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Our reference: FOI 23/24-0256 
 
GPO Box 700 
Canberra   ACT   2601 
1800 800 110 
9 November 2023 
ndis.gov.au 
 
 
Renee 
 
By email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx  
 
 
Dear Renee 
 
Freedom of Information request — Notification of Decision 
 
Thank you for your correspondence of 1 September 2023, 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 fol owing documents: 
 
…data and documents related to parents with disabilities who are participants in the 
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). 
 
Demographic Data: 
•  Could you please provide the number of NDIS participants who are 
parents, broken down by age group and type of disability? Of these 
parents, how many are partnered, single, or sole parents? 
•  Children with NDIS Plans: I would like to know the number of children of 
parent participants who also have NDIS plans. 
•  Average Funding: Could you provide the average funding amount 
allocated to parent participants, further broken down by type of disability 
and age group? 
 
Supports for Informal Caregivers: I am interested in any information on supports 
available to informal caregivers of parent participants. 
Special Considerations: Are there any documents outlining special considerations or 
policies aimed at supporting disabled parents, particularly sole/single disabled 
parents? 
 
Processing time  
On 3 October 2023, you agreed to a 12-day extension of time under section 15AA of the FOI 
Act, making 13 October 2023 the new date to provide you with a decision on access.  
 
I note this access decision is being released to you after the extended due date and I 
apologise for the delay. Your right to apply for a review on my decision remains protected 
(see Attachment B for more information about your rights of review). 
 
Decision on access to documents 
I made this decision as an authorised FOI decision maker under section 23(1) of the FOI Act. 
 
1 
 
With respect to Part 1 of your request, I have decided to refuse your request for access under 
section 24A of the FOI Act on the basis that the documents do not exist. The reasons for my 
decision are set out below. 
 
I have identified 2 documents that fall within Part 2 of your request.  The documents were 
identified by consulting with relevant NDIA staff in our Service Guidance and Practice (SG&P) 
branch and Complex Supports Needs (CSN) branch who could be expected to be able to 
identify documents within the scope of the request. I have decided to grant partial access to 
these two documents.  
 
Further,  SG&P  have  advised that there are no documents outlining specific  special 
considerations  or policies aimed at supporting disabled parents. However, the following 
Operational Guidelines are publicly available, and they have not considered as part of my 
decision. Generally, the same policy and principles would apply in determining support for a 
participant whether or not they are a parent.  
  •  What principles do we follow to create your plan? | NDIS 
•  Reasonable and necessary supports | NDIS  
•  Creating your plan | NDIS 
•  Short Term Accommodation or Respite | NDIS 
•  Mainstream and community supports | NDIS 
 
In reaching my decision, I took the fol owing 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 
•  The NDIA’s operating environment and functions. 
 
Access to edited copies with exempt material deleted (section 22) 
I have decided that Document 2 contain material that is conditionally exempt from disclosure 
under the FOI Act. 
 
In accordance with section 22 of the FOI Act, I have considered whether it is possible to 
delete the exempt material from the documents and have concluded that it is reasonably 
practicable to do so. Accordingly, I have prepared an edited copy of the documents with the 
exempt material removed. 
 
Reasons for decision  
Refuse a request for access (section 24A)  
Section 24A of the FOI Act provides that an agency may refuse a request for access to a  
document if all reasonable steps have been taken to find the document and the agency is 
satisfied that the document cannot be found or does not exist.  
 
In processing part 1 of your request, I have considered if it would be reasonable to create a 
document containing information you have requested as outlined in section 17(1) of the FOI 
Act. I have concluded that it is not reasonably practicable to do so. 
 
I have made enquiries with NDIA staff in our Analytics Data & Actuarial (ADA) branch who 
have conducted searches of the Agency’s document management systems. These enquiries 
have revealed that the NDIA is not in possession of documents matching part 1 of your 
2 
request. This is because the NDIA’s reporting systems do not have data at the level of 
granularity required to answer your request for information.  
 
Further,  ADA determined that compiling information would constitute an unreasonable 
diversion of resources. The detailed data you have requested is not held within a single 
repository and significant manual work would have to be undertaken to extract such 
information. As such, I am satisfied the obligation to create a document under section 17(1) 
does not apply to your request.  
 
I am satisfied that all reasonable steps have been taken to locate the documents you have 
requested and that the documents do not exist. I have, therefore, decided to refuse access to 
part 1 of your request in accordance with section 24A(1)(b)(i ) of the FOI Act.  
 
Certain operations of agencies (section 47E(d))  
Section 47E(d) of the FOI Act conditionally exempts a document if its disclosure would, or 
could reasonably be expected to, have a substantial adverse effect on the proper and 
efficient conduct of the operations of an agency.  
 
