Agency Information Guide last reviewed August 2024
The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act) gives citizens an enforceable right to access government information unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure. To assist the public, each agency publishes a guide to the information held and how to access it.
Service NSW is committed to ensuring that citizens can access information about us easily and at the lowest reasonable cost. The following is the Service NSW Agency Information Guide (AIG). It outlines who we are, what we do, the information we make available, and how you can access it.
The purpose of this Service NSW AIG is to provide general information on the:
- structure and functions of Service NSW
- ways in which the functions of Service NSW, including the decision-making functions, affect members of the public
- specific arrangements in place to enable members of the public to participate in the formulation of Service NSW policy and the exercise of Service NSW functions
- kinds of government information held by Service NSW
- kinds of government information held by Service NSW that we make publicly available
- how Service NSW makes or will make government information publicly available
- kinds of information that are (or will be) made publicly available free of charge and those for which a charge is (or will be) imposed.
Where appropriate we have provided links to documents, reports, data and other information throughout this AIG.
This AIG is reviewed regularly and at least every 12 months.
About us
Service NSW is a NSW Government executive agency related to the Department of Customer Service (DCS). We deliver one-stop-shop services for our customers, business and our partner agencies.
Structure and functions
Our organisational structure includes eight core divisions. As a service provider, most of our activities have a direct impact on the public. The table below outlines our core functions and how they affect the public.
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
| Office of the Managing Director | The Office of the Managing Director leads Service NSW’s strategic direction to ensure the delivery of timely, integrated and cost-effective transactional service delivery to customers and businesses, and meet the NSW Government’s commitment to simplify customer access to government services. This affects the public as it influences the way our customers access government services. |
| Risk, Strategy and Performance | The Risk, Strategy and Performance division work with our security, frontline, digital, projects and partnerships teams to support Service NSW’s operations. This affects our customers as it supports the increasingly diverse and complex products and services they can access through Service NSW. |
| Service NSW Business Bureau | The Service NSW Business Bureau provides guidance and support to new and existing small business owners. The Business Concierge service and advisory programs, Business Connect and the Aboriginal Business Advisory Initiative, give customers free, personalised support and connect business owners with available NSW Government services. This affects our business customers who interact with these teams for help navigating the products and services available to small business owners. |
| Partnerships, Projects and Insights | The Partnerships, Projects and Insights team drives the delivery of projects that provide new services and benefits for our customers, as well as the provision of high-quality cluster and agency partnership support. This affects the public as it drives any new services provided by NSW Government through the Service NSW platforms. |
| Digital Services | Digital Services drives the global standard in customer service and digital excellence and is responsible for end-to-end digital customer experiences, including by powering the Service NSW website and mobile app, and continually developing innovative new digital experiences for customers, such as the Dine and Discover Voucher program and COVID Safe Check-In. This directly affects the public, with millions of our customers accessing our services through digital platforms. |
| Service Delivery – Frontline Channels | Our frontline teams process customer transactions relating to more than 800 services through phone or face-to-face interactions at more than 150 points of presence across regional, remote, and metropolitan NSW. This is our key customer-facing function, directly affecting customers who choose to interact directly with our service staff. |
| Chief Security Officer | The Chief Security Officer ensures the cyber and physical security of all aspects of Service NSW’s business, to deliver on the trust held by customers, teams and government. This indirectly affects the public, because they rely on Service NSW to deliver safe and secure access to NSW Government services. |
| Disaster Preparation and Recovery | The Disaster Preparation and Recovery division leads Service NSW’s emergency management functions to drive improved customer experiences in the face of natural disasters. This directly affects customers who need to access NSW Government services following a natural disaster. |
The Service NSW team delivers on the NSW Premier’s Priorities and NSW State Priorities of improving government services, providing better government digital services, making it easier to do business and driving public sector diversity. We do this by:
- providing a customer-centric service for the NSW Government through a single point of contact
- transforming our customers’ digital experience with government
- expanding access to face-to-face services across metropolitan and regional NSW
- supporting our people who help customers across NSW every day
- building awareness of the services we offer and the brand we proudly stand behind.
Our omnichannel approach of face-to-face, phone and online services provides our customers choice.
We are a 'Network Leader' through the provision of the MyServiceNSW Account and as the single front door for government services. We lead 'Service Delivery and Reform' through our Service NSW omnichannel and Service NSW Business Bureau.
For more information about Service NSW and its structure, refer to our About us section.
Information about the Department of Customer Service’s current structure and functions is available in the DCS Agency Information Guide.
Functions provided by legislation
Service NSW’s authorising legislation is the Service NSW (One-stop Access to Government Services) Act 2013, which came into effect on 21 June 2013.
