Governance and use of the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT)
Dear Department of Health, Disability and Ageing,
I request access to the following documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982, relating to the classification, governance, and decision-making arrangements for the use of the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) for determining 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
* detailed operational manuals or step-by-step technical guides used by assessors
* specific algorithmic rules, weighting parameters, calculation logic, or technical
* parameters used by the IAT classification algorithm
* 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
This request includes documents describing policy intent, governance settings, or decision authority, including where these are embedded within broader program or policy documentation.
I agree to having the names and direct contact details of non-senior staff removed.
Timeframe
1 January 2023 to present, or earlier if planning for the IAT commenced prior to this date.
Documents requested
1. Classification of the IAT for automated decision-making (ADM) purposes
Documents describing or summarising whether, and on what basis, the department has classified or assessed the use of the IAT classification algorithm as automated decision-making or non-automated decision-making. This includes any assessments, reviews, or analysis conducted using the Digital Guide, Commonwealth automated decision-making guidance, internal ADM frameworks, or equivalent governance tools, including any consideration of whether the IAT constitutes decision support, decision assistance, or automated decision-making under relevant Commonwealth guidance.
2. Governance papers on the role of human decision-makers
Documents describing the respective roles, responsibilities, and decision-making powers of assessors in the IAT-based assessment model, including documents that outline any limits on assessor discretion, human-in-the-loop requirements, or conditions under which assessors may or may not depart from the IAT-generated classification of need. This includes documents describing the design, rationale for, or evolution of override provisions, including any changes to the circumstances in which assessors are permitted to override the IAT classification.
3. Documents outlining decision-making pathways
Documents describing or depicting the decision-making workflow or pathway from assessor input through to classification of need and prioritisation, including high-level process diagrams, governance flowcharts, role definitions, or descriptions of how the IAT classification algorithm’s output forms part of the final eligibility or classification outcome, including where the classification of need is treated as determinative or binding for subsequent service allocation or prioritisation.
4. Risk, governance, or legal issues identified
Documents describing or summarising risks, limitations, or legal, administrative law, or procedural fairness issues identified in relation to:
* classifying the IAT as automated or non-automated decision-making
* the removal or limitation of assessor discretion to depart from algorithmic outputs
* the capacity for assessors to apply clinical judgement or consider additional evidence not captured by the tool
* the implications for review or appeal rights under aged care legislation
This includes internal risk assessments, governance papers, and high-level legal risk summaries, excluding documents subject to legal professional privilege.
5. Internal briefs or executive papers relating to ADM considerations
Any briefs, decision papers, or executive summaries provided to senior departmental executives or the minister that discuss automated decision-making considerations, governance concerns, or decision-making implications arising from the use of the IAT classification algorithm.
I am not seeking privileged legal advice. To the extent that any documents contain limited privileged content, I am happy to accept redacted versions with privileged material removed.
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.
Yours faithfully,
Ada
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:
[R]elating to the classification, governance, and decision-making
arrangements for the use of the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) for
determining home support eligibility and classification of need under the
Support at Home program.
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
* detailed operational manuals or step-by-step technical guides used by
assessors
* specific algorithmic rules, weighting parameters, calculation logic, or
technical
* parameters used by the IAT classification algorithm
* 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
This request includes documents describing policy intent, governance
settings, or decision authority, including where these are embedded within
broader program or policy documentation.
Timeframe
1 January 2023 to present, or earlier if planning for the IAT commenced
prior 18 February 2026.
1. Classification of the IAT for automated decision-making (ADM) purposes
Documents describing or summarising whether, and on what basis, the
department has classified or assessed the use of the IAT classification
algorithm as automated decision-making or non-automated decision-making.
This includes any assessments, reviews, or analysis conducted using the
Digital Guide, Commonwealth automated decision-making guidance, internal
ADM frameworks, or equivalent governance tools, including any
consideration of whether the IAT constitutes decision support, decision
assistance, or automated decision-making under relevant Commonwealth
guidance.
2. Governance papers on the role of human decision-makers
Documents describing the respective roles, responsibilities, and
decision-making powers of assessors in the IAT-based assessment model,
including documents that outline any limits on assessor discretion,
human-in-the-loop requirements, or conditions under which assessors may or
may not depart from the IAT-generated classification of need. This
includes documents describing the design, rationale for, or evolution of
override provisions, including any changes to the circumstances in which
assessors are permitted to override the IAT classification.
3. Documents outlining decision-making pathways
Documents describing or depicting the decision-making workflow or pathway
from assessor input through to classification of need and prioritisation,
including high-level process diagrams, governance flowcharts, role
definitions, or descriptions of how the IAT classification algorithm’s
output forms part of the final eligibility or classification outcome,
including where the classification of need is treated as determinative or
binding for subsequent service allocation or prioritisation.
4. Risk, governance, or legal issues identified
Documents describing or summarising risks, limitations, or legal,
administrative law, or procedural fairness issues identified in relation
to:
* classifying the IAT as automated or non-automated decision-making
* the removal or limitation of assessor discretion to depart from
algorithmic outputs
* the capacity for assessors to apply clinical judgement or consider
additional evidence not captured by the tool
* the implications for review or appeal rights under aged care legislation
This includes internal risk assessments, governance papers, and high-level
legal risk summaries, excluding documents subject to legal professional
privilege.
5. Internal briefs or executive papers relating to ADM considerations
Any briefs, decision papers, or executive summaries provided to senior
departmental executives or the minister that discuss automated
decision-making considerations, governance concerns, or decision-making
implications arising from the use of the IA
The reference number for your request is FOI 26-2722. 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.
Request to exclude irrelevant information from your request
To assist with processing your request, can you also please advise by COB
21 February 2026, if you agree that information regarding any public
service employee names below Senior Executive Service level and direct
telephone numbers of all staff will be excluded from the scope of your
request under s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act
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]
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Location: Level 3
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
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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
-----Original Message-----
From: Ada <[5][FOI #14332 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 18 February 2026 7:22 AM
To: FOI <[6][email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Governance and use of the
Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT)
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Dear Department of Health, Disability and Ageing,
I request access to the following documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982, relating to the classification, governance, and
decision-making arrangements for the use of the Integrated Assessment Tool
(IAT) for determining 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
* detailed operational manuals or step-by-step technical guides used by
assessors
* specific algorithmic rules, weighting parameters, calculation logic, or
technical
* parameters used by the IAT classification algorithm
* 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
This request includes documents describing policy intent, governance
settings, or decision authority, including where these are embedded within
broader program or policy documentation.
I agree to having the names and direct contact details of non-senior staff
removed.
Timeframe
1 January 2023 to present, or earlier if planning for the IAT commenced
prior to this