Documents 1 and 2 contain information relating to certain operations of the NDIA, 
specifically internal guidance given to staff in relation to the quantum of supports to include 
within a participant’s plan in determining the level of supports a participant may require.  
 
The disclosure of this information would reveal methodologies the NDIA uses to assist in 
determining levels of support provided to NDIS participants, which is to better ensure that 
participants receive supports that are reasonable and necessary. Any disclosure resulting in 
the prejudice of the effectiveness of the Agency’s operational methods and procedures 
would, or could reasonably be expected to, result in the need for the Agency to change 
those methods and procedures to ensure the future effectiveness and sustainability of the 
Agency and the Scheme.  
 
I am satisfied that the release of this information would potentially result in the public 
disclosure of internal methodologies that, through improper use, would, or could, lead to a 
distortion of funding levels that would substantial y and adversely affect the integrity of the 
NDIS and its financial sustainability. Accordingly, I have decided that the relevant information 
in Documents 1 and 2 is conditional y exempt under section 47E(d) of the FOI Act. 
 
Public interest considerations – sections 47E(d)  
Section 11A(5) of the FOI Act provides that access to a document covered by a conditional 
exemption must be provided unless disclosure would be contrary to the public interest.  
 
Irrelevant factors  
I have not considered any of the irrelevant factors as set out under section 11B(4) of the FOI 
Act in making this decision.  
 
Factors favouring disclosure  
In favour of disclosure, I have considered the factors outlined in section 11B(3) of the FOI 
Act, and I have determined that disclosure of the relevant information in Documents 1 and 2 
would promote the objects of the FOI Act by providing access to documents held by the 
government. 
 
Factors against disclosure  
Against disclosure, I consider that disclosure of the relevant information in Documents 1 and 
2:   •  Would not contribute to the publication of information of sufficient public interest to 
justify the likely harm caused by release  
3 

•  Would not enhance Australia’s representative democracy in the ways described in 
section 11B(3) of the FOI Act  
•  Would not inform any debate on a matter of public importance, or promote oversight 
of public expenditure.  
 
Consideration of harm factors  
While there is limited public interest in the disclosure of information conditionally exempt 
under section 47E(d) of the FOI Act, the harm that would result from disclosure is that it 
could reasonably be expected to prejudice the ability of the Agency to provide guidance to 
staff and to decision makers in classifying applicants based on support needs in order to 
comply with their obligations and make informed decisions in relation to the quantum of 
funding to add to each reasonable and necessary support, which, in turn, helps to ensure the 
financial stability and integrity of the NDIS.  
 
Weighing the relevant factors to determine where the public interest lies.  
In summary, I am satisfied that the factors against disclosure of the information outweigh the 
factors in favour of disclosure and that, on balance, it would be contrary to the public interest 
to release this information to you. Accordingly, I have decided that the relevant information in 
Documents 1 and 2 is conditionally exempt under section 47E(d) of the FOI Act.  
 
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 C. 
 
Should you have any enquiries regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me 
by email at xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx. 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
 
Miriam 
Senior Freedom of Information Officer  
Parliamentary, Ministerial & FOI Branch 
Government Division 
4 
Attachment A  
Schedule of Documents for FOI 23/24-0256 
 
Document 
Page 
Description 
Access Decision 
number 
number 
1 
1-25 
Children at Risk of Requiring Accommodation Outside the 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
Family Home 
Exemption claimed: 
 
s47E(d) – certain operations of agencies 
Version: 6.0 (20 June 2023) 
2 
26-59 
Children Living in a Formal Voluntary Arrangement Outside 
PARTIAL ACCESS 
their Family Home 
Exemption claimed: 
 
s47E(d) – certain operations of agencies 
Version: 9.0 (20 June 2023)  
 
5 

 
Attachment B 
Your Review Rights  
 
Internal Review 
The FOI Act gives you the right to apply for an internal review of this decision. The review 
wil  be conducted by a different person to the person who made the original decision. 
 
If you wish to seek an internal review of the decision, you must apply for the review, in 
writing, within 30 days of receipt of this letter. 
 
No particular form is required for an application for internal review, but to assist the review 
process, you should clearly outline your grounds for review (that is, the reasons why you 
disagree with the decision). Applications for internal review can be lodged by email to 
xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx or sent by post to: 
  Freedom of Information Section  
Parliamentary, Ministerial & FOI Branch  
Government 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 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  
Post:  
GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001 
Email: 
xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx 
Phone: 
1300 363 992 (local cal  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 wil  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 cal charge) 
Email:  
xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx  
 
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.