NDIA Pandemic Plan
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
Please provide a copy of the current NDIA Pandemic Plan and all prior versions. That is, all pandemic plans created by the NDIA since 2013 until Jun 21.
Context:
The NDIS identified around 62,000 participants as being at higher risk [13] during the initial phase of the pandemic on Australia’s east coast, with acknowledgement that NDIS participants receiving face-to-face supports may be at higher risk of transmission [14]. In particular, more than 7,000 high-risk NDIS participants in Victoria, including NDIS “participants living in residential aged care facilities “ [15]. As a result, the NDIS identified a likely increase for some products and services [12] across over 260 NDIS providers in Victoria and NSW [16]. This triggered a suite of support and assistance in support of participants.
The NDIS published “..new measures work to identify and give extra support to those people with disability who have complex needs or run a higher risk of infection. ‘The NDIA will be contacting targeted higher risk NDIS participants to ensure these people continue to receive the essential disability related supports they need, while also sharing the same data with states and territories to assist them with their continuity of services,’ Mr Robert said” [9] in addition to stating ongoing support to NDIS participants and families, prioritising high-risk participants [10]. This includes priority home delivery of food and supplies due to high personal health risks [11] due to COVID-19 and state lockdown measures.
Leading up to events, the Department of Health produced the Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza in 2014 with the last recorded update in August of 2019 [1]. The Department of Health then produced the Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on 18 Feb 20, with the last recorded update 23 Apr 20 [2]. A further specialist plan titled, Management and Operational Plan for People with Disability [3] was published in April 2020, with the last update on 9 October 2020. The Department of Parliamentary Services summarised these plans, in addition to providing further planning advice in the Australian Pandemic Response Planning: A Quick Guide on 28 April 2020 [4]. At a state level, the Victorian State Government released a COVID-19 Pandemic Plan for the Victorian Health Sector on 10 Mar 2020 [5], in addition to WorkSafe Victoria’s Planning for a pandemic: a guide for employers [6] related in May 2020. The New South Wales Government’s Department of Health [7] and Safe Work [8} have produced similar guidance specific to their locations, industry and affected citizens.
Yours faithfully,
Shirley
References:
1. Department of Health (2019) Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza, Australian Government. Available at: <https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main...>. Accessed [9 Jun 21]
2. Department of Health (2020) Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Australian Government . Available at: <https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publ...>. Accessed [9 Jun 21]
3. Department of Health (2020) Management and Operational Plan for People with Disability, Australian Government. Available at: <https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publ...>. Accessed [9 Jun 21]
4. Department of Parliamentary Services (2020) Australian Pandemic Response Planning: A Quick Guide, Parliament of Australia. Available at: <https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publ...>. Accessed [9 Jun 21]
5. Vic Health (2020) COVID-19 Pandemic Plan for the Victorian Health Sector, Victorian State Government. Available at: <https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/Api/downl...>. Accessed [9 Jun 21]
6. WorkSafe Victoria (2020) Planning for a pandemic: a guide for employers, Victorian State Government. Available at: <https://content.api.worksafe.vic.gov.au/...>. Accessed [9 Jun 21]
7. NSW Health (2016) NSW Health Influenza Pandemic Plan, NSW Government. Available at: <https://www1.health.nsw.gov.au/pds/Activ...>. Accessed [9 Jun 21]
8. Safe Work NSW (2021) Pandemic Plan Advice, NSW Government. Available at: <https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/resource...>. Accessed [9 Jun 21]
9. NDIS (2020) New measures to support NDIS participants and providers through COVID-19, Media Release, dated 21 Mar 20. Available at: < https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/4659-new-me... > . Accessed [9 Jun 21]
10. NDIS (2020) What is the NDIS doing to help participants? , Media Release. Available at: < https://www.ndis.gov.au/coronavirus/part...> . Accessed [9 Jun 21]
11. NDIS (2020) NDIS Participants to receive priority home delivery from leading supermarkets , Media Release, dated 5 Apr 20. Available at: < https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/4702-ndis-p...> . Accessed [9 Jun 21]
12. NDIS (2020) Further initiatives to support NDIS participants and providers during coronavirus pandemic , Media Release, dated 27 Apr 20. Available at: < https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/4758-furthe... > . Accessed [9 Jun 21]
13. NDIS (2020) Update on NDIA Coronavirus (COVID-19) supports , Media Release, dated 1 May 20. Available at: < https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/4769-update... > . Accessed [9 Jun 21]
14. NDIS (2020) Delivering the NDIS during COVID-19: VIC, NSW participants able to claim for PPE , Media Release, dated 29 Jul 20. Available at: <https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/5048-delive...> . Accessed [9 Jun 21]
15. NDIS (2020) NDIS update for Victoria , Media Release, dated 11 Aug 20. Available at: <https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/5082-ndis-u... > . Accessed [9 Jun 21]
16. NDIS (2020) VIC and NSW Providers to directly claim costs of PPE, Media Release, dated 21 Aug 20. Available at: <https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/5082-ndis-u... > . Accessed [9 Jun 21]
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NDIA FOI Team
Email: [6][email address]
References
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Dear Shirley
Thank you for your request for information.
