Your Freedom of Information request - Acknowledgement

Our reference: FOI 20/21-0663

GPO Box 700 Canberra ACT 2601 1800 800 110 dis.gov.au

22 April 2021

Karen Reynolds By email: foi+request-7257-106e0f47@righttoknow.org.au

Dear Karen Reynolds

Thank you for your correspondence of 15 April 2021, in which you requested access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) to documents held by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

Scope of your request

You have requested access to documents about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Specifically, you requested access to:

“…I request the following information;

Sex aids In 2018 - 2021, how many NDIS participants have had sex aids funded (including positioning aids, vibrators, dildos, anal toys, sleeves, penis rings, vacuum pumps, Kegel balls and harnesses) by the NDIS? How much did these aids cost in total?

How many participants had sex aids modified or purpose built for the purposes of upholding their reproductive rights or access to usual sex or masturbation?

In 2018 - 2021, how many NDIS participants have had other types of aids and equipment (including wheelchairs, hoists, seating systems) funded by the NDIS?

How much did these aids and equipment cost?

Sex workers In 2018 - 2021, how many NDIS participants have had sex workers funded for the express purpose of participating in sexual intercourse? How much did this cost?

 ...In 2018 – 2021, how many NDIS participants were funded for expressly therapeutic services such as sex education services, trauma therapy, use of a sex therapist, sexologist or registered specialist disability sexual health organisation)?

How much did this cost?

In 2018 – 2021, how many participants were funded for therapy services that excluded sex related services?

How much did this cost?

Yachts

In the past two years, how many yachts (medium sized sailing boat equipped for cruising or racing) have been fully funded by the NDIS? Under what conditions were the yachts funded? How much did this cost?

In the past two years, how many participants accessed holidays (excluding Short Term Accommodation where a participant or parent/carer/guardian is funded to access informal respite to take a break from their caring role) have been funded by the NDIS? How much did this cost?

I also request all email correspondence between DSS/members of government and parliament and government as well as all reports related to the above”

Unless you advise otherwise, we will take it that you agree to the names and contact details of NDIA staff being excluded from the scope of your request (that is, the information will be treated as irrelevant).

Processing timeframes

We received your request on 15 April 2021 and the 30-day statutory period for processing your request commenced from the day after that date. You should therefore expect a decision from us by 17 May 2021.

The period may be extended if we need to consult with third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.

Charges

We may apply a processing charge to your request and will advise you if a charge is payable as soon as practicable. We will not apply charges if you are requesting your own personal information.

Disclosure Log

Information released under the FOI Act may be published on the NDIA’s disclosure log located on our website, subject to certain exceptions.

If you wish to raise any concerns about the publication of information concerning your request, please contact us.

Further help

Please contact us at foi@ndis.gov.au if you have any questions or require help.

We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.

Yours sincerely

Freedom of Information Officer Parliamentary, Ministerial & FOI Branch Government Division