Section 4(c) of the Service NSW (One-stop Access to Government Services) Act 2013 outlines that Service NSW can be directed by the Minister to perform any other functions relating to the delivery of government services to the people of New South Wales. This covers additional functions that include but are not limited to:
- issuing vouchers, grants and rebates to stimulate the economy and assist in the recovery from events such as natural disasters
- delivering the Tell Your Story Once project to make it easier for people who have been impacted by a disaster in NSW to apply for and access government and non-government support and assistance
- providing small businesses with access to independent business advice, events and online resources through Business Connect
- enabling people to use their MyServiceNSW Account or credentials to streamline accessing other NSW Government services, prove their identity and receive notifications about services from their account
- undertaking fraud prevention, detection and investigative activities to assess the integrity of personal information provided by individuals in relation to MyServiceNSW accounts and applications for grants, rebates or other benefits administered by Service NSW
- delivering a digital proof of identity pilot.
To request further details about current Ministerial Directions, please contact gipa@customerservice.nsw.gov.au.
Service channels
Service NSW offers a broad range of NSW Government services and transactions through:
- an easy-to-use, accessible, customer friendly website
- service centres with extended opening hours
- a telephone service (13 77 88) answered by Service NSW staff.
Services offered
Currently Service NSW provides transactions on behalf of government agencies including:
- Building Commission NSW
- Fair Trading
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- Department of Communities and Justice
- Department of Education
- Department of Primary Industries
- Liquor & Gaming NSW
- NSW Ageing and Disability Commission
- NSW Health
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
- NSW Police
- NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
- NSW Treasury
- NSW Trustee and Guardian
- Revenue NSW
- SafeWork NSW
- Transport for NSW
Some of the services include:
- Births, relationships and deaths
- Boating, fishing, recreation and outdoors
- Business
- Concessions, rebates and assistance
- Driving and transport
- Education and training
- Emergencies and natural disasters
- Employment and industries
- Environment, parks and wildlife
- Health and care
- Housing and property
- Legal and Police services
Service NSW also offers services through the Service NSW app which provides a common platform for citizens to perform typical transactions such as renewing and checking licences and registrations, claiming vouchers and rebates, as well as accessing personalised information such as demerit points and toll expenditure.
More services are regularly being added to build Service NSW into a complete, one-stop government service delivery model.
For information on fees and charges Service NSW may impose regarding the above transactions please contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 as fees are subject to change.
Digital Processing Systems
Service NSW has adopted the use of digital processing systems. Digital processing systems are a computerised technology that assist with certain administration processes.
Digital processing systems can assist grants administration and application processing in several ways. For example, they can:
- process an application
- recommend a decision to the decision-maker
- guide a user through relevant facts, legislation and policy, closing off irrelevant paths as they go
- have capabilities as decision-support systems, providing useful commentary for the decision-maker at relevant points in the decision-making process
- be used as a self-assessment tool for individuals, providing preliminary support for internal decision-makers.
Information about some of the digital processing systems adopted by Service NSW is provided in the table below.
| Processing System Name | Technology | Description |
|---|---|---|
Savings Finder |
| A digital tool to help individuals and businesses find benefits from across government based on their situation, eligibility and needs. The tool does not actively recommend a specific option but helps in transparent discovery of benefits and savings through government programs. |
| Early Childhood Education Finder |
| In partnership with the NSW Department of Education, Service NSW has created a tool that allows parents and guardians to find and select early childhood education providers that are right for their needs and requirements by taking into account the provider’s hours of operation, locations, availability, National Quality Standard (NQS) rating, transport options, and distance to a selected address. |
| Before & After School Care Finder |
| In partnership with the NSW Department of Education, Service NSW has created a tool for parents and guardians to find and select before and after school care providers that are right for their needs and requirements by taking into account the provider’s hours of operation, locations, availability, NQS rating, transport options, and distance to the child's school. |
| Vacation Care Finder |
| In partnership with the NSW Department of Education, Service NSW has created a tool for parents and guardians to find and select vacation care providers that are right for their needs and requirements by taking into account the provider’s hours of operation, locations, availability, NQS rating, transport options, and distance to a selected address. |
| Eva Conversational AI |
| Eva is Service NSW's Generative AI service and platform that enables NSW Government departments and agencies to deliver NSW residents, businesses, and front-line employees personalised information, advice, and services through a large language model designed to understand and respond to natural language input. |
| Life Journeys |
| In partnership with the Department of Customer Service, Service NSW has created a tool that brings advice, information, and services from the public sector, private sector, and NGOs to NSW residents based on the life journey stages they are on. This provides NSW residents an end-to-end source of advice, information and services – not just related to their engagements with government. |
| Toll Relief Rebate |
| In partnership with Transport for NSW, Service NSW has developed a transaction in which motorists can claim back parts of their toll spend. Eligibility is based on the eligibility criteria set out in the policy. |
| Seniors Energy Rebate |
| In partnership with the Office of Energy and Climate Change, Service NSW has developed a transaction that allows households to receive a $250 rebate. Eligibility is based on the eligibility criteria set out in the policy and each application is manually assessed. |
| Active and Creative Kids |
| In partnership with the Office of Sport, Service NSW has created a transaction in which parents can apply for Active and Creative Kids vouchers for their children/dependants. Eligibility is based on applicant's Family Tax Benefit status and other factors, and is digitally processed by a system designed by the Service NSW product team. |
| Pre-IVF fertility testing rebate |
| In partnership with NSW Health, Service NSW has developed a transaction that allows users to apply for a rebate of $500 for out-of-pocket expenses related to pre-IVF fertility testing. Eligibility is based on the eligibility criteria set out in the policy and each application is manually assessed. |
| Fertility Treatment Rebate |
| In partnership with NSW Health, Service NSW has developed a transaction that allows users to apply for a rebate designed to help with the costs of IVF and other Assisted Reproductive Technology treatments. Eligibility is based on the eligibility criteria set out in the policy and each application is manually assessed. |
Our Code of Ethics and Conduct
As a service provider for the NSW Government, individuals across NSW are affected by how we perform our functions. Service NSW employees are required to act in the public interest and are bound by the values described in our Code of Ethics and Conduct, being Passion, Teamwork, Accountability, Service, Integrity and Trust.
