Information Consultants Pty Ltd

About Information Consultants Pty Ltd

Information Consultants Pty Ltd was established in 1998. It offers a range of services, specialising in training and consulting in Freedom Of Information (FOI) and Human Resources. Megan Carter, Director of the company, has been working in the field of FOI since 1981, and in human resources since 1986. She is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow with the Constitution Unit at University College London.

Consulting services include:

Freedom of Information / Administrative Law

• Development of policies, procedures, and information systems for implementation of FOI, Judicial Review (JR), and Privacy/Data Protection
• FOI Training: developed and conducted over 400 days of courses for more than 5000 clerical and professional staff (at Federal, State and local levels in Australia) since 1982
• FOI Implementation: developed and conducted over 300 days of training for the civil service, health boards, local authorities and other agencies in Ireland between 1997 and the present
• Researched and drafted hundreds of FOI decisions at first instance and internal review levels; prepared submissions to Information Commissioners
• Managed or advised on complex or problematic FOI casework and external reviews (Ombudsman, Information Commissioner and Tribunals) for Australian state and Federal agencies, and overseas government agencies
• Provided specialist intensive training for staff of the Irish Information Commissioner and the House of Commons (U.K.) in regard to the implementation of their respective Acts.
• Presented FOI training to over 500 trainees in China under the auspices of the EU-China Information Society Project
• Advised on impact of Privacy legislation

Human Resources Management

• Training: development, presentation and evaluation of courses
• Investigation and resolution of workplace grievances, sexual and racial harassment complaints
• Investigation of disciplinary matters
• Organisation structure / Job redesign / Position evaluations
• Development of position / person specifications and competency profiles
• Performance appraisal / performance management
• Recruitment interviewing and assessment
• Development of HRM policies and procedures

Selected Publications

Note: "FOI with Bite: Recipes for Openness" (November 2007) discusses the four essential ingredients for effective FOI: an accountability framework, legislative components, administrative support, and training. A PDF version may be downloaded here. Other selected publications are listed below.

Freedom of Information: Balancing the Public Interest (Second Edition)
The Constitution Unit, University College London, May 2006
(More information and a table of contents may be found here.)

Access to Government Information in Europe and China: What Lessons to be Learned?
EU-China Information Society Project, Beijing, China, November 2007

"FOI with Bite: Recipes for Openness"
5th International Conference of Information Commissioners, Wellington, New Zealand, November 2007

"Get Your Act Together"
Access to Information in Local Government Conference, London, U.K., October 2003

"Access to Health Records"
10th European Conference on Records Management, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, August 2002

"Developing a Culture of Openness"
FOI and Public Sector Reform Conference, University of Cork, Ireland, October 1999

"Getting Personal: Some Complex Issues"
INFO TWO: National Conference on Freedom of Information, Queensland, March 1996

A partial list of current and former clients, organised by country, includes the following.

Australia

• AusAID/GRM International (Delegation of MPs from South Africa, FOI Study Tour)
• Australian Broadcasting Authority
• BlueScope Lysaght (div of BlueScope Steel)
• BOC Gases Australia / New Zealand
• Brisbane City Council
• Byron Shire Council
• Department of the Chief Minister (Northern Territory)
• Department of Community Services (NSW)
• Department of Education, Employment & Training (NT)
• Department of Families,Youth & Community Care (QLD)
• Department of Local Government, Housing & Sport (NT)
• Department of Justice and the Attorney-General (QLD)
• Department of Justice (NT)
• Hervey Bay City Council
• Office of the Information Commissioner (QLD)
• Premier's Department (Tasmania)
• Queensland Education Department
• Queensland Health and Regional Health Authorities
• Queensland Racing Limited
• South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service (NSW)
• Special Broadcasting Service

• Cabinet Office

Cayman Islands

• Cabinet Office