Dear Services Australia,

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to submit a formal Freedom of Information (FOI) request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 for access to documents and information related to measures taken to ensure accessibility to your services, both in person and online, for people with disabilities.

I am specifically interested in obtaining any information, documents, and data pertaining to the following areas:

1. Inclusive Accessibility Measures: Any policies, guidelines, or initiatives implemented to enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities, including but not limited to those with physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, and psychosocial disabilities.

2. Communication and Language, Inclusion and Accessibility: Information regarding inclusive communication supports, inclusive language accessibility, and inclusive accommodations provided to ALL individuals with disabilities, whether they are nonverbal or have other unique ways of communicating, including neurodivergent and autistic individuals who may require in-person communication.

3. Sensory-Appropriate Spaces: Details on the creation and maintenance of sensory-appropriate spaces to accommodate neurodivergent individuals and those with sensory sensitivities.

4. Face-to-Face Service Accessibility: Information on access to face-to-face services for individuals who require in-person communication for accessibility purposes with your agency.

5. Cognitive and Intellectual Disabilities: Any measures taken to address the needs of individuals with cognitive and intellectual disabilities to ensure they can access and benefit from your services.

6. Psychosocial Disabilities: Policies and practices related to the inclusion and support of individuals with psychosocial disabilities to promote their participation in your programs and services.

7. Accommodations: Details on accommodations that have been made for individuals with disabilities to access your services effectively.

8. Targeted Measures for Direct Engagement: Details about any targeted measures or initiatives undertaken to directly engage with individuals with disabilities (not just organizations representing them) to assess their needs and preferences, as well as ways to provide them with opportunities to participate and provide feedback.

9. Accessibility Policies and Guidelines: Copies of internal accessibility policies, guidelines, or procedures, as well as any relevant training materials for staff and service providers.

10. Internal Processes: Information on the internal processes and mechanisms in place to monitor and improve accessibility, including any data or reports related to accessibility outcomes.

I kindly request a copy of all relevant documents, reports, policies, emails, meeting minutes, and any other materials that pertain to the above topics. Please provide the most recent and up-to-date information available as well as any other older documents or information. As far back as possible.

Additionally, I request any other relevant documents or information relating to this topic that may be of interest. Please provide information in any form it is available, whether written by hand, in a document, memo, note, PDF file, MP3, MP4, or any other type of file or document. Please include any data or reports that may be relevant.

To assist with the processing of this request, I kindly request that the information be made available as an attached file on the Right to Know website (https://www.righttoknow.org.au/).

Given my financial circumstances as a pensioner, I kindly request that any fees associated with this request be waived.

I understand that the Freedom of Information Act 1982 requires a response within 30 days from the date of this request. If it is not possible to provide all the requested information within this timeframe, please provide an interim response outlining the steps being taken to fulfill this request.

I look forward to receiving the requested information and documents. If you require any further details or clarification to fulfill this request, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Renee

Dear Freedom of Information (FOI) Team at Services Australia,

Thank you for acknowledging my Freedom of Information request and for providing additional information on the process.

Charges:
I appreciate your note on the potential charges. As mentioned in my original request, I am a pensioner and kindly request that any fees associated with this FOI request be waived.

Your Address:
I confirm that the email address you are currently using to correspond with me is the appropriate channel for all correspondence and notices related to this FOI request. I will notify you promptly should there be any changes to this contact information.

Administrative Release of Documents:
I understand that some documents may be released administratively without the need for a formal FOI request. However, given the specific nature of my request, I assume that a formal FOI process will be necessary.

Exclusion of Staff Details:
I have no specific need for staff details, and I understand that their inclusion could extend the processing time and potentially incur additional charges.

Timeline:
As per the Freedom of Information Act 1982, I understand that a response is required within 30 days from the date of the original request. I look forward to receiving the requested information within this timeframe.

If you require any further clarification or details to fulfill this request, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Renee

Dear FREEDOMOFINFORMATION,
[Agency's Contact Person],

I am writing in response to your letter dated September 22, 2023, regarding my Freedom of Information (FOI) request. While I appreciate your feedback, I would like to rebut the claim that my request is too broad and does not sufficiently identify specific documents.

My request is comprehensive, covering ten different areas related to accessibility and inclusivity for people with disabilities. These areas are clearly defined and range from policies and guidelines to internal processes for monitoring accessibility. Each point in my request aims to gather information on a specific aspect of accessibility, making it both focused and exhaustive.

I understand the concern about the request being broad, but this breadth is intentional. From what I can gather, there seems to be limited information available on the agency's efforts in these areas. Therefore, a broad request is necessary to capture any and all relevant information, which may be scattered across various types of documents and departments.

Given the subject matter—accessibility and inclusivity for people with disabilities—I consider this request to be of high importance and urgency. The information sought is not just for my benefit but has broader implications for ensuring that the agency's services are accessible to all.

I kindly request that you reconsider the classification of my FOI request as being too broad or lacking specificity. I believe the request is both specific and clear in what information and data I am seeking. I have kept it broad to ensure that no relevant information is omitted, given the importance and urgency of the topic.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours sincerely,

Renee

Dear FREEDOMOFINFORMATION,
Thank you for your charming attempt to guide me through the labyrinth of the Freedom of Information Act. Although I appreciate the extra homework assignment, I must point out that my original request was not a whimsical wish list but a serious, legally mandated inquiry.

