Date: Thu, 13 May 2021 16:47:45 +1000
Subject: Internal review of Freedom of Information request - Information on interviewees for the Autism Early Intervention Consultation Paper
From: "Claire C." <xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx>
To: foi <xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>

Dear foi,

Thank you for your reply. The full Autism CRC report you linked me to does NOT list 58 interview subjects. The word "interviews" does not occur in the report. The word "interview" appears once in the context of the phrase "Autism Diagnostic Interview" in a table. The number "58" occurs in reference to systemic reviews, not interviews. Interviews and systematic reviews are two entirely different things.

Is the list of interview subjects available elsewhere? If not, why did the NDIS consultation paper state, as you noted:

“…The (umbrella) review paper presents summaries of the latest research
evidence on interventions for children on the autism spectrum. This
included 58 interviews and 1787 unique studies.”

... if interviews did not actually occur?

Yours sincerely,

Claire C.

-----Original Message-----

Dear Claire C

 

Thank you for your request for information.

 

The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) provides a person a legally
enforceable right to obtain access to documents; however, the FOI Act does
not impose an obligation on a Commonwealth entity to provide documents
already in the public domain, or otherwise publicly accessible.

 

We have undertaken reasonable searches and identified that the documents
you are seeking are publicly available.

 

For your convenience, I provide here links to the public documents you are
seeking access to:

·       AutismCRC’s [1]Interventions for children on the autism spectrum
research paper  

 

Consultations with relevant business areas revealed that your request
relates to an external research paper, titled ‘Interventions for children
on the autism spectrum,’ specifically a section of the paper titled
‘Umbrella Review.’ We note this passage taken from the consultation paper:

 

“…The (umbrella) review paper presents summaries of the latest research
evidence on interventions for children on the autism spectrum. This
included 58 interviews and 1787 unique studies.”

 

The complete research paper, including sources and references, can be
obtained on [2]AutismCRC’s website. We note that an email registration is
required to obtain the report, but it is otherwise free of cost.

 

Given the documents and information you are seeking are publicly
available, we are closing your request.

 

Please contact us at [3][NDIA request email] if you have any questions.

 

Kind regards

 

Freedom of Information Officer

Parliamentary, Ministerial and FOI Branch

Government Division

National Disability Insurance Agency

E: [4][NDIA request email]

[5]NDIA

The NDIA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout
Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to them and their cultures and to Elders past, present
and emerging. 

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.autismcrc.com.au/interventions-evidence
2. https://www.autismcrc.com.au/
3. mailto:[NDIA request email]
4. mailto:[NDIA request email]

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