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This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Internal communications regarding research paper 'Applied behaviour analysis and positive behaviour support'''.



Our reference: FOI 24/25-0855 
 
GPO Box 700 
Canberra   ACT   2601 
1800 800 110 
19 March 2024 
ndis.gov.au 
 
 
David Wright 
 
By email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx 
 
 
Dear David Wright 
 
Freedom of Information request — Notice of Decision 
 
Thank you for your correspondence of 29 November 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: 
 
“FOI 24/25-0514 (document 1) contains the research paper 'Applied behaviour 
analysis and positive behaviour support'. 
 
Page 1 of the document provides the following information about the preparation and 
approval of the document (with surnames redacted): 
 
Requestor: Kim 
Endorsed by (EL1 or above): Naomi 
Researcher: Aaron 
Cleared by: Shane 
 
I request all communications by or with Kim, Naomi, Aaron and Shane - amongst 
themselves, or by any of these people with anyone else at the NDIA - concerning this 
research paper. 
 
I also request all draft copies of the paper which were prepared prior to its final 
approval. 
 
Surnames are not relevant to my request - they can be redacted from any documents 
provided to me." 
 
Extension of time 
The FOI Act provides 30 calendar days for the processing of an FOI request after it is 
received. As your valid FOI request was received on 29 November 2024, the original due 
date for your request was 29 December 2024. 
 
On 9 December 2024, you agreed via email to a 30-day extension of time under section 
15AA of the FOI Act, making 28 January 2025 the new date to provide you with a decision 
on access. 
 
1 
As described in our email, the extension of time was requested because the agency is 
currently experiencing a high volume of FOI requests. I apologise for the delay this has 
caused in providing you with a decision. 
 
Expiration of time 
As we were not able to complete your application by the legislated due date of 29 January 
2025, your application is regarded as a deemed refusal under section 15AC of the FOI Act.  
 
Despite this, I have continued to process your application. I apologise for the delay and 
confirm that you retain your right to seek external review of this decision. Details are set out 
in Attachment B to this letter. 
 
Searches conducted 
I engaged in consultations with the following business area to obtain documents within their 
possession which may fall within the scope of your FOI request: 
 
  Technical Advice and Practice Improvement Branch 
 
As a result of this search, 11 documents were located relevant to the scope of your request. 
This search was undertaken between 14 February and 24 February 2025 and was overseen 
by senior staff within the business area.  
 
I was also notified that Kim no longer works for the agency, therefore I also engaged in 
consultations with the following business area for searches of the agencies email server for 
documents which may fall within the scope of your request: 
 
  Cyber Security Operations 
 
A search was performed on the email server using the following parameters: 
 
  All emails to or from Kim 
  Keywords of ‘Applied behaviour Analysis and Positive Behaviour Support’ or ‘RES 
246’ or ‘ABA and positive behaviour support’ 
  Timeframe of 15/06/2022 to 31/08/2022 
 
As a result of this search, 10 documents were located relevant to the scope of your request. 
This search was undertaken between 24 February and 3 March 2025. 
 
Decision 
I am the authorised officer pursuant to section 23(1) of the FOI Act to make a decision on 
this FOI request. 
 
In total 21 documents relevant to the scope of your request have been located, I have 
decided to: 
 
  Grant access in part to 21 documents in accordance with section 22 – Access to 
edited copies with exempt or irrelevant matter deleted on the grounds that the 
deleted material is irrelevant to your request. 
  Remove irrelevant material in accordance with section 22 of the FOI Act 
 
Section 22 – Access to edited copies with exempt or irrelevant material deleted 
Section 22 of the FOI Act permits an agency to prepare and provide an edited copy of a 
document where the agency has decided to refuse access to an exempt document or that to 
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give access to a document would disclose information that would reasonably be regarded as 
irrelevant to the request for access. 
 
On 9 December 2024, you confirmed via email that you had no objections to surnames and 
contact details of NDIS staff being considered irrelevant to the scope of your request. 
 
I have identified irrelevant material in 21 documents and am satisfied that it is reasonably 
practicable to remove this material and release the documents to you in material form. 
 
The decision in relation to each document is detailed in the schedule of documents at 
Attachment A. 
 
