The NSW Ministry of Health’s information guide details who we are, what we do and how members of the public, community organisations, the media and government agencies can interact with us.
It is updated regularly to ensure that it provides an accurate picture of our work delivering public health services in New South Wales.
On 5 October 2011 the NSW Department of Health became the NSW Ministry of Health in accordance with an order under the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002.
The NSW Ministry of Health monitors the performance of the NSW public health system, known as NSW Health, and supports the executive and statutory roles of the Health cluster and portfolio Ministers. This includes promoting, protecting, developing, maintaining and improving the health and well-being of the people of NSW, while considering the needs of the State and the finances and resources available.
Our vision is for everyone in NSW Health to work together to achieve "Healthy People - now and in the future".
Our goals are to:
We report our performance against these goals in our Annual Report including information on the current structure and functions of the NSW Ministry of Health.
Under section 4 of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 the NSW Ministry of Health is a separate agency to each of the 15 local health districts, NSW Ambulance, Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, Sydney Children's Hospital Network and St Vincents Health Network. If you are seeking access to documents held by one or more of these agencies, then you will need to make an application direct to that agency. Contact details are available.
The street address of the NSW Ministry of Health is located at:1 Reserve RoadSt Leonards NSW 2065Australia
The postal address of the NSW Ministry of Health is:
Locked Mail Bag 2030St Leonards NSW 1590Australia
Within Australia (02) 9391 9000Outside Australia 61 2 9391 9000
Within Australia (02) 9391 9101Outside Australia 61 2 9391 9101
Deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired customers can contact us through the National Relay Service:
Alternatively, Deaf TTY users can contact us directly on (02) 9391 9900 or 61 2 9391 9900 (outside Australia).
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The NSW Ministry of Health is led by a Secretary.
The Secretary has overall responsibility for the management and oversight of NSW Health.
Further information on the Divisions of the NSW Ministry of Health is available.
The NSW Ministry of Health involves the community and others in the development of community based services to meet current and future public health needs. This includes developing effective working relationships with clinicians, consumers and carers to gain their participation in policy development, planning and delivery of patient journeys.
In addition to the NSW Ministry of Health, NSW Health comprises 15 local health districts, specialty networks, statutory health corporations and affiliated health organisations.
The 15 local health districts commenced operation in NSW on 1 July 2011. Eight local health districts cover the Sydney metropolitan region, and seven cover rural and regional NSW. These 15 geographic local health districts replace the previous 8 Area Health Services across NSW.
In addition, two specialist networks have been established – the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (Randwick and Westmead) focusing on children's and paediatric services and the Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network. A third Network will operate across the public health services provided by three Sydney facilities operated by St Vincent's Health: these include St Vincent's Hospital and the Sacred Heart Hospice at Darlinghurst and St Joseph's at Auburn.
The local health districts are administered by a Chief Executive and Local Health District Boards that include local clinicians, health and health care management experts and community representatives.
The NSW Ambulance is responsible for the delivery of front line pre-hospital care, medical retrieval and health related transport.
Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network provides health care in a complex environment to people in the adult correctional system, to those in courts and police cells, to juvenile detainees and to those within the NSW forensic mental health system and in the community.
Under section 4 of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 the NSW Ministry of Health is a separate agency to each of the 15 local health districts, NSW Ambulance, Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network and specialty networks. If you are seeking access to documents held by one or more of the above agencies, then you will need to make an application direct to that agency.
Find out more about other NSW Health agencies.
The NSW Ministry of Health maintains a comprehensive internet site. The NSW Health website includes a wide range of information on health matters, the health workforce, hospitals and other health services, publications and projects.
Policy directives, guidelines and information bulletins can be accessed directly.
Unless otherwise stated, documents available on the website can be downloaded free of charge. Alternatively, you may contact us on 9391 9000.
The NSW Ministry of Health is required to keep a register of government contracts that record information about each contract that has, or is likely to have a value of $150,000 or more. Details concerning all NSW Health contracts are available at the NSW eTendering website.
Access to NSW Ministry of Health information may be considered through either formal or informal applications.
A request may be made at any time for other information held by the Ministry. While the Ministry reserves the right to require a formal access application to be made, the Ministry will generally provide these types of information in response to an informal request, without the need to make a formal access application:
The Ministry reserves the right impose conditions in relation to the use or disclosure of information that is released in response to an informal request.
There is no requirement to complete a formal access application and there is no application fee. In some situations, charges may be incurred for services such as photocopying.
An access application may be made for all other information held by the Ministry.
Applications for access to information under the provisions of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 should be in writing, accompanied by the $30 application fee and certified proof of identification if you are seeking access to personal information. (Formal GIPA application).
Formal and Informal applications should be directed to:
GIPA SpecialistCorporate Governance and Risk ManagementNSW Ministry of HealthLocked Mail Bag 961 North Sydney NSW 2059
For GIPA related enquiries, please email us.
For all non-GIPA related enquiries to the NSW Ministry of Health functions, please email the Ministry.
Open access information not released by the NSW Ministry of Health due to an overriding public interest against disclosure.
As the NSW Ministry of Health makes decisions about open access information that may not be disclosed due to an overriding public interest, it will publish this information on this website. This will detail the information requested and the reasons behind the NSW Ministry of Health deciding not to release the information.
The NSW Ministry of Health does not hold the personal medical records of patients. Patient medical records are generally held by health facilities.
Medical records can be accessed under the GIPA Act but are generally accessed under the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (HRIPA). The Medical Records Department in the relevant hospital can help you apply for your medical record under HRIPA. Please contact the Hospital you attended to arrange access to your Medical Records.