How the public can participate in what we do
Service NSW has a number of ways you can participate in what we do. We welcome your feedback, questions, comments and complaints. We keep customers at the heart of what we do, and use your feedback to improve what we do and how we do it.
You can contact us by our online feedback form or calling 13 77 88. You can also provide feedback in-person at a service centre.
We also seek public participation and feedback about our functions and policy development through formal feedback channels such as the NSW Government Have Your Say portal.
Subscription to our content
Service NSW advertises and promotes public participation in current policy development, review, and reform processes. The best way to participate is to subscribe to our mailing lists, newsletters, and social media pages, available at the following links:
Complaints
Service NSW is committed to providing excellent customer service and every attempt is made to deal with complaints on the spot, however, if you would like to submit a complaint, we would like to assure you that we will act in an open and honest manner, and within clear timeframes. For more information about our complaints handling process, please refer to Customer complaints.
Information access
Service NSW keep records associated with our core functions. These involve regulation and the provision of services. While performing our core functions, Service NSW may collect, store, use and disclose personal information of members of the public in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (PPIP Act).
You can browse our privacy statements and collection notices for individual Service NSW products and services.
What kinds of government information does Service NSW hold
We hold a range of information including:
- financial records: journals, reconciliation, bank statements, treasury management system computer reports, budgets, invoices, and purchase orders
- administration records: relating to the rental of premises, insurances, purchasing, business continuity requirements, disaster recovery and delegations register
- customer records: records of customers’ interactions with Service NSW including through its physical service centres, call centres, and digital services
- service partnership agreements: legal agreements setting out the terms and conditions of agencies’ arrangements with Service NSW
- personnel records: employee remuneration, performance appraisal and recruitment records
- executive records: executive and other committee minutes and correspondence
- human resource management records: relating to human resource management policies and practices
- information technology records: relating to information technology planning, acquisition, installation and disposal, including user and system manuals
- communication records: media releases, news clippings, marketing collateral, brand guidelines and presentations
- policy and procedural manuals: documenting Service NSW policies and operational procedures
- performance dashboard and statistics.
What kind of government information is made available to the public and how
We make information available under the GIPA Act in four ways:
- open access information
- proactive release of information
- informal access
- formal access.
Open access information
Our website includes a large volume of material that covers many policies and projects. We try to release as much government information as possible through our website or by request to gipa@customerservice.nsw.gov.au.
Under the GIPA Act, we are required to make certain information available, free of charge. This is called "open access information" and includes:
- annual reports
- register of government contracts
- policy documents
- media releases
- tabled documents in NSW Parliament
- Service NSW Agency Information Guide
- Code of Ethics and Conduct
- advertising compliance certificates
- disclosure log of access applications.
Our disclosure log is a record of information that Service NSW has released under the GIPA Act that we consider may be of interest to other members of the public. The Disclosure Log provides details about how information released through GIPA can be accessed. This log is regularly updated as Service NSW releases additional information under the GIPA Act.
If you have difficulties locating information or you feel certain information should be made available free of charge, please contact our GIPA Hotline on 02 9219 3700 or email gipa@customerservice.nsw.gov.au.
Proactive release and Open Data Policy
Service NSW’s program for the proactive release of information involves analysing data collected on requests for information under the GIPA Act over the financial year, considering the kinds of government information held by the agency that may be suitable for proactive release, and asking divisions and branches to consider information relevant to the agency that we want the public to know about and in accordance with the DCS Proactive Release of Government Information Policy.