Please find attached correspondence in relation to your request. If you
require the attachment in a different format, please let us know.
We will process your request as quickly as possible. We will also keep in
regular contact with you, especially if there's any delay. At this stage,
you can expect to hear from us on or before 9 July 2021.
Please contact us at [1][NDIA request email] if you have any questions or
require help.
Kind regards
Freedom of Information Officer
Parliamentary, Ministerial & FOI Branch
Government Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
[2]Title: NDIS delivered by the National Disability Insurance Agency
References
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1. mailto:[NDIA request email]
Dear Shirley
Thank you for your request for information.
Please find attached correspondence in relation to your request. If you
require the attachment in a different format, please let us know.
We will process your request as quickly as possible. We will also keep in
regular contact with you, especially if there's any delay. At this stage,
you can expect to hear from us on or before 9 July 2021.
Please contact us at [1][NDIA request email] if you have any questions or
require help.
Kind regards
Freedom of Information Officer
Parliamentary, Ministerial & FOI Branch
Government Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
[2]Title: NDIS delivered by the National Disability Insurance Agency
References
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1. mailto:[NDIA request email]
Dear Shirley
Thank you for your request for information.
We’re sorry to let you know that it will take us longer than expected to
process your request. This is because the material you are requesting
will require multiple consultations and searches with different line
areas.
We are therefore writing to seek your agreement to a 30 day extension of
time under section 15AA of the FOI Act. This would make the new due date 8
August 2021.
Please let us know whether you agree by 12:00pm Friday 2 July 2021.
If you don’t agree, we may need to seek an extension from the Office of
Australian Information Commissioner.
Please contact us at [1][NDIA request email] if you have any questions or
require help.
Kind regards
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
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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Our reference: RQ21/02149
Agency reference: FOI 20/21-0848
Shirley
Sent by email: [1][FOI #7402 email]
Extension of time application by the National Disability Insurance Agency
Dear Shirley
I write to advise that on 9 August 2021, the Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner (the OAIC) received an application from the
National Disability Insurance Agency (the NDIA) for an extension of time
to process your 3 FOI requests made on 9 June 2021, which have been
combined by the NDIA under reference FOI 20/21-0848. These are your
requests titled:
1. NDIA Pandemic Plan
2. NDIA Pandemic Plan: NSW Specific
3. NDIA Pandemic Plan: Victoria Specific
The NDIA has advised the OAIC that you agreed to an extension of time to
process the requests under s 15AA of the FOI Act to 9 August 2021 (OAIC
reference RQ21/02157).
The NDIA has applied for an extension of time under s 15AB of the Freedom
of Information Act 1982 (Cth) because your requests are considered to be
complex and voluminous.
· The NDIA has advised the OAIC that:
− the requests are broadly scoped and cover both current and
historical documents
− the requests seek access to documents of a highly sensitive and
complex nature from multiple business areas
− the NDIA has combined requests where possible and is engaged in a
significant amount of consultation with multiple stakeholders to ensure it
has appropriately identified documents within scope, and determine whether
it needs to further engage with you
− searches for historic material have been complex as ICT
infrastructure has changed over time and other Commonwealth agencies hold
the archived material, and
− the NDIA is committed to issuing a decision as soon as possible.
The NDIA has requested an extension to 8 September 2021. I will take any
comments you may have to make into account when deciding the application.
Please respond to this email by close of business 13 August 2021. If I do
not hear from you by this date, I will proceed to make a decision on the
basis of the information provided to me by the NDIA.
You will be notified of the decision once the matter has been finalised.
Further information about extension of time requests may be found on our
website at [2]Extensions of time.
Yours sincerely
[3][IMG] Rochelle Dunlop | Review and
Investigation Advisor
Investigations and Compliance
Freedom of information
Regulatory Group
Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001 |
[4]oaic.gov.au
+61 2 9284 9783 |
[5][email address]
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Our reference: RQ21/02149
Agency reference: FOI 20/21-0848
Shirley
Sent by email: [1][FOI #7402 email]
Extension of time under s 15AB
Dear Shirley
Please find attached a decision of today’s date for an extension of time
from the National Disability Insurance Agency.
Yours sincerely
[2][IMG] Rochelle Dunlop | Review and
Investigation Advisor
Investigations and Compliance
Freedom of information
Regulatory Group
Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001 |
[3]oaic.gov.au
+61 2 9284 9783 |
[4][email address]
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Dear Shirley
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.
Please contact us at [1][NDIA request email] if you have any questions or
require help.
Thank you.
Kind regards
Freedom of Information Officer
Parliamentary, Ministerial & FOI Branch
Government Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
[2]Title: NDIS delivered by the National Disability Insurance Agency
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. mailto:[NDIA request email]
Dear Shirley
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.
Please contact us at [1][NDIA request email] if you have any questions or
require help.
Thank you.
Kind regards
Freedom of Information Officer
Parliamentary, Ministerial & FOI Branch
Government Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
[2]Title: NDIS delivered by the National Disability Insurance Agency
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. mailto:[NDIA request email]
Shirley left an annotation ()
This took 90 days to fulfil?