OFFICIAL

Good afternoon Ada,

Acknowledgement of receipt of Freedom of Information request

I refer to your request received by the Department of Health, Disability
and Ageing (the department) for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). You have requested access to:

 

I request access to the following documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982, relating to the development, validation, and
evaluation of the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) classification
algorithm used to determine home support eligibility and classification of
need under the Support at Home program.

 

Scope of request

 

For the purposes of this request, I am not seeking:

* draft documents where a final version exists

* working files or handwritten notes

* internal tickets, task-management entries, or internal helpdesk records

* specific algorithmic rules, weighting parameters, calculation logic, or
technical parameters used by the IAT classification algorithm

* detailed operational manuals or system configuration documents

* source code or software

* email correspondence, except where it constitutes the primary or only
record of a decision, briefing, analysis, or evaluation

* individual client or participant records

 

I agree to having the names and direct contact details of non-senior staff
removed.

 

Timeframe

 

1 January 2021 to present, or earlier if planning, development,
commissioning, or governance approval for the IAT commenced prior to this
date.

 

Documents requested

1. Development and design of the IAT classification algorithm

 

Documents describing or summarising the rationale for and process of
developing or commissioning the IAT classification algorithm, including
documents created or held by the department in connection with its
commissioning, approval, or adoption. This includes design papers,
high-level specifications, project briefs, and conceptual descriptions of
how the algorithm is intended to weigh risk, need, and complexity factors
to generate classifications of need and priority levels, at a conceptual
or descriptive level, excluding mathematical or technical specifications.

 

2. Validation, testing, and evaluation

 

Documents describing or summarising any validation, testing, or evaluation
undertaken in relation to the IAT classification algorithm’s accuracy and
reliability. This includes validation plans, evaluation frameworks,
testing plans, quality assurance plans, calibration or error-rate
analyses, pilot or prototype evaluation reports, and documents describing
comparisons between IAT-generated classifications and assessor-recommended
classifications or expected support needs. This also includes any
documents concluding that further validation or testing was unnecessary or
sufficient.

 

3. Inter-assessor consistency and reliability

 

Documents describing any assessment of inter-rater or inter-assessor
reliability, consistency between assessors using the IAT, or any training
or calibration activities intended to reduce variation in how assessors
interact with the tool and the classifications it produces.

 

4. Fairness, equity, and bias

 

Algorithmic impact assessments or any other documents discussing fairness,
bias, equity, demographic or cohort-level impacts, or potential disparate
impact arising from the use of the IAT classification algorithm. This
includes documents analysing differential outcomes for specific
populations, such as people in remote or regional areas, people with
dementia or cognitive decline, people from culturally and linguistically
diverse backgrounds, or First Nations people.

 

5. Risk assessments and internal evaluation

 

Documents describing risks, limitations, assumptions, issues, impact
assessments, Privacy Impact Assessments, internal evaluation reports, or
internal review documents identifying problems, constraints, or
recommended changes in relation to the IAT classification algorithm. This
includes documents addressing:

* known or identified discrepancies between algorithmic classifications
and assessor clinical judgement

* data quality concerns, including any known assessor workarounds or
instances of assessors inputting information designed to produce a desired
classification rather than accurately reflecting client circumstances

* complaints or escalations received from assessors, service providers, or
clients regarding classification outcomes

 

6. External reviews or assurance

 

Documents relating to any external review, audit, evaluation, or assurance
of the suitability of the IAT classification algorithm for determining
home support eligibility, the adequacy of validation or testing, or risks
or impacts associated with the tool. This includes summary reports
produced by external consultants or subject-matter experts.

 

7. Evaluation framework and reporting

 

Documents describing the evaluation framework for monitoring the IAT’s
performance following its introduction in November 2024, including what
data is being collected, how classification accuracy is being assessed,
whether results are intended to be publicly reported, and any evaluation
reports or interim findings produced to date, including any decisions not
to publicly report evaluation results.

 

I am happy to work with the department to refine or narrow this request if
necessary. If the department identifies that particular document types
within this request would attract exemptions, I would appreciate being
consulted about whether narrowing or restructuring those items might yield
partially releasable documents.

 

The reference number for your request is FOI 26-2723. Please ensure that
you quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning this
request.

 

Request for 21 day extension

 

Your request was received on 18 February 2026. The statutory timeframe for
processing your request is currently 30 calendar days, and the department
is required to provide you with an access decision on or before 20 March
2026.

 

The FOI Section is currently experiencing a sustained increase in the
volume of FOI requests. This has caused significant operational impact
within the FOI Section.

 

To ensure the department has sufficient time to process your request, we
are seeking your agreement to extend the period for completing your FOI
request by 21 days (under section 15AA of the FOI Act) . If agreed, the
statutory due for your decision will be 10 April 2026.

 

If you agree to the department’s request for an extension of time, please
confirm by return email to [1][Department of Health, Disability and Ageing request email] by COB 21 February 2026.

 

The department will continue to process your request as soon as possible.

 

Other Information

The department may impose a charge for the work involved in providing
access to the documents.  If this request attracts a charge you will be
notified in writing.

 

Unless you advise otherwise any draft and duplicate documents will be
excluded from the scope of your request.

Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure log
[2]www.health.gov.au/resources/foi-disclosure-log, subject to certain
exceptions. (For example, personal information will not be published where
this would be unreasonable.)

You can contact the FOI team via email at [3][email address] or by phone
on 02 6289 1666, should you have any questions.

 

Kind regards,

 

Jordan

Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section 

Commercial and Information Law Branch

 

Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group 

Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing 

T: 02 6289 1666| E: [4][email address] 

 

This email comes to you from Ngunnawal Country

Location: Level 3

PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia 

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing acknowledges First Nations
peoples as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and
their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our
respects to them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and
present. 

 

OFFICIAL

show quoted sections