Disclosures

The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the Act) allows the public a right of access to documents held by the ARBV, including documents created by the ARBV or supplied to the ARBV by an external organisation or individual

Information about the type of material produced by the ARBV is available on the ARBV’s website under its Part II Information Statement.

The Act allows the ARBV to refuse access, either fully or partially, to certain documents or information.

Examples of documents that may not be accessed include but are not limited to cabinet documents; some internal working documents; law enforcement documents; documents covered by legal professional privilege, such as legal advice; personal information about other people; and information provided to the ARBV in-confidence.

Under the Act, the FOI processing time for requests is 30 days. However, when external consultation is required under subsections 29, 29A, 31, 31A. 33, 34 or 35, the processing time is 45 days. Processing time may also be extended by periods of 30 days, in consultation with the applicant. With the applicant’s agreement this may occur any number of times.

However, obtaining an applicant’s agreement for an extension cannot occur after the expiry of the timeframe for deciding a request.

If an applicant is not satisfied with a decision made by the ARBV, under section 49A of the Act, they have the right to seek a review by the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) within 28 days of receiving a decision letter.

During 2024-25, the ARBV received 1 FOI application, and finalised another matter received in 2023-24.

Making a request

FOI requests can be lodged in writing to the ARBV via email or post. An application fee of $33.60 applies (as of 1 July 2025). Access charges may also be payable if the document pool is large, and the search for material, time-consuming.

Access to documents can also be obtained through a written request to the ARBV as detailed in section 17 of the Act.

Requests for documents in the possession of the ARBV should be addressed to:

Freedom of Information Officer Architects Registration Board of Victoria

Level 10, 533 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 3000 or registrar@arbv.vic.gov.au

Further information

Further information regarding the operation and scope of FOI can be obtained from the Act; regulations made under the Act; and ovic.vic.gov.au. The ARBV’s Part II statement can be found on our website.

Competitive Neutrality Policy

Competitive neutrality requires government businesses to ensure where services compete, or potentially compete with the private sector, any advantage arising solely from their government ownership is removed if it is not in the public interest. Government businesses are required to cost and price these services as if they were privately owned. Competitive neutrality policy supports fair competition between public and private businesses and provides government businesses with a tool to enhance decisions on resource allocation. This policy does not override other policy objectives of government and focuses on efficiency in the provision of service.

The ARBV continues to comply with the requirements on competitive neutrality reporting as required under the Competition Principles Agreement and Competition and Infrastructure Reform Agreement.

Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012

The Public Interest Disclosures Act 2012 (PID Act) encourages and assists people in making disclosures of improper conduct by public officers and public bodies. The PID Act provides protection to people who make disclosures in accordance with the PID Act and establishes a system for the matters disclosed to be investigated and rectifying action to be taken.

The ARBV recognises the value of transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices and supports making disclosures that reveal improper conduct involving a substantial mismanagement of public resources, or conduct involving a substantial risk to public health and safety or the environment. It does not tolerate improper conduct by the organisation, its employees, officers or board members, or taking detrimental action in reprisal against those who come forward to disclose such conduct.

The ARBV will take all reasonable steps to protect people who make such disclosures from any detrimental action in reprisal for making the disclosure. It will also afford natural justice to the person who is the subject of the disclosure to the extent it is legally possible.

Reporting procedures

The ARBV is not able to receive public interest disclosures.

A disclosure under the PID Act about improper conduct of, or detrimental action, taken in reprisal for a public interest disclosure by, the ARBV or its Board members, officers or employees should be made in writing to:

Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC)

Level 1, North Tower, 459 Collins Street Melbourne, VIC 3000

Mail: IBAC, GPO Box 24234, Melbourne Victoria 3001

Phone: 1300 735 135

Internet: www.ibac.vic.gov.au

Email: See the website above for the secure email disclosure process, which also provides for anonymous disclosures.

Building Act 1993

The ARBV does not own or control any government buildings and consequently is exempt from notifying its compliance with the building and maintenance provisions of the Building Act 1993.

Disability Act 2006

The Disability Act 2006 under Section 38 requires that public sector bodies prepare and implement Disability Action Plans to reduce barriers to persons with a disability accessing goods, services and facilities and reduce barriers to persons with a disability obtaining and maintaining employment.

The ARBV is committed to making reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability to ensure an inclusive and disability equitable workplace and accessible services.

The ARBV’s Service Charter provides that the ARBV will be accessible for those with disabilities and will tailor communications to accessibility needs where possible.

Web content can be difficult for users with a disability to navigate and process. The ARBV follows the accessibility standards for vic.gov.au in relation to content on the ARBV website. The ARBV also provides multiple channels of communication to assist with access to and delivery of services.

These measures help to ensure people with disabilities have the same access to information and services as others in the community.

Office-based environmental impacts

The ARBV is committed to reducing its environmental footprint and promoting awareness and participation amongst its employees. The emphasis on electronic document management and a “paperlite” approach is reducing paper and storage. Board papers are produced and distributed electronically via a dedicated portal and the end-to-end registration process is completely online via the ARBV Portal.

Disclosure of Emergency Procurement

In 2024-25 the ARBV was not required to activate any Emergency Procurement resulting in Nil spending on emergency procurement.

Disclosure of procurement complaints

Under the Governance Policy of the Victorian Government Purchasing Board (VGPB), the ARBV must disclose any formal complaints relating to the procurement of goods and services received through its procurement complaints management system. The ARBV did not receive any formal complaints relating to procurement.

Additional information available on request

In compliance with the requirements of the Standing Directions 2018 of the Minister for Finance, details in respect of the items listed below, where applicable to the ARBV, have been retained and are available on request, subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1982:

• details of publications produced by the ARBV about itself, and how these can be obtained
• details of major research undertaken by the ARBV
• details of major promotional, public relations and marketing activities undertaken by the ARBV to develop community awareness of the entity and its services
• details of changes in prices, fees, charges, rates and levies charged
• a statement on industrial relations within the ARBV
• details of all consultancies and contractors, including consultants/contractors engaged, services provided, and expenditure committed for each engagement.

The information is available on request from: Registrar, ARBV

Level 10, 533 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 3000 or registrar@arbv.vic.gov.au

Statement of availability of other information available on request

Details of the following items have been included in the ARBV’s annual report, on the pages indicated below:

• a list of the ARBV’s major committees, the purposes of each committee, and the extent to which the purposes have been achieved (see Governance and Organisational structure)
• assessments and measures undertaken to improve the occupational health and safety of employees (see Workforce data).

Information that is not applicable to the ARBV

The following information is not relevant to the ARBV for the reasons set out below:

• declaration of shares held by senior officers (no shares have ever been issued in the ARBV)
• details of overseas visits undertaken (no ARBV members or senior executives took overseas work-related trips)
• details of any major external reviews carried out on the ARBV (no major external reviews undertaken)
• details of major development activities undertaken by the ARBV (no major development activities undertaken).

DataVIC Access Policy

The ARBV discloses information online and via printed publications. It also provides information services in person and/or by phone, annual report and website.