Make a Right to Information request
The Right to Information (RTI) process is the Queensland Government's approach to giving the community greater access to information. The Queensland Government has made a commitment to provide access to information held by the government, unless on balance it is contrary to the public interest to provide that information.
The Right to Information Act 2009 (Qld) (RTI Act) is the formal piece of legislation that allows you to apply for access to documents held by Queensland Government agencies.
Check available information
Before making a request through the RTI process, you should check to see if the information is already available online:
- disclosure logs lists information which has been released in response to RTI access requests and provides a description of current applications.
- publication schemes describes and categorises information routinely available from Queensland Health.
- openness and transparency index lists additional data available for download.
- open data strategy.
Look at other options
There may also be other methods for you to apply for the information you are seeking. The RTI Act offers a formal approach to requesting information, but there are other ways that may be quicker for you and better meet your needs.
As any example, if you are applying for access to your own medical records, or acting on behalf of a patient seeking access to their medical records, you may wish to apply under our administrative access to health records scheme. To apply for access to your medical records, contact the RTI decision-maker at your HHS.
If you are seeking Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) information, click here to see the options.
If you are an employee seeking access to employee records, you may be able to obtain these administratively.
Find out more about accessing your personal information and who to contact.
How to apply under the RTI Act
You can request information in a number of ways.
- apply online
- download a pdf copy of the RTI Application form and submit it by mail, in person or by email to the relevant agency contact.
- email the relevant agency, or send us a letter, advising you are submitting an RTI application.
Make sure you give us your contact details and information about what you are seeking.
Some fees and charges can apply to RTI applications. View the current fees and charges.
When seeking access to personal information, you will need to provide evidence of your identity, such as:
- passport
- copy of a certificate or extract from a register of births
- driver's licence
- if the applicant is a prisoner, a copy of the person's identity card certified by a corrective services officer.
You will need to provide a certified copy of these documents, signed and dated by a *qualified witness within the last 12 months. If you don't have any of the listed documents, talk to the HHS about other accepted evidence of identity documents.
*qualified witness means —
(a) a lawyer or notary public; or
(b) a commissioner for declarations; or
(c) a justice of the peace; or
(d) a pharmacist.
If you are an agent for a person, and seeking access to their personal information, you will need to provide certified copy of their evidence of identity documents. You will also need to provide us with evidence of your authority to act for them, signed and dated by the person to whom the information relates.
Other people's health records
If you want to access someone else's records (e.g. a relative), and you do not have or are unable to obtain their consent, you will need to make a Right to Information application.
If you are an agent acting on behalf of someone else (e.g. solicitors accessing information for their client), you may need to provide additional information with your application. This may include patient consent and evidence of your identity as their agent.
Accessing prison health records
To request your prison health record or if you are requesting access on another person’s behalf, please complete the Application for Prison Health Record form and email prisonhs@health.qld.gov.au For further information, phone 07 3497 3580.
Amending information in your medical records
If there is information in your health record that is incorrect or which you do not agree with, you can apply for it to be amended under the Right to Information Act 2009. You will need to provide details of why the information may be inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading.
Right of review
If we make a formal decision under the RTI Act and you aren’t happy with it, you can apply to have that decision reviewed. You need to do this within 20 business days from the date we communicated the original decision to you.
You can seek internal review by a more senior officer of our agency. You may also apply to have the decision reviewed by the Information Commissioner. This process is called an external review.
More information
We encourage you to talk with us first, so that we can help you better.
Contact the RTI decision-maker at the Hospital and Health Service (HHS) or at Department of Health where you believe the relevant documents are held. If you are unsure, the Department of Health contact can assist you.
- Accessing government-held information—Office of the Information Commissioner
- Amending personal information held by government—Office of the Information Commissioner
- Right to information —Queensland Government