Thank you for your email to the National Disability Insurance Agency
(NDIA) Freedom of Information (FOI) team.      

If your email relates to an FOI application made under the
Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), we will respond to
you as soon as practicable.     

This email address is for applications under the FOI Act only. Our team is
unable to respond to non-FOI related enquiries sent to this email address.
Any correspondence received that is not related to an FOI request will not
be responded to or forwarded.    

Please be aware: due to a high volume of requests, our ability to respond
to you in a timely manner has been affected. However, we will action your
request as soon as possible. In addition, we are currently experiencing
delays in processing FOI requests. As a result, whilst we will endeavour
to process your matter within the [1]legislative deadlines, we may need to
ask for an extension of time. We appreciate your understanding if this is
required.   

The NDIA has a number of other ways to access the documents and
information that we hold. Please visit our [2]Access to
Information webpage to find out more about accessing information
through:   

o The [3]myplace portal for participants   
o The [4]myplace portal for providers   
o The [5]Participant Information Access (PIA) scheme   
o The [6]Information Publication Scheme (IPS)  

You can also request data and statistics outside of the FOI Act. Please
visit our [7]Data and insights webpage page for further information. 

Information about how to make an FOI request can be found on our
website: [8]Freedom of Information | NDIS. The FOI Act sets out the
criteria that must be met for a request to be considered. The request you
send us must:    

o be in writing    
o state that the request is an application for the purposes of the FOI
Act    
o provide enough information to allow us to identify the documents you
are requesting    
o provide an address for reply, either electronic or hard copy.     

If you have questions about making an FOI request, or to enquire about a
current FOI request, please email us with your preferred contact method
and an FOI Decision Maker will contact you.  

Should you have a query unrelated to FOI, please contact the Agency by
email at [9][email address] or via webchat at [10]NDIA Web Chat
(ndis.gov.au). Alternatively, you can also contact us by phoning 1800 800
110.   

Kind regards   

Freedom of Information Team  
Parliamentary, Ministerial and FOI Branch  
Government Division  
National Disability Insurance Agency  
E: [11][NDIA request email]     

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References

Visible links
1. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
2. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
3. https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/usi...
4. https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/workin...
5. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
6. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
7. https://data.ndis.gov.au/
8. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
9. mailto:[email address]
10. https://nccchat.ndis.gov.au/i3root/
11. mailto:[NDIA request email]

Dear Karen and Rob Stewart

Thank you for your request for information.

Please find attached correspondence in relation to your request.  If you
require this in a different format, please let us know.

Please contact us at [1][NDIA request email] if you have any questions or
require help.

Thank you.

Kind regards

Jennifer
Senior Freedom of Information Officer

Parliamentary, Ministerial and FOI Branch

Government Division

National Disability Insurance Agency

E: [2][NDIA request email]

[3]Title: NDIS delivered by the National Disability Insurance Agency

[4]LGBTIQA+ rainbow graphic

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.

[5]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags graphic

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References

Visible links
1. mailto:[NDIA request email]
2. mailto:[NDIA request email]
4. https://intranet.ndiastaff.ndia.gov.au/h...

Good afternoon Rob

Thank you for your email dated 4 September 2023 in which you advised me of
your refined scope in response to my consultation letter to you on 28
August 2023.

I confirm you have advised your revised scope as follows:

o The text of the full questionnaire and methodology used to carry out
the evaluation of the Tasmanian PACE trial;
o The number of respondents who participated in the evaluation;
o The number of NDIS participants who were involved in responding to the
evaluation; and
o Any final report or correspondence to the NDIA/Minister about the
evaluation and the decision to proceed with the PACE rollout across
Australia.

I confirm based on above, I now consider the practical refusal reason
removed and I am happy to proceed with your application, however I note
that dot points 2 and 3 are questions requiring answers rather than a
request for access to documents. On this basis, I suggest that I ask the
questions of the business unit and provide the responses to you
administratively, outside to the FOI process and carry on processing your
FOI request as follows:

o The text of the full questionnaire and methodology used to carry out
the evaluation of the Tasmanian PACE trial; and
o Any final report or correspondence to the NDIA/Minister about the
evaluation and the decision to proceed with the PACE rollout across
Australia.

I will respond to Dot points 2 and 3 in the covering email when releasing
my decision on access and will proceed on this basis unless I hear from
you to the contrary.

I advise that the new due date for a decision on access is now 16
September 2023.

Again, thank you for taking the time to review the information located in
the links provided earlier and for refining your scope accordingly. It is
very much appreciated.

Kind regards

Jennifer

Senior Freedom of Information Officer

Government Division

National Disability Insurance Agency

T: (07) 1800 800 110

E: [1][NDIA request email]

[2]Title: NDIS delivered by the National Disability Insurance Agency

[3]LGBTIQA+ rainbow graphic

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.

[4]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags graphic

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[NDIA request email]
3. https://intranet.ndiastaff.ndia.gov.au/h...

Good morning Karen and Rob

I hope you are well.

With regards to your FOI application referenced above, I have only
recently received the documents responsive to your scope, therefore I am
seeking your agreement for a 5-day extension of time under section 15AA of
the FOI Act.  

If you agree to this extension, the new due date for a decision on your
request will be Thursday 21 September 2023.

