Freedom of Information Officer

Public Sector People; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 88,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

Public Sector People is seeking an experienced Freedom of Information Officer to join a Melbourne local council on a temporary contract. You will coordinate FOI requests from start to finish, ensuring processing within legislative timeframes.

This role focuses on FOI administration with strong knowledge of the FOI Act, OVIC guidelines and information management. Excellent written and verbal communication will support governance and privacy-related initiatives.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience administering FOI matters within local government or the public sector.
• Strong knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, OVIC guidelines and information management principles.
• Ability to interpret legislation and assess sensitive and complex information.
• Strong organisational skills with ability to manage priorities and meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Managing the end-to-end FOI process, including application assessments, document searches, consultations and preparing decisions.
• Ensuring Council complies with the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
• Responding to internal and external enquiries regarding FOI processes and access to information.
• Coordinating Council responses to OVIC reviews and VCAT matters relating to FOI decisions.
• Providing support on privacy-related matters and assisting the Governance team with priority projects.

Skills

FOI legislation knowledge

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Public sector FOI experience

Job description

Freedom of Information Officer

Local Council | Inner South Eastern Suburbs | Band 6

• Hourly Rate: $64-$70 per hour + super
• Hours:38 hours per week
• Duration:ASAP - Mid-January 2027

We are looking for an experienced Freedom of Information (FOI) Officer to join a local council in Melbourne's inner south eastern suburbs on a temporary contract.

This is a great opportunity for someone with a background in FOI administration within local government or the public sector to utilise their legislative knowledge and play an important role in ensuring transparency, accountability and compliance.

the Role

You will be responsible for coordinating and managing Council's FOI requests from start to finish, ensuring applications are processed accurately and within legislative timeframes.

Key responsibilities:

• Managing the end-to-end FOI process, including application assessments, document searches, consultations and preparing decisions.
• Ensuring Council complies with the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
• Responding to internal and external enquiries regarding FOI processes and access to information.
• Coordinating Council responses to OVIC reviews and VCAT matters relating to FOI decisions.
• Providing support on privacy-related matters and assisting the broader Governance team with priority projects.

Key Criteria:

• Demonstrated experience administering FOI matters within local government or the public sector.
• Strong knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, OVIC guidelines and information management principles.
• The ability to interpret legislation and assess sensitive and complex information.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet strict legislative deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.