Our reference: FOI 24/25-0230
GPO Box 700
Canberra ACT 2601
1800 800 110
4 October 2024
ndis.gov.au
Gabriel
By email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Gabriel
Freedom of Information request — Notification of Decision
Thank you for your correspondence of 22 August 2024
(your correspondence), seeking
access under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) to documents held by the
National Disability Insurance Agency
(NDIA).
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with a decision on your request.
Scope of your request
You have requested access to the following documents:
“I would like to request any NDIS internal documents which provide guidance for the
interpretation of the World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule
(WHODAS)”
Extension of time
On 18 September 2024, you agreed to a 30-day extension of time under section 15AA of the
FOI Act, making 23 October 2024 the new date to provide you with a decision on access.
Search efforts
The NDIA’s Service Design Branch searched for, and located three (3) documents relevant
to the scope of your request.
Decision
I am authorised to make decisions under section 23(1) of the FOI Act. My decision on your
request and the reasons for my decision are set out below.
I have decided to provide access to all 3 documents in part, with information irrelevant to the
scope of your request removed pursuant to section 22 of the FOI Act.
Reasons for decision
In reaching my decision, I took the following into account:
your correspondence outlining the scope of your request
the nature and content of the documents falling within the scope of your request
the FOI Act
the FOI Guidelines published under section 93A of the FOI Act
the result of consultation with relevant NDIA staff
factors relevant to my assessment of whether or not disclosure would be in the public
interest
the NDIA’s operating environment and functions.
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Access to edited copies with exempt or irrelevant material deleted (section 22)
Documents one and two are guides on how to complete the WHODAS and enter the
information into our systems. Document three is a presentation about the WHODAS, with
guidance about how to ask questions of participants.
I have considered some of the information described above as irrelevant to your request as
your request was for ‘interpretation of the WHODAS’. Therefore, pursuant to section 22 of
the FOI Act, I have removed the information I consider irrelevant to your request and have
prepared an edited copy of the documents.
The NDIA’s Service Design Branch was unable to locate any documents specifically
interpreting the WHODAS, and I note in document three, specifications were taken from the
WHODAS 2.0 manual.
Release of documents
The documents for release, as referred to in the Schedule of Documents at
Attachment A,
are enclosed.
Rights of review
Your rights to seek a review of my decision, or lodge a complaint, are set out at
Attachment B.
Should you have any enquiries concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me
by email at xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx.
Yours sincerely
Patrick (PHO293)
Senior Freedom of Information Officer
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
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Attachment A
Schedule of Documents for FOI 24/25-0230
Document
Page
Description
Access Decision
Comments
number
number
1 1-2
SOP Complete the WHODAS
PARTIAL ACCESS
Irrelevant material removed
under section 22 of the FOI Act
Date: 10 February 2021
Pages removed 2 to 4
2 3-8
Record Assessment – WHODAS
PARTIAL ACCESS
Irrelevant material removed
under section 22 of the FOI Act
Date: 9 June 2023
Pages removed 7 to 8
3 9-21
The WHODAS schedule 2.0 PowerPoint
PARTIAL ACCESS
Irrelevant material removed
Presentation
under section 22 of the FOI Act
Pages removed 11 to 12 and
Date: April 2017
17 to 20
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Attachment B
Your review rights
Internal Review
The FOI Act gives you the right to apply for an internal review of this decision. The review
will be conducted by a different person to the person who made the original decision.
If you wish to seek an internal review of the decision, you must apply for the review, in
writing, within 30 days of receipt of this letter.
No particular form is required for an application for internal review, but to assist the review
process, you should clearly outline your grounds for review (that is, the reasons why you
disagree with the decision). Applications for internal review can be lodged by email to
xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx or sent by post to:
Freedom of Information Section
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
GPO Box 700
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Review by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
The FOI Act also gives you the right to apply to the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner (OAIC) to seek a review of this decision.
If you wish to have the decision reviewed by the OAIC, you may apply for the review, in
writing, or by using the online merits review form available on the OAIC’s website at
www.oaic.gov.au, within 60 days of receipt of this letter.
Applications for review can be lodged with the OAIC in the following ways:
Online:
www.oaic.gov.au
Post:
GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
Email:
xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
Phone:
1300 363 992 (local call charge)
Complaints to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner or the
Commonwealth Ombudsman
You may complain to either the Commonwealth Ombudsman or the OAIC about actions
taken by the NDIA in relation to your request. The Ombudsman will consult with the OAIC
before investigating a complaint about the handling of an FOI request.
Your complaint to the OAIC can be directed to the contact details identified above. Your
complaint to the Ombudsman can be directed to:
Phone:
1300 362 072 (local call charge)
Email:
xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Your complaint should be in writing and should set out the grounds on which it is considered
that the actions taken in relation to the request should be investigated.
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