How to get a copy of your TAC documentation

Release of information (free)

The TAC will give you a copy of the following information for free:

Your TAC claim form
Most medical reports
Decision letters.

The TAC cannot give you the following information under the 'Release of Information' process:

Medicare/Health Insurance Commission information
Victoria Police Accident Record System reports/ Victoria Police Traffic Incident Reports
VicRoads information
Victorian WorkCover Authority information.

How do I request information from the TAC under the 'Release of Information' process?

All you have to do is call the TAC on 1300 654 329 and tell us which documents you want. It helps us if you can be specific about the documents.

We will respond to you in the time-frames set out in the TAC's Service Charter.

'Release of information' requests from solicitors

Solicitors representing TAC clients should use the following form to request documents under this process.

The form provides guidance on the process and information required for the TAC to respond with the necessary documents.

Resource list

Release of information solicitor form - PDF (237.6 KB)
Release of information solicitor form - Word (210.0 KB)

Freedom of Information (there is a cost)

The FOI process is not free, there is an application fee of $30.60 (as of 1 July 2022) payable when a request is lodged. You may also have to pay access charges before documents are provided.

What is FOI?

The Victorian Freedom of Information Act 1982 gives you a general right to:

Seek access to documents held by the TAC about your personal affairs (such as details of your TAC claim), a third party or the operations of the TAC in general
Ask for an amendment to personal records – if the personal records are incomplete, out of date, incorrect or misleading
Seek a review of an FOI decision from the Victorian Information Commissioner - Public Access.

What documents can I access?

You can request access to any document held by the TAC. However, the TAC may refuse access to some documents or portions of documents when they are subject to the exception and exemption provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

If we refuse access to documents, we will tell you about the ways you can get the FOI decision reviewed.

Consultation about release

If information identifying you is held by the TAC and is subject to an FOI request, the FOI Act requires the TAC to consult with you about your views on release to the applicant. There are several important exceptions to this requirement however – such as the TAC not needing to consult where it would be impractical or unreasonable to do so. For more detail about consultation or the FOI Act amendments, contact TAC’s Manager, Information & Privacy.

How do I make a formal FOI request?

By post

You need to send the TAC:

A completed FOI application form or a written request; and
A cheque or money order for the $30.60 application fee, payable to the Transport Accident Commission. If EFT payment is preferred, please call the TAC on 1300 654 329 and ask for the FOI team who can provide you with the TAC's dedicated FOI EFT details.

We will let you know if you need to pay other access charges.

If you are suffering financial hardship, you can ask the TAC to consider waiving the FOI application fee and access charges.

Mail the application form to the TAC at:

Transport Accident Commission
Attention: FOI team
PO Box 2751
MELBOURNE VIC 3001

Online lodgement (requires a credit card)

You can submit your FOI request and payment via the Department of Justice online government FOI portal at https://online.foi.vic.gov.au/foi/request.doj

How long does it take?

The TAC has 30 days to make a decision about your FOI request. This time can be extended with your consent or without your consent by 15 days if third parties need to be consulted about the release of their information to you.

If your request takes more than 2 days in total to process, the TAC can also refuse to process your request due to it being an unreasonable diversion of TAC’s resources. In such a case, the FOI team will provide suggestions about how to reduce the scope of your request so that it can be processed.

Subpoena of TAC documents/claim files

A subpoena (or summons) is an order of the court that requires the TAC to produce documents to court at a time and place described.

The TAC requests that any subpoena or summons directed to the TAC (irrespective of the issuing court or form of the subpoena) be served personally. In other words, it needs to be provided to the TAC at Ground Floor Reception by a process server. This is for the benefit of the issuing party. Documents sent by post or email risk delays, and are not guaranteed of reaching the intended recipient in time for the TAC to reasonably process and produce documents to Court within the time frame of the subpoena.

Subpoenas should be directed to:

The Proper Officer
Information & Privacy
The Transport Accident Commission
60 Brougham Street
GEELONG VIC 3220

Downloads

Ambulance Victoria payments made after 12 December 2016

As of 12 December 2016, all reimbursements made by the TAC to Ambulance Victoria for transport accidents will now be considered TAC ‘business payments' rather than 'claim payments'. This means that payments made from the TAC to Ambulance Victoria after the 12 December 2016 will not appear in a print out of payments on a client's claim.

Access to TAC/Ambulance Victoria payments made after 12 December 2016 must be specifically requested under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 via the TAC FOI team ( foi@tac.vic.gov.au ).

This arrangement has been made by agreement with Ambulance Victoria pursuant to section 121 of the Transport Accident Act 1986.