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 
 
3 

 
Attachment A 
 
Schedule of Documents for FOI 24/25-0855 
 
Document 
Page 
Description 
Access Decision 
Comments 
number 
number 
1 1 
Email 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Subject: RE: RES 246 Scope of ABA 
under section 22 of the FOI 
 
Act 
Date: 7 July 2022 
2 2 
Email 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Subject: RES 246 Scope of ABA 
under section 22 of the FOI 
 
Act 
Date: 7 July 2022 
3 3 
Email 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Subject: RES 246 ABA and Positive behaviour support 
under section 22 of the FOI 
 
Act 
Date: 21 July 2022 
4 4 
Email 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Subject: RE: RES 246 ABA and Positive behaviour support 
under section 22 of the FOI 
 
Act 
Date: 22 July 2022 
5 5 
Email 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Subject: Cleared: RES 246 Applied Behaviour Analysis and 
under section 22 of the FOI 
Positive Behaviour Support 
Act 
 
Date: 25 July 2022 
5.1 6-14 
Attachment to Document 5 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Research Paper - Applied behaviour analysis and positive 
under section 22 of the FOI 
behaviour support v1 
Act 
 
Date: 25 July 2022 
 
 
6 
6 15 
Email 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Subject: FW: Cleared: RES 246 Applied Behaviour Analysis 
under section 22 of the FOI 
and Positive Behaviour Support 
Act 
 
Date: 29 July 2022 
6.1 16-24 
Attachment to Document 6 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Research Paper - Applied behaviour analysis and positive 
under section 22 of the FOI 
behaviour support v1 
Act 
 
Date: 25 July 2022 
7 25 
Email 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Subject: FW: Cleared: RES 246 Applied Behaviour Analysis 
under section 22 of the FOI 
and Positive Behaviour Support 
Act 
 
Date: 25 August 2022 
7.1 26-34 
Attachment to Document 7 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Research Paper - Applied behaviour analysis and positive 
under section 22 of the FOI 
behaviour support v1 
Act 
 
Date: 25 July 2022 
8 35 
Email 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Subject: FW: Cleared: RES 246 Applied Behaviour Analysis 
under section 22 of the FOI 
and Positive Behaviour Support 
Act 
 
Date: 25 August 2022 
8.1 36-44 
Attachment to Document 8 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Research Paper - Applied behaviour analysis and positive 
under section 22 of the FOI 
behaviour support v1 
Act 
 
Date: 25 July 2022 
9 45-46 
Email 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Subject: RE: Research 
under section 22 of the FOI 
 
Act 
Date: 31 May 2022 
5 
9.1 47-54 
Attachment to Document 9 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Research Request – Applied Behaviour Analysis 
under section 22 of the FOI 
 
Act 
Date: 22 July 2019 
10 55 
Email 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Subject: RE: RES 246 Scope of ABA 
under section 22 of the FOI 
 
Act 
Date: 7 July 2022 
11 56 
Email 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Subject: RE: RES 246 ABA and Positive behaviour support 
under section 22 of the FOI 
 
Act 
Date: 22 July 2022 
12 57 
Email 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Subject: RES 246 ABA and positive behaviour support.docx 
under section 22 of the FOI 
 
Act 
Date: 25 July 2022 
12.1 58-66 
Attachment to Document 12 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Research Paper - Applied behaviour analysis and positive 
under section 22 of the FOI 
behaviour support draft v.01 
Act 
 
Date: 21 July 2022 
13 67 
Email 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Subject: For Clearance: RES 246 ABA and positive 
under section 22 of the FOI 
behaviour support 
Act 
 
Date: 21 July 2022 
13.1 68-76 
Attachment to Document 13 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Research Paper - Applied behaviour analysis and positive 
under section 22 of the FOI 
behaviour support draft v.01 
Act 
 
Date: 21 July 2022 
 
 
6 
14 77-78 
Email 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Irrelevant material removed 
Subject: RE: RES 246 ABA and positive behaviour 
under section 22 of the FOI 
support.docx 
Act 
 
Date: 25 July 2022 
 
7 

 
ATTACHMENT B 
Your review rights  
 
As this matter was a deemed refusal, internal review of this decision is not an option. 
However, if you have concern with any aspect of this decision, please contact the NDIA FOI 
team by email xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx or by post: 
 
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 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 the matter becoming deemed.  
 
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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