DPC makes as much information publicly available as possible, reducing the need for members of the public to request access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) (FOI Act). Information can be accessed publicly on this website, and in printed material available for viewing or purchase.
The statements below are a statutory requirement under the FOI Act. The purpose of the statements is to:
- provide a snapshot of the types of information and documents that the department holds
- outline how to access this information and locate publicly available information
- inform the public how to make a request for access under the FOI Act
For more information contact us.
For more information about Freedom of Information in Victoria, visit the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner’s website.
Information statements
As the lead department of the Victorian Public Service, DPC coordinates the delivery of the government’s agenda and works across government to promote the public interest and create public value. DPC supports the Victorian Government’s commitment to a stronger, fairer and better Victoria by pursuing excellence in whole of Victorian Government (WoVG) services delivery and reform. The two central responsibilities of DPC are to advise the government on emerging policy issues and to review the impact of government decisions.
DPC supports the following ministers:
- the Premier as head of the Victorian Government and Cabinet
- the Deputy Premier
- the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples
- the Minister for Multicultural Affairs.
DPC also has the responsibility of managing issues that affect the government as a whole.
DPC is comprised of four main groups that advise and support the functioning of government. A brief description of each of these groups is provided below.
Cabinet, Legal and Governance (CLG)
The CLG Group is comprised of the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Governance and Cabinet Office branches. These branches work together to deliver legal, legislation and governance expertise to the Premier and relevant Ministers.
OGC provides legal and policy advice, including in the areas of administrative, constitutional, and corporate law. OGC’s policy work primarily focuses upon the public sector, the electoral system and subordinate legislation. OGC also supports DPC in developing legislative and regulatory proposals. The FOI and Privacy team sits within OGC.
The Governance Branch promotes good governance and public administration, high quality decision and policy making, government integrity and accountability, and trust in public institutions.
Cabinet Office works to uphold and support the highest quality of government decision-making and coordination to facilitate consideration of issues of great importance to the State and the Victorian community.
Social Policy and Intergovernmental Relations (SPIR)
The SPIR Group combines social policy expertise with coordination of the State’s intergovernmental relations. The group provides policy advice on the following portfolios:
- health and mental health
- education
- justice, community security and emergency management
- multicultural affairs
- families, fairness and housing.
SPIR also leads the oversight and coordination of intergovernmental strategy, the COVID-19 pandemic response efforts and the government’s response to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
Economic Policy and State Productivity (EPSP)
The EPSP Group leads economic policy advice to the Premier and Cabinet. EPSP works in collaboration with relevant departments and agencies to ensure a coordinated WoVG approach to policy and projects in the areas of:
- economic development and recovery
- fiscal strategy
- regional and suburban development
- local government outcomes
- regulatory reform
- consumer affairs
- gambling and racing
- major events
- workplace safety
- international engagement
- infrastructure and planning
- precincts
- transport
- energy, resources and the environment
- agriculture.
First Peoples – State Relations (FPSR)
The FPSR Group is responsible for an extensive program of nation-leading work in the areas of cultural rights, self-determination, treaty and truth with First Peoples. FPSR recognises Victoria’s First Peoples as the self-determining drivers of Aboriginal affairs in Victoria and is committed to building ongoing, just and respectful relationships between self-determining First Peoples and the State. The group is also committed to promoting Aboriginal leadership and cultural heritage management.
Visit the organisation structure on the DPC website for more information.
Information relating to DPC's functions and current work can be found on the DPC website.
Resource locations
- DPC's portfolios, entities and agencies.
- Appendix 4 of the 2022-23 Annual Report provides an overview of DPC's statutory compliance with Victorian legislation.
- To see the key structures and functions of the department, see DPC's organisational chart.
- DPC’s Corporate Plan 2023-27 outlines the department’s key projects and initiatives to support delivery of departmental objectives.
- DPC is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. DPC’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy outlines key messaging and commitments.
- To see more information on the DPC's budget and procurement processes, visit the budget and procurement process section.
DPC produces many documents in the course of its work. The types of documents that DPC handles include:
- policies, procedures and standards
- administrative materials – corporate/operational, boards, committees
- applications and licenses
- compliance materials – reports, responses
- instructional materials – standards, policies, procedures, guidelines
- program materials – initiation, operations, evaluation
- project materials – initiation, governance, management
- training and educational material
- briefings and reports
- for example, briefs to relevant Ministers, the Secretary and Deputy Secretaries
- case files
- registers
- compliance and operational
- correspondence
- corporate and Ministerial
- emails or letters
- meeting records
- meeting minutes and agendas
- financial records
- grants
- remuneration and salaries
- procurement materials – tenders, Expressions of Interest, contracts
- human resource (HR) management
- recruitment, payroll, employee records, HR data/statistics
- audio-visual material.
