DEFENCE FOI 881/23/24 
STATEMENT OF REASONS UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982 
1. 
I refer to the request by Ghyas Alam (the applicant), dated and received on  
3 May 2024 by the Department of Defence (Defence), for access to the following 
documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act): 
I am writing  to  request  information  regarding the number of  people with disabilities 
who have applied for APS positions through the Recruitability Scheme, as well as their 
success rates in securing employment within Department of Defence. 
Please  include  details  such  as  the  total  number  of  applicants  with  disabilities,  the 
number  of  successful  applicants  offered  positions,  and  any  relevant  demographic 
breakdowns  or  trends observed within  Department  of  Defence.  Additionally, if there 
are any existing reports or publications on this topic, I would be grateful to receive them 
alongside the requested data. 
Background 
2. 
On 29 May 2024, Defence sought clarification from the applicant regarding the scope 
of their request. On 31 May 2024, the applicant agreed to revise their request to be for 
material relating to the previous financial year (22/23) and the current financial year 
(23/24) only. 
3. 
On 31 May 2024, with the applicant’s written agreement Defence extended the period 
for dealing with the request from 2 June 2024 until 16 June 2024 in accordance with 
section 15AA [extension of time with agreement] of the FOI Act.  
FOI decision maker 
4. 
I am the authorised officer pursuant to section 23 of the FOI Act to make a decision on 
this FOI request. 
Documents identified 
5. 
I have identified two documents as falling within the scope of the request.  
6. 
One of the documents was generated under section 17 of the FOI Act matching the 
scope of the applicant’s request whereby: 
a) 
the document was produced using ‘a computer or other equipment that is 
ordinarily available to the agency for retrieving or collating stored 
information’ s17(1)(c)(i); and 
b) 
producing the document did not substantially and unreasonably divert 
resources of the agency from its other operations s17(2).  
7. 
The decision in relation to each document is detailed in the schedule of documents.  

---

2 
 
Decision 
8. 
I have decided to: 
a.  release the document created in accordance with section 17 [Requests involving 
use of computers etc.] of the FOI Act in full, and 
b.  release the second document in full. 
Material taken into account 
9. 
In making my decision, I have had regard to: 
a.  the terms of the request; 
b.  the content of the identified documents in issue; 
c.  relevant provisions of the FOI Act; and 
d.  the  Guidelines  published  by  the  Office  of  the  Australian  Information 
Commissioner under section 93A of the FOI Act (the Guidelines). 
 
Digitally signed by 
 
Bronwyn 
 
Bronwyn GRAHAM 
GRAHAMDate: 2024.06.14 
10:09:21 +10'00'
Bronwyn Graham   
Accredited Decision Maker 
Defence People Group 
Department of Defence 
 
 

---