Our reference: FOI 20/21-0804
GPO Box 700
Canberra ACT 2601
1800 800 110
ndis.gov.au
15 June 2021
Karen Reynolds
By email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Karen Reynolds
Freedom of Information Request: Acknowledgement
Thank you for your request of 1 June 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 fol owing documents about the National Disability Insurance
Scheme (NDIS):
“...1. In relation to the decision to engage two additional organisations to join the
Independent Assessment pilot:
a. could any notes, minutes, memoranda, letters, other external or internal
correspondence, emails and/or Microsoft Office Communicator conversations relating to
this decision be provided between CEO Martin Hoffman and representatives of Plena
Healthcare and Healthstrong;
b. How did the NDIA hear about the organisations Plena Healthcare and Healthstrong and
determine that they were suitable for the provision of independent assessments, given that
they both had new Directors and were new entrants to the market in this space?
c. could any notes, minutes, memoranda, letters, other external or internal
correspondence, texts messages or emails between the NDIA and representatives from
the fol owing organisations from the period between 1 May 2019 and 1 May 2021 *only* in
relation to the appointment of Plena Healthcare and Healthstrong and any perceived or
actual conflict of interest be provided:
i. Plena Healthcare;
i . Murto Pty Ltd;
i i. Zenitas Healthcare;
iv. HealthStrong; and
v. Medibank.
d. could any notes, minutes, memoranda, letters, other external or internal
correspondence, texts messages or emails between the NDIA and representatives from
the fol owing individuals from between 1 May 2019 and 1 May 2021 only in relation to the
appointment of Plena Healthcare and any perceived or actual conflict of interest:
i. Mr Robert De Luca;
i . Mr Anthony Vel a;
i i. Mr Trent Tolra; and
iv. Mr Mark Rogers."
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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 wil be treated
as irrelevant).
Processing timeframes
We received your request on 1 June 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 1 July 2021.
The period may be extended if we need to consult with third parties or for other reasons. We wil
advise you if this happens.
Charges
We may apply a processing charge to your request and wil 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 have any concerns about the publication of information you have requested, please
contact us.
Further help
Please contact us at xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx if you have any questions or need help.
We wil 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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