Our reference: FOI 25.26-1298 [LEXID 12476]
GPO Box 700 Canberra ACT 2601 1800 800 110 ndis.gov.au
9 July 2026
Megan
By email: foi+request-14012-2ee28db9@righttoknow.org.au
Dear Megan
Freedom of Information request — Notice of Decision
Thank you for your correspondence of 17 November 2025, in which you requested access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) to documents held by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
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 document:
“… all information held by [the NDIA] that show:
The most recent reporting of the number of NDIS participants with “severe intellectual disability” as their primary disability broken down by age or age groups
The most recent reporting of the number of NDIS [participants] with “severe intellectual disability” but not as their primary disability type broken down by age or age group
Reporting on the cost of NDIS plans for participants with “severe intellectual disability” as broken down in 1 & 2 above.
Repeat 1, 2 and 3 above for Level 3 (severe) autism.“
Processing period
The date by which to provide you with a decision on your request was 17 December 2025.
We have been experiencing processing delays and were unable to provide you with our decision by this date. Consequently, your application is deemed to have been refused under section 15AC of the FOI Act.
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I note that this access decision is being released to you after the due date, and I apologise for the delay. In the interests of not causing any further delay, I have decided not to apply for an extension from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) under section 15AC of the FOI Act. This means that you are unable to seek an internal review of this decision. However, you are able to apply to the OAIC for an external review of this decision. Please see Attachment C for more information about your rights of review.
Search efforts
Reasonable searches were conducted of NDIA business systems, using all reasonable search terms that could return documents relevant to your request. In addition, I have consulted with relevant NDIA staff in the Actuarial and Data Analytics who could be reasonably expected to be able to identify documents within the scope of your request.
Decision on access to documents
I am authorised to make decisions under section 23(1) of the FOI Act.
I have decided to:
- grant access to 1 document in full.
Reasons for decision
In reaching my decision, I have taken 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
- consultation with relevant NDIA staff and business areas
- the operating environment and functions of the NDIA.
A detailed statement of reasons for my decision can be found at Attachment B.
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Release of documents
The document for release, as referred to in the schedule of documents at Attachment A, is enclosed.
Rights of review
Your rights to seek a review of my decision, or lodge a complaint, are set out at Attachment C.
Should you have any enquiries concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me by email at fox@xxxx.xxx.xx.
Yours sincerely
Saoirse (SFG115)
Senior Freedom of Information Officer
Information Access and Privacy Branch
Reviews and Information Release Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
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Attachment A
Schedule of Documents
FOI 25.26-1298
| Document number | Page number | Description | Access Decision | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Created Document As of 8 July 2026 |
FULL ACCESS | Document created under section 17 of the FOI Act |
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Attachment B
Statement of Reasons
FOI 25.26-1298
Forms of access
Access to information not available in discrete or written form (section 17)
Section 17(1)(c) of the FOI Act provides that, to enable the release of information, an agency can produce a written document containing information which is not otherwise available in discrete or written form, in one of two ways. These are:
- by using a computer to retrieve the information, and
- by making a transcript from a sound recording.
We have been able to use a computer to produce a document containing the information you requested.
I have therefore treated your request as if it were a request for access to this document in accordance with section 17(1)(c)(i) of the FOI Act.
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Attachment C
Freedom of Information request – Your review rights
As your request is deemed to have been refused under section 15AC of the FOI Act because of processing delays, you are unable to apply for an internal review of the decision.
However, if you have concern with any aspect of this decision, please contact the NDIA FOI team by email at foi@ndis.gov.au, or by post to:
Freedom of Information Section Information Access and Privacy Branch Reviews and Information Release Division National Disability Insurance Agency GPO Box 700 CANBERRA ACT 2601
Review by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
The FOI Act also gives you the right to apply for 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 application form which is available on the OAIC’s website: OAIC Review Application Form.
An application to the OAIC must be made within 60 calendar days from the date of the deemed refusal decision, as set out in our letter to you (Notice of Decision). You may also apply to the OAIC for an extension of this timeframe, from the date of the deemed refusal decision until the date of your application for review.
Applications for review can be lodged with the OAIC in the following ways:
- Online: OAIC Review Application Form
- Post: Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5218
SYDNEY NSW 2001 - Email: enquiries@oaic.gov.au
- Phone: 1300 363 992 (local call charge)
- Website: www.oaic.gov.au
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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 the 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 provided above.
Your complaint to the Ombudsman can be directed to:
- Phone: 1300 362 072 (local call charge)
- Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.au
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