, on 02 9269 5506.

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