Our open data practice is aligned to the NSW Government Open Data Policy and seeks to make appropriate government data available to industry and the community. Open data supports the open government principles of transparency, participation, collaboration and innovation. It augments the proactive release of information required under the GIPA Act. A range of open Service NSW data is available via Data NSW website.
Service NSW also proactively publishes a range of information and statistics on its performance dashboard.
Information available on informal request
The GIPA Act authorises the release of government information in response to an informal request unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure (section 8 of the GIPA Act).
If we have not freely published the information you seek as “open access information”, we may be able to release it to you without the need for a formal access application. We generally provide the following types of information in response to an informal request:
- your personal information
- copies of correspondence sent to us by you
- applications and supporting documents sent to us by you
- customer transaction database notes that contain only personal information about you
- documents that may have already been made public in some other way
- information that would not raise any potential public interest or privacy concerns.
This form of release does not require a fee or an application form. Information may be released with deletions, released subject to reasonable conditions, or released in a preferred form. We may impose conditions on the use or disclosure of information that is released in response to an informal request.
If you would like to make an informal request for information, please email gipa@customerservice.nsw.gov.au
Formal access applications for access to Service NSW information
If the information you are looking for is not published by us or available by informal request, you may wish to make a formal access application in writing under the GIPA Act. Access applications are subject to application fees and processing charges. We will not release information if there is an overriding public interest against its disclosure.
Your access application must include the following five things:
- be in writing and addressed to the agency
- clearly state you are requesting information under the GIPA Act
- include the $30 application fee
- include your name, an email address or return postal address for correspondence in connection with an application
- include such information as is reasonably necessary to enable the government information applied for to be identified.
If your application does not meet the above requirements, it will be invalid and the application will not be processed. However, to help you make a valid application, we will contact you to provide advice and assistance.
You can make a formal application by completing a GIPA application form or by visiting one of our service centres and submitting your application in person.
If you need any assistance submitting your application, please contact our GIPA team on 02 9219 3700 or email gipa@customerservice.nsw.gov.au.
Requests for personal information can also be made under the PPIP Act.
Formal access application fees and charges
Apart from the $30 application fee, the GIPA Act allows Service NSW to impose a charge of $30 per hour to process an application. The application fee counts towards the first hour of processing.
In processing a formal access application, Service NSW is required to ensure that it is dealt with efficiently and provides access to information requested at the lowest reasonable cost.
A 50% discount in processing charges will apply if an applicant demonstrates they fall within any of the following categories:
- a member of the public suffering financial hardship
- the information applied for is of special benefit to the public
- the holder of a current Pensioner Concession Card
- full-time students
- non-profit organisations.
Please note that the 50% discount applies only to processing charges and not to the $30 application fee.
If applying for your own personal information, Service NSW cannot charge for the first 20 hours of processing.
Decision-making process
Under the GIPA Act, Service NSW must disclose or release information unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure. Fundamental to our obligation to release information is acknowledging the overarching presumption in favour of disclosure of information.
This is the starting point for all decisions we make regarding information access, whether this is via:
- open access information
- proactive release of information
- informal access
- formal access.
Unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure, we must provide the information. There are some limited exceptions to this general rule, for example, where dealing with an application would constitute a significant and unreasonable diversion of an agency’s resources.
Service NSW will provide all access applications with a written explanation of the decisions we make under the GIPA Act.
Information held by other NSW Government agencies
Service NSW provides services and transactions on behalf of other Government agencies. Information relating to these transactions is often held by the relevant agency and Service NSW does not hold this information.
To access this information, you’ll need to contact the relevant agency directly.
Information held by Transport for NSW
Service NSW does not hold information on behalf of Transport for NSW. Common types of information held by Transport for NSW include:
- registration information for vehicles, trailers, caravans, motorcycles and boats
- Notice of Disposal information
- driver licence information, driving record and driver licence photo.
For more information, refer to Access to information.
Information which may not be disclosed
An access application cannot be made for information specifically excluded under Schedule 1 and 2 of the GIPA Act, such as information that relates to the complaint handling and investigative functions conferred by or under any other Act, or Cabinet or Executive Council information. That information is “excluded information” under the GIPA Act.
For some categories of information, while an access application may be made there is a presumption against release. The list of categories is set out at Schedule 1 of the GIPA Act.
You can find out more about your right to information by visiting the Information Privacy Commissioner NSW website.
Contact us
Our Information Access Team can be contacted using the details below:
GIPA Hotline:
02 9219 3700 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, excluding public holidays)
Email:
gipa@customerservice.nsw.gov.au
Post:
Service NSW GIPA Team
McKell Building
2-24 Rawson Place
Sydney NSW 2000
For other Service NSW enquiries that are not related to information access, please call us on 13 77 88.
To visit us in person, use our service centre locator. Or write to us at:
Service NSW
GPO Box 7057
Sydney NSW 2001