'Interventions for children on the autism spectrum' - consultation paper outputs
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
I refer to the NDIA consultation paper 'Interventions for children on the autism spectrum', available here - https://www.ndis.gov.au/community/have-y...
The purpose of the paper is stated on page 3 as follows:
'The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) recognises the importance of working with participants, providers and the disability sector when making improvements to our policies and procedures ... This paper seeks input and feedback from participants, their families and caregivers, as well as providers and the disability sector to assist in developing clearer advice on National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding of early intervention services for children on the autism spectrum.'
This is elaborated on pages 4-5:
'This consultation process will help us understand your views with so that we can:
a. update existing policy and operational guidance to support the delivery of clear and consistent reasonable and necessary decision making under the existing legislative framework for early intervention for children
b. refine policy and operational guidelines to support the implementation of evidence-based, best practice early intervention for children on the autism spectrum in the new context of personalised budgets and plan flexibility from late-2021'
I submit this FOI request seeking all documents relating to the updating of any NDIA policies and guidelines relating to early intervention services for children on the autism spectrum, arising from this consultation process. Including draft/final copies of the policies and guidelines themselves, and any internal agency correspondence about this updating process.
Yours faithfully,
David Wright
Thank you for your email to the National Disability Insurance Agency
(NDIA) Freedom of Information (FOI) team.
Please note: due to a high volume of requests, our ability to respond to
you in a timely manner may be affected. We will action your request as
soon as possible and will endeavour to process your matter within the
legislative deadlines. We may need to seek your agreement to an extension
of time. We appreciate your understanding if this is required.
Participant Information
Did you know the NDIA has other ways to access the documents and
information that we hold?
Participants, Guardians and Nominees can obtain copies of some participant
information through our National Contact Centre (NCC). For more
information about what’s available through the NCC, please contact 1800
800 110.
Please visit our [1]Access to Information webpage to find out more about
accessing information through:
* The [2]Participant Information Access (PIA) scheme
* The [3]Information Publication Scheme (IPS)
* The [4]myplace portal for participants
* The [5]myplace portal for providers
Access to Data
You can also request data and statistics. Please visit our [6]Data and
insights webpage page for further information.
If you are able to obtain your information from a source listed above, you
can withdraw your FOI request by emailing [7][NDIA request email]
Further Information
Information about how to make an FOI request can be found on our website:
[8]Freedom of Information
Should you have a query unrelated to FOI, please contact the Agency by
email at [9][email address] or via webchat at [10]ndis.gov.au.
Alternatively, you can also contact us by phoning 1800 800 110.
Kind regards
Freedom of Information Team
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [11][NDIA request email]
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.
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References
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3. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
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6. https://data.ndis.gov.au/
7. mailto:[NDIA request email]
8. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
9. mailto:[email address]
10. https://www.ndis.gov.au/
11. mailto:[NDIA request email]
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
This request is overdue but you have not requested an extension of time.
Yours faithfully,
David Wright
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
Please update me on the status of this overdue request.
Yours faithfully,
David Wright
Dear David,
I hope this email finds you well.
I do sincerely apologise for the delay in my correspondence and in
responding to your below email.
Freedom of Information Request: Acknowledgement
Thank you for your request of 24 January 2025, made under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), for copies of documents held by the
National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
Scope of your Request
You have requested access to:
“all documents relating to the updating of any NDIA policies and
guidelines relating to early intervention services for children on the
autism spectrum, arising from this consultation process. Including
draft/final copies of the policies and guidelines themselves, and any
internal agency correspondence about this updating process”
Processing Timeframes
In accordance with section 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act, a 30-day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from 25 January 2025. This
30-day period expired on 23 February 2025.
I do note that this date has passed and I do sincerely apologise for not
contacting you sooner regarding requesting an extension of time.
Consequently, we are deemed to have refused your application under section
15AC of the FOI Act.
This means that your internal review rights with the NDIA Freedom of
Information Team have lapsed, but you do still retain your OAIC (Office of
the Australian Information Commissioner) review rights.
In noting the above I wanted to reassure you that we will continue to
process your request for information.
I did also want to note that the delegate that processes your matter,
could choose to apply to the OAIC for an 15AC extension of time, which
would mean that your request would be considered to be processed ‘In time’
and would no longer considered to be deemed.
The decision to apply for this is on a case by case basis, and is made by
the delegate who will process your request in its entirety.
Irrelevant Information
Section 22 of the FOI Act allows an Agency to redact information from
documents if that information would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant
to a request for access.
Given the nature of your request, it does not seem that NDIA staff
members’ surnames and contact details would be relevant to you. Can you
please send me a reply email confirming that such details are irrelevant
to your request for access?
Action Required
1. Can I please request a response regarding if you are amendable to
irrelevant material being exempted under Section 22 of the FOI Act?
Next steps
I have completed some preliminary work on your request, however your
matter will be allocated to an authorised FOI decision-maker for any
further action.
The decision-maker may need to contact you to discuss a range of matters,
including refining the scope of your request.
We will contact you using the email address you have provided. Please
advise if you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or need help, please contact us
at [1][NDIA request email].
Sincere and Kind Regards,
Beau (BJA068)
Freedom of Information Officer
Information Release, Privacy and Legal Operations Branch
Reviews and Information Release Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [2][NDIA request email]
[3]NDIA logo
[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
-----Original Message-----
From: David Wright <[6][FOI #12768 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 26 February 2025 7:05 PM
To: foi <[7][NDIA request email]>
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - 'Interventions for children
on the autism spectrum' - consultation paper outputs
[You don't often get email from
[8][FOI #12768 email]. Learn why this is
important at [9]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
This request is overdue but you have not requested an extension of time.
Yours faithfully,
David Wright
-----Original Message-----
Thank you for your email to the National Disability Insurance Agency
(NDIA) Freedom of Information (FOI) team.
Please note: due to a high volume of requests, our ability to respond to
you in a timely manner may be affected. We will action your request as
soon as possible and will endeavour to process your matter within the
legislative deadlines. We may need to seek your agreement to an extension
of time. We appreciate your understanding if this is required.
Participant Information
Did you know the NDIA has other ways to access the documents and
information that we hold?
Participants, Guardians and Nominees can obtain copies of some participant
information through our National Contact Centre (NCC). For more
information about what’s available through the NCC, please contact 1800
800 110.
Please visit our [1]Access to Information webpage to find out more about
accessing information through:
* The [2]Participant Information Access (PIA) scheme
* The [3]Information Publication Scheme (IPS)
* The [4]myplace portal for participants
* The [5]myplace portal for providers
Access to Data
You can also request data and statistics. Please visit our [6]Data and
insights webpage page for further information.
If you are able to obtain your information from a source listed above, you
can withdraw your FOI request by emailing [7][NDIA request email]
Further Information
Information about how to make an FOI request can be found on our website:
[8]Freedom of Information
Should you have a query unrelated to FOI, please contact the Agency by
email at [9][email address] or via webchat at [10]ndis.gov.au.
Alternatively, you can also contact us by phoning 1800 800 110.
Kind regards
Freedom of Information Team
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [11][NDIA request email]
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
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may contain information that is confidential, commercially valuable and/or
subject to legal or parliamentary privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient you are notified that any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon,
this information is prohibited and may result in severe penalties. If you
have received this e-mail in error please notify the sender immediately
and delete all electronic and hard copies of this transmission together
with any attachments. Please consider the environment before printing this
e-mail
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References
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Dear Beau
I confirm that NDIA staff members’ surnames and contact details are irrelevant
to my request for access.
Yours sincerely,
David Wright