Our reference: FOI 20/21-0641
GPO Box 700
Canberra ACT 2601
1800 800 110
ndis.gov.au
22 April 2021
Jacqueline Softly
By email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx Dear Jacqueline Softly
Freedom of Information request - Acknowledgement
Thank you for your request of 14 April 2021, under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI
Act) for copies of documents held by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
Scope of your request
You have requested access to the following documents about the National Disability Insurance
Scheme (NDIS):
“...I understand the NDIA is no longer going to allow participants to directly pay their
service providers. I understand this will be done by a company contracted to the NDIA.
Please provide any/all information that supports this policy change:
Rationale - what is this move based on?
What consideration was given to whether participants wanted this change?
What consultation was carried out and any data gathered to support the change.
Expected outcomes - what does NDIA expect to achieve?
How this change will be monitored, evaluated, reported on.
Measures to safeguard the rights of participants and their nominees.
Please also provide any information regarding the contract to do this work including:
Who the contractor is.
How the contractor was selected. Process, selection criteria, conflicts of interest etc
How much they will be paid.
Length and terms of contract.
Details of their role e.g simply paying invoices provided to them, or a role in judging
whether an invoice should be paid?
How the contractor role will interface with participants and their nominees and safeguards
for participants and nominees.
What actions will be required of participants and nominees to make sure providers are
paid.
What information and support will be given to participants and nominees to enable them to
take part in the process.
Any other information relevant to this policy change, contract details and impact on
participants and nominees”
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).
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Processing timeframes We received your request on 14 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
14 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 as soon as practicable
if a charge is payable.
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
xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx 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
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