Under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act), each NSW Government department and agency is required to publish an annual Publication Guide. The information in this report describes the structure and functions of the Department of Family and Community Services (FACS), how these functions affect the public and how the public can participate in the department's policy formulation. Additionally, the Publication Guide requires the inclusion of the department's categories of information and how these can be accessed by members of the public together with any access charges that may be applicable.
FACS Publication Guide provides details about who we are, what we do and how members of the public, community organisations, the media and government agencies can interact with us. It is updated regularly to ensure that it provides an accurate picture of our work in implementing right to information reforms in New South Wales.
FACS delivers services to some of the most disadvantaged individuals, families and communities in NSW.
We have more than 3 million clients in regional and metropolitan NSW, a budget of $5.6 billion in 2010-11 and more than 20,000 staff.
We provide services to:
We are committed to achieving the NSW Government targets and ambitions as outlined in the NSW 2021. We measure our performance against these targets through indicators which we monitor and review regularly to improve our services. The systems we use to obtain information about our service delivery and financial performance vary across the department. Better integration and enhancement of these systems is a key priority for the future.
Our work aims to:
A strong legislative framework supports our work and is administered to fulfil our statutory obligations.
In 2010-11, we had expenditure of $4.6 billion in delivering services across NSW and $1.4 billion on capital works. Our largest category of expenditure - $2.4 billion - was in the delivery of our major programs including the Disability Services Program, Home and Community Care Program, Out-of-Home-Care, Prevention and Early Intervention and Aboriginal Communities Development Program.
Many of these programs are delivered by non-government organisations on our behalf. During the year we made payments of approximately $2 billion to deliver these funded services.
Further details on our financial performance can be found in the Annual Report for 2010-11.
In 2011, we developed our Strategic Directions and corporate plan framework to guide and support better integrated service delivery, as well as establish a program management office to coordinate implementation of reforms.
A small FACS central office has been established to coordinate information and activities particularly related to the FACS reform agenda.
The FACS central office is made up of three directorates as follows:
A copy of our organisational arrangements is available here.
The FACS central office is located at:
Level 2, 55 Clarence Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Locked Bag 3002
Australia Square, NSW 1215
Ph: 02 9248 0900
Fax: 02 9248 0999
Email: facsinfo@facs.nsw.gov.au
FACS will make available to you at no cost information on the www.facs.nsw.gov.au website or any of the following divisional websites:
Information is proactively published on all of our divisional websites. Until such time as information is better integrated through this website, you will need to visit each divisional website to access proactively released information.
The types of information you will find available on these websites includes:
Many of our policy documents are under review or are updated regularly. You can get access to these by contacting the relevant Right to Information Officer, or by emailing facsinfo@facs.nsw.gov.au
FACS is committed to a policy of consultation with clients and community partners. These include funded services, service providers, local government and other NSW Government agencies.
Any member of the public may participate in our policy formulation by writing to the Director General with suggestions or raising issues that concern them or the community. Various forums have also been established to facilitate such participation.
FACS welcomes feedback from members of the public, community organisations and government agencies regarding our services and publications.
Should you wish to provide feedback, please contact the relevant division directly, or you can send an email to WebFeedBack@facs.nsw.gov.au and we will pass your information on to the relevant divisions.
All information outlined in this Publication Guide can be downloaded free of charge from our website. Alternatively you may contact us at facsinfo@facs.nsw.gov.au for a hard copy of our information.
Access to FACS information may be considered through either formal or informal applications. This is currently managed by each FACS division individually.
If your application covers information about the FACS central office or information that is held by more than one division in FACS, you can fill in the FACS application form and send it to:
Right to Information
Department of Family and Community Services
Locked Bag 3002
Australia Square, NSW 1215.
In certain circumstances FACS divisions will consider releasing information in response to an informal request (e.g. documents relating solely to personal information concerning the applicant).
There is no requirement to complete a formal access application and there is no application fee. In some situations, charges may be incurred for services such as photocopying.
Applications for access to information under the provisions of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 should be in writing, accompanied by the $30 application fee and certified proof of identification.
Formal and informal applications should be directed to the relevant division listed under contact details.
| Nature of applications | Application fee | Processing charge* |
| Access to personal records | $30 | $30 per hour after the first 20 hours |
| Access to non-personal records | $30 | $30 per hour |
| Review of determination | $40 | No charge |
*You may be eligible for a 50% reduction in processing charges if FACS central office is satisfied that you are experiencing financial hardship, or that the information applied for is of special benefit to the public. This reduction does not apply to the application fee.
FACS divisions are required to keep a register of government contracts that record information about each contract that has, or is likely to have, a value of $150,000 or more. Details of how to access these can be found on the relevant division website.
FACS central office maintains a register of any contract with the private sector valued at over $150,000 in accordance with Division 5 of Part 3 of the GIPA Act.
Please see the current register here.
For a more comprehensive look at the current contracts, please see the list below:
Details concerning decisions made by FACS divisions in response to an application that may be of interest to other members of the public may be included on a disclosure log.
FACS division disclosure logs provide details of:
You can access disclosure logs on FACS divisional websites, or via this document.
Applications for access to information will be refused under the GIPA Act where there is a conclusive presumption of overriding public interest against disclosure as outlined in Schedule 1 to the GIPA Act. This information may be made available under other laws, depending on the circumstances.
Inquiries in relation to the administration of the GIPA Act by FACS should be referred to individual divisions as outlined below:
Aboriginal Housing Office
Julie Morgan
Level 6, 33 Argyle Street
PO Box W5 Westfield
Parramatta, NSW 2150
Ph: (02) 8836 9444
Fax: (02) 9635 3400
Email: julie.morgan@facs.nsw.gov.au
Ageing, Disability and Home Care
Youngson Mao
Level 5, 83 Clarence Street
Sydney, NSW 2000
Ph: (02) 8295 2000
Fax: (02) 8295 4611
Email: youngson.mao@facs.nsw.gov.au
Businesslink
Cathy Kreltszheim
Locked Bag 7466
Liverpool BC, NSW 1871
DX 5064 Liverpool
Ph: (02) 9765 3333
Fax: (02) 9765 3570
Email: cathy.kreltszheim@facs.nsw.gov.au
Community Services
Terry Meader
4-6 Cavill Ave
Ashfield NSW 2131
Locked Bag 4028
Ashfield, NSW 2131
Ph: (02) 9716 2662
Fax: (02) 9716 3400
Email: terry.meader@facs.nsw.gov.au
Central Office
Kelly Schwalger
Level 2, 55 Clarence St
Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: (02) 9248 0980
Fax: (02) 9248 0999
Email: kelly.schwalger2@facs.nsw.gov.au
Housing NSW
Rita Peci
Locked Bag 4001
Ashfield BC, NSW 1800
Ph: 1300 468 746
Fax: (02) 8753 8233
Email: rita.peci@facs.nsw.gov.au
Women NSW
Kelly Schwalger
Level 2, 55 Clarence St
Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: (02) 9248 0980
Fax: (02) 9248 0999
Email: kelly.schwalger2@facs.nsw.gov.au
The Office of the Information Commissioner is independent of government departments and exercises certain oversight functions.
The role of the Information Commissioner is to raise public awareness of the right to information laws and provide assistance, information, support and advice to government departments and the public.
The Information Commissioner has broad investigative powers and may require government departments to provide information and conduct inquiries pertinent to the administration of the GIPA Act.
The Information Commissioner conducts reviews of decisions by FACS where the applicant is aggrieved by that decision.
Further information may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Information Commissioner on 1800INFOCOM (1800 463 626).