Allow me to clarify: I want access to all documents and information, dating back to 2016, related to:

Inclusive Accessibility Measures for ALL types of disabilities, including but not limited to neurodevelopmental disabilities and autism.
Communication, Language, Inclusion, and Accessibility
Sensory-Appropriate Spaces
Face-to-Face Service Accessibility
Cognitive and Intellectual Disabilities
Psychosocial Disabilities
Accommodations
Targeted Measures for Direct Engagement with disabled individuals, not just organizations claiming to represent them.
Accessibility Policies and Guidelines
Internal Processes for monitoring and improving accessibility
This request is not only reasonable but also essential, especially given your agency's track record with past controversies like the RoboDebt saga and the recent child support debacle. It's high time for a show of good faith and a restoration of public trust.

So, to be crystal clear, this isn't just a 'tick-the-box' exercise in bureaucratic formality. This is about upholding the principles of transparency, accountability, and democracy that the Freedom of Information Act 1982 was designed to protect.

I understand you'd like me to be 'specific,' so here's some specificity for you: The clock is ticking, and it's not just a metaphorical one. Let's avoid adding another chapter to the storybook of public distrust, shall we?

As for the delivery of these documents, I'd be thrilled to receive them in reverse chronological order at a rate of five documents per week. If this pace is too breakneck for your operations, I'm willing to negotiate down to a fortnightly delivery of a minimum of five documents until all requested documents have been provided.

Looking forward to your immediate and full compliance with this request.

Best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Renee

Dear FREEDOMOFINFORMATION,
Subject: Re: FOI Request Reference: LEX 76033 - Assertion of Specificity, Conciseness, and Reminder of Legal Obligations

I am writing in response to your letter dated 26th September, which suggests that my Freedom of Information (FOI) request is too broad and does not sufficiently identify the documents I require. I must respectfully disagree with this assessment for the following reasons:

Specificity, Clarity, and Conciseness
1. Unparalleled Specificity and Clarity: My request is segmented into ten distinct areas, each with a clear focus. Within each segment, I have meticulously detailed the types of documents, the nature of information, and even the time frame for which this information is sought. This level of granularity eliminates any room for ambiguity.

2. Conciseness: Despite its comprehensive nature, my request is concise, focusing only on essential aspects of accessibility and inclusivity. There is no extraneous or irrelevant information, making it as streamlined as possible.

Legal and Ethical Obligations
3. Legal Obligations: As a public agency, you are bound by the Freedom of Information Act 1982 to provide access to specific and well-defined information. My request is in full compliance with these legal requirements.

4. Accountability and Transparency: I have made this request on a public platform, thereby adding a layer of transparency and accountability to your agency's actions.

Importance of Subject Matter
5. Significance of the Topic: Given that the request pertains to the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), an organization that should be at the forefront of accountability and inclusion, the documents and information I have requested are of significant public interest.

I would appreciate it if you could specify which parts of my request you find too broad and why. If the issue is resource constraints, I request that this be clearly communicated. Failing to provide a satisfactory response not only undermines the principles of transparency and accountability but also neglects the legal obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

I look forward to your prompt reply within the stipulated 30-day response time as mandated by the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

Yours sincerely,

Yours sincerely,

Renee

Dear FREEDOMOFINFORMATION,

Subject: Re: FOI Request Reference: LEX 76033 - Assertion of Specificity, Comprehensive Identification of Document Types, and Request for Clarification

Dear Elizabeth,

Thank you for your email. I acknowledge the deadline of 5 October 2023 for revising my request and am responding within that timeframe. While I appreciate your effort to assist in refining my request, I must respectfully disagree with the assertion that my original request was not specific enough to identify the documents I am seeking.

Specificity, Clarity, and Comprehensive Identification
1. Unparalleled Specificity and Clarity: My original request was segmented into distinct areas, each with a clear focus. Within each segment, I meticulously detailed the types of documents and the nature of information sought, along with a specific time frame. This level of granularity should eliminate any room for ambiguity.

2. Comprehensive Identification of Document Types: To address your concern that my request did not sufficiently identify the types of documents, I would like to clarify that I am seeking any of the following types of documents: policies, guidelines, roadmaps, procedures, meeting minutes, emails, strategies, processes, inquiries, reports, memos, briefs, presentations, spreadsheets, and any other official documents that fall within the scope of my request.

Request for Clarification
3. Clarification on "Information" and "Documents": Could you please specify what it is about the terms "information" and "documents" that you find too broad? I intended for these terms to encompass anything that relates to the topics specified in my request.

Legal and Ethical Obligations
4. Legal Obligations: As a public agency, you are bound by the Freedom of Information Act 1982 to provide access to specific and well-defined information. My request is in full compliance with these legal requirements, as supported by Section 15(2)(b) and Section 24AA(1)(b) of the Act.

5. Accountability and Transparency: I have made this request on a public platform, thereby adding a layer of transparency and accountability to your agency's actions.

6. Public Interest: The information I am seeking serves a broader public interest, reinforcing the importance of transparency and accountability.

Next Steps and Record-Keeping
7. Next Steps: I expect a re-evaluation of my original request in light of this clarification. I am open to further dialogue and can be reached at [alternative contact information].

8. Record-Keeping: Please note that I am keeping records of all correspondence related to this request for future reference.

Given the comprehensive nature of my original request and the additional clarification provided here, I see no reason for a 'practical refusal' to apply. I look forward to your prompt reply within the stipulated 30-day response time as mandated by the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

Yours sincerely,

Renee