Freedom of Information request — Notification of Decision

Thank you for your correspondence of 17 September 2024, in which you requested access to documents held by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).

The purpose of this letter is to provide you with a decision on your request.

Scope of your request

You have requested access to the following documents:

“…A copy of all “Disability Snapshot” documents held by the NDIA…”

Processing Period

The due date for a decision on your FOI request was 17 October 2024. I apologise for the delay in releasing this decision to you. We have been experiencing processing delays which impacted on our ability to meet the decision due date. Consequently, we are deemed to have refused your application under section 15AC of the FOI Act.

In the interests of not causing any further delays, I did not apply for an extension to the processing period from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) under section 15AC of the FOI Act to protect your internal review rights. However, your right to apply for an external review with the OAIC remains protected. Please see Attachment B for more information about your rights of review.

Decision on access to documents

I am authorised to make decisions under section 23(1) of the FOI Act. My decision on your request and the reasons for my decision are set out below.

I have identified 24 documents, which fall within the scope of your request.

The documents were identified by conducting searches of NDIA’s systems, using all reasonable search terms that could return documents relevant to your request, and

consulting with relevant NDIA staff who could be expected to be able to identify documents within the scope of the request.

I have decided to grant access to the 24 documents in full

In reaching my decision, I took the following into account:

your correspondence outlining the scope of your request
the nature and content of the documents falling within the scope of your request
the FOI Act
the FOI Guidelines published under section 93A of the FOI Act
consultation with relevant NDIA staff
factors relevant to my assessment of whether or not disclosure would be in the public interest
the NDIA’s operating environment and functions.

Release of documents

The documents for release, as referred to in the Schedule of Documents at Attachment A, are enclosed.

Rights of review

Your rights to seek a review of my decision, or lodge a complaint, are set out at Attachment B.

Should you have any enquiries concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me by email at foi@ndis.gov.au.

Yours sincerely

Kate (KIM627) Senior Freedom of Information Officer Complaints Management & FOI Branch Government Division

Schedule of Documents for FOI 24/25-0367

Attachment A

Document number	Page number	Description	Access Decision
1	1-11	Snapshot — Acquired brain injury Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS

2	12-24	Snapshot — Autism spectrum disorder Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS

3	25-36	Snapshot — Blindness and Vision Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS

4	37-49	Snapshot — Carers Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS

5	50-63	Snapshot — Cerebral Palsy Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS

6	64-80	Snapshot — Deafblind Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS

7	81-93	Snapshot — Deafness and Hearing Impairment Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS

Document number	Page number	Description	Access Decision
8	94-106	Snapshot – Down Syndrome Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS
9	107-118	Snapshot – Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS
10	119-130	Snapshot – Fragile X Syndrome Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS
11	131-143	Snapshot – Global Developmental Delay Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS
12	144-155	Snapshot – Huntington’s Disease Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS
13	156-169	Snapshot – Intellectual Disability Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS
14	170-181	Snapshot – Motor Neurone Disease Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS
15	182-196	Snapshot – Multiple Sclerosis Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS

Document number	Page number	Description	Access Decision
16	197-209	Snapshot — Muscular Dystrophy Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS
17	210-221	Snapshot — Physical Disability Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS
18	222-233	Snapshot — Polio-Related Disability Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS
19	234-248	Snapshot — Prader-Willi Syndrome Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS
20	249-261	Snapshot — Psychosocial Disability Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS
21	262-272	Snapshot — Schizophrenia Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS
22	273-284	Snapshot — Spinal Cord Injury Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS
23	285-296	Snapshot — Thalidomide Date: Not Applicable	FULL ACCESS

Document number	Page number	Description	Access Decision	Comments
24	297-308	Snapshot — Younger Onset Dementia	FULL ACCESS

Attachment B

Your review rights

As this matter was a deemed refusal, internal review of this decision is not an option. However, if you have concern with any aspect of this decision, please contact the NDIA FOI team by email foi@ndis.gov.au or by post:

Freedom of Information Section
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
- GPO Box 700
- CANBERRA ACT 2601

Review by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

The FOI Act gives you the right to apply to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) to seek a review of this decision.

If you wish to have the decision reviewed by the OAIC, you may apply for the review, in writing, or by using the online merits review form available on the OAIC’s website at www.oaic.gov.au, within 60 days of receipt of this letter.

Applications for review can be lodged with the OAIC in the following ways:

* Online:   [www.oaic.gov.au](http://www.oaic.gov.au)
* Post:    GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
* Email:    [enquiries@oaic.gov.au](mailto:enquiries@oaic.gov.au)
* Phone:   1300 363 992 (local call charge)

Complaints to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner or the Commonwealth Ombudsman

You may complain to either the Commonwealth Ombudsman or the OAIC about actions taken by the NDIA in relation to your request. The Ombudsman will consult with the OAIC before investigating a complaint about the handling of an FOI request.

Your complaint to the OAIC can be directed to the contact details identified above. Your complaint to the Ombudsman can be directed to:

* Phone:   1300 362 072 (local call charge)
* Email:    [ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.au](mailto:ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.au)

Your complaint should be in writing and should set out the grounds on which it is considered that the actions taken in relation to the request should be investigated.