Documents held by DPC and/or the Department of Government Services (DGS), as DPC’s shared services provider, are organised under categories according to DPC’s Business Classification Scheme:
- community relations (includes the function of Grant Funding)
- corporate support (includes functions such as financial, office and facilities, HR, strategic, and information and knowledge management; governance; and technology and telecommunications)
- cultural support and development
- executive government process support
- WoVG communications
- government relations
- industrial relations
- legal services
- marketing and communications
- portfolio policy advice
- protocol and events
- WoVG strategic initiatives
- WoVG coordination.
This sitemap shows areas of work that DPC is engaged in and where documents are created.
For other information that is available on request, see Appendix 3 of the 2022-23 Annual Report.
If you are searching for a specific topic, contact us.
- policies, procedures and standards
Under the FOI Act, all members of the public have the right to request documents held and produced by Victorian Government departments and agencies, subject to certain exceptions and exemptions. For more information about what agencies you can request documents from under the FOI Act, visit the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner’s (OVIC) website.
How to make an FOI request to DPC
To make a valid request for access to documents held by DPC, the request must:
- be in writing
- as far as possible, clearly and specifically describe the documents you are seeking access to (please note the categories of documents above - it may be useful to refer to the type of document being sought, to ensure accuracy and completeness of information)
- be accompanied by an application fee of $32.70 or evidence that paying the application fee would cause you hardship (for example, a scanned copy of a Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card).
Section 25A of the FOI Act allows an agency or Minister to refuse access to documents on the grounds that fulfilling the request would be ‘too voluminous.’ This arises where the work involved in processing the request would substantially and unreasonably divert the resources of the agency from its other operations, or substantially and unreasonably interfere with the performance of the Minister’s functions.
To avoid a decision to refuse access under section 25A, it can be useful to include a date range, specify the categories of documents (as discussed above) and be as specific as possible. If DPC believes your request is too voluminous, or if we are unable to clearly identify the information or document you are requesting, we will contact you to clarify the request.
If you are requesting documents about your personal affairs information, you should provide photo identification.
A request for access to information can be made online or via post to the following address:
- Freedom of Information Officer
Department of Premier and Cabinet
GPO Box 4912
Melbourne VIC 3001
For assistance with making an FOI request, contact the DPC FOI and Privacy team via email at foidpc@dpc.vic.gov.au.
DPC has been appointed to process requests made under the FOI Act on behalf of the Office of the Premier.
Assessing requests
Once DPC has received the request, it will be assessed for validity under relevant sections of the FOI Act, including section 17. If your request is not valid, we will contact you to assist you in making the request valid. If your request is valid, we will begin processing it.
In reaching a decision, DPC must consider whether there are any exemptions to releasing information or documents under the FOI Act or any other relevant legislation. Exemptions are primarily located in Part IV of the FOI Act within sections 28 to 38.
Access charges may apply to the search, photocopying, retrieval and creation of documents. DPC will inform you of any access charges that may apply to your request and consult with you in this regard.
Once DPC has finished assessing your request, you will be provided with a decision letter. Where an exemption applies to a document, either in full or in part, this decision letter will explain the reason for the exemption.
DPC is required to make an FOI decision within 30 days of receiving a valid request, unless that timeframe is extended by agreement with the applicant, or in circumstances where the department is required to consult under the FOI Act.
OVIC is an independent regulator with combined oversight of information access, information privacy, and data protection. If you wish to seek more information about FOI in Victoria, make a complaint, or seek a review of an FOI decision, visit OVIC’s website.
You can access DPC publications through the following links:
- current strategies and policies
- Victorian government datasets
- advertising and government communications.
DPC focuses on the following key policy spaces:
- supporting strong policy outcomes for First Peoples
- implementing a cyber security strategy
- providing the public with open government data in a safe, secure, lawful and ethical way
- prioritising open and efficient IT spend and purchasing processes
- providing behavioural science capability to all Victorian government departments
- advising on, and coordinating, strategic responses to the COVID-19 pandemic at both a state and national level
- advocating for Victoria’s interests in intergovernmental fore
- supporting the delivery of social policy reforms, including reforms relating to justice, recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, TAFE, and three-year-old kindergarten
- supporting the successful delivery of the Housing Statement
- advising on current and future economic challenges and opportunities
- delivering on the government’s environmental priorities
- supporting delivery of the government’s infrastructure program and coordinating a range of planning reforms
- supporting the government’s industry capability, capacity and growth programs
- providing advice to support the efficient operation of markets
- supporting engagement with priority international partners to improve economic, investment and other WoVG outcomes.
There are rules, policies and procedures in place to govern the daily operations of the department, for example:
- manuals of procedure
- interpretations of governing statutes
- statements of policies and documents concerning method of enforcing acts or schemes.
Examples are listed below:
If you are searching for a specific topic, you can search this website, visit the site map or contact us.
Please find below examples of where DPC publishes final reports and records of decisions relating to policy:
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