How to get a copy of your TAC documentation Release of information (free) The TAC will give you a copy of the following information for free: Your TAC claim form Most medical reports Decision letters. The TAC cannot give you the following information under the 'Release of Information' process: Medicare/Health Insurance Commission information Victoria Police Accident Record System reports/ Victoria Police Traffic Incident Reports VicRoads information Victorian WorkCover Authority information. How do I request information from the TAC under the 'Release of Information' process? All you have to do is call the TAC on 1300 654 329 and tell us which documents you want. It helps us if you can be specific about the documents. We will respond to you in the time-frames set out in the TAC's Service Charter. 'Release of information' requests from solicitors Solicitors representing TAC clients should use the following form to request documents under this process. The form provides guidance on the process and information required for the TAC to respond with the necessary documents. Resource list Release of information solicitor form - PDF (237.6 KB) Release of information solicitor form - Word (210.0 KB) Freedom of Information (there is a cost) The FOI process is not free, there is an application fee of $30.60 (as of 1 July 2022) payable when a request is lodged. You may also have to pay access charges before documents are provided. What is FOI? The Victorian Freedom of Information Act 1982 gives you a general right to: Seek access to documents held by the TAC about your personal affairs (such as details of your TAC claim), a third party or the operations of the TAC in general Ask for an amendment to personal records – if the personal records are incomplete, out of date, incorrect or misleading Seek a review of an FOI decision from the Victorian Information Commissioner - Public Access. What documents can I access? You can request access to any document held by the TAC. However, the TAC may refuse access to some documents or portions of documents when they are subject to the exception and exemption provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1982. If we refuse access to documents, we will tell you about the ways you can get the FOI decision reviewed. Consultation about release If information identifying you is held by the TAC and is subject to an FOI request, the FOI Act requires the TAC to consult with you about your views on release to the applicant. There are several important exceptions to this requirement however – such as the TAC not needing to consult where it would be impractical or unreasonable to do so. For more detail about consultation or the FOI Act amendments, contact TAC’s Manager, Information & Privacy. How do I make a formal FOI request? By post You need to send the TAC: A completed FOI application form or a written request; and A cheque or money order for the $30.60 application fee, payable to the Transport Accident Commission. If EFT payment is preferred, please call the TAC on 1300 654 329 and ask for the FOI team who can provide you with the TAC's dedicated FOI EFT details. We will let you know if you need to pay other access charges. If you are suffering financial hardship, you can ask the TAC to consider waiving the FOI application fee and access charges. Mail the application form to the TAC at: Transport Accident Commission Attention: FOI team PO Box 2751 MELBOURNE VIC 3001 Online lodgement (requires a credit card) You can submit your FOI request and payment via the Department of Justice online government FOI portal at https://online.foi.vic.gov.au/foi/request.doj How long does it take? The TAC has 30 days to make a decision about your FOI request. This time can be extended with your consent or without your consent by 15 days if third parties need to be consulted about the release of their information to you. If your request takes more than 2 days in total to process, the TAC can also refuse to process your request due to it being an unreasonable diversion of TAC’s resources. In such a case, the FOI team will provide suggestions about how to reduce the scope of your request so that it can be processed. Subpoena of TAC documents/claim files A subpoena (or summons) is an order of the court that requires the TAC to produce documents to court at a time and place described. The TAC requests that any subpoena or summons directed to the TAC (irrespective of the issuing court or form of the subpoena) be served personally. In other words, it needs to be provided to the TAC at Ground Floor Reception by a process server. This is for the benefit of the issuing party. Documents sent by post or email risk delays, and are not guaranteed of reaching the intended recipient in time for the TAC to reasonably process and produce documents to Court within the time frame of the subpoena. Subpoenas should be directed to: The Proper Officer Information & Privacy The Transport Accident Commission 60 Brougham Street GEELONG VIC 3220 Downloads TAC Freedom of Information Request form PDF, 0.18MB TAC Freedom of Information Request form DOCX, 0.32MB TAC Freedom of Information Request form - Represented applicant PDF, 0.1MB TAC Freedom of Information Request form - Represented applicant DOCX, 0.31MB Ambulance Victoria payments made after 12 December 2016 As of 12 December 2016, all reimbursements made by the TAC to Ambulance Victoria for transport accidents will now be considered TAC ‘business payments' rather than 'claim payments'. This means that payments made from the TAC to Ambulance Victoria after the 12 December 2016 will not appear in a print out of payments on a client's claim. Access to TAC/Ambulance Victoria payments made after 12 December 2016 must be specifically requested under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 via the TAC FOI team ( foi@tac.vic.gov.au ). This arrangement has been made by agreement with Ambulance Victoria pursuant to section 121 of the Transport Accident Act 1986.