If you don’t agree, the due date remains Saturday, 16 September 2023,
making the due date the next business day, being Monday 18 September 2023
(in line with section 36(2) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901).

I note that I will attempt to finalise your matter as soon as possible but
would greatly appreciate the extra time for thoroughness.

Please let us know whether you agree by at your earliest convenience by
responding to this email.

Kind regards

Jennifer

Senior Freedom of Information Officer

Parliamentary, Ministerial and FOI Branch

Government Division

National Disability Insurance Agency

E: [1][NDIA request email]

[2]Title: NDIS delivered by the National Disability Insurance Agency

[3]LGBTIQA+ rainbow graphic

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.

[4]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags graphic

From: foi <[NDIA request email]>
Sent: Friday, September 8, 2023 1:17 PM
To: '[FOI #10546 email]'
<[FOI #10546 email]>
Cc: foi <[NDIA request email]>
Subject: FOI 23/24-0145 - Request Consultation - Response [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Good afternoon Rob

Thank you for your email dated 4 September 2023 in which you advised me of
your refined scope in response to my consultation letter to you on 28
August 2023.

I confirm you have advised your revised scope as follows:

o The text of the full questionnaire and methodology used to carry out
the evaluation of the Tasmanian PACE trial;
o The number of respondents who participated in the evaluation;
o The number of NDIS participants who were involved in responding to the
evaluation; and
o Any final report or correspondence to the NDIA/Minister about the
evaluation and the decision to proceed with the PACE rollout across
Australia.

I confirm based on above, I now consider the practical refusal reason
removed and I am happy to proceed with your application, however I note
that dot points 2 and 3 are questions requiring answers rather than a
request for access to documents. On this basis, I suggest that I ask the
questions of the business unit and provide the responses to you
administratively, outside to the FOI process and carry on processing your
FOI request as follows:

o The text of the full questionnaire and methodology used to carry out
the evaluation of the Tasmanian PACE trial; and
o Any final report or correspondence to the NDIA/Minister about the
evaluation and the decision to proceed with the PACE rollout across
Australia.

I will respond to Dot points 2 and 3 in the covering email when releasing
my decision on access and will proceed on this basis unless I hear from
you to the contrary.

I advise that the new due date for a decision on access is now 16
September 2023.

Again, thank you for taking the time to review the information located in
the links provided earlier and for refining your scope accordingly. It is
very much appreciated.

Kind regards

Jennifer

Senior Freedom of Information Officer

Government Division

National Disability Insurance Agency

T: (07) 1800 800 110

E: [5][NDIA request email]

[6]Title: NDIS delivered by the National Disability Insurance Agency

[7]LGBTIQA+ rainbow graphic

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.

[8]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags graphic

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[NDIA request email]
3. https://intranet.ndiastaff.ndia.gov.au/h...
5. mailto:[NDIA request email]
7. https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Dear Karen and Rob Stewart

Thank you for your request for information.

Please find attached correspondence and documents in relation to your
request.  If you require these in a different format, please let us know.

With regards to your questions, I can advise I have been provided with the
following responses:

The number of respondents who participated in the evaluation.

Surveys

o We surveyed both participants and providers involved in the test in
Tasmania.
o We received survey responses from more than 400 people with
disability, participants and their family and carers. Surveys were
sent to participants, their family members, and carers after they
interacted with the NDIS, such as an access request or plan
reassessment. Of the responses we got back, 155 came from
participants. We also surveyed Tasmanian providers and received close
to 150 responses.

Tasmanian Disability Representative and Carer Organisations

o We asked Tasmanian Disability Representative and Carer Organisations
to run focus groups with participants and their supporters. 
o These organisations sent out 26 surveys and held 43 focus groups with
more than 140 participants, families, and carers of people with
disability between December 2022 and March 2023.
o In addition to the focus groups and surveys, the NDIA met with
Tasmanian Disability Representative and Carer Organisations every 4
weeks. We held these meetings regularly and frequently before the
Tasmania test started, and through the evaluation period. We wanted to
hear from Tasmanian Disability Representative and Carer Organisations
how the test was going in the community and to gather informal
feedback. These organisations also helped us promote community
engagement activities in Tasmania with their members.

Focus groups, virtual and in-person engagement sessions

o We held focus groups with our national Participant Reference Group, as
well as 15 virtual and 6 in-person community engagement sessions in
Hobart, Devonport, and Launceston. Over 340 people, participants,
families, and carers attended these activities.
o We held 24 Tasmanian provider working groups sessions for general
providers, support coordinators and plan managers with over 1,859
registered attendees.
o Throughout the evaluation period we held 25 Tasmanian provider
question and answer sessions to capture feedback. This was supported
by a national provider working group which had over 2,546 registered
attendees at these engagement sessions. 

The number of NDIS participants who were involved in responding to the
evaluation.

o As above and more than 1,600 participants were involved in the
Tasmania test during the evaluation period.

Please contact us at [1][NDIA request email] if you have any questions or
require help.

Thank you.

Kind regards

Jennifer
Freedom of Information Officer

Parliamentary, Ministerial and FOI Branch

Government Division

National Disability Insurance Agency

E: [2][NDIA request email]

[3]Title: NDIS delivered by the National Disability Insurance Agency

[4]LGBTIQA+ rainbow graphic

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.

[5]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags graphic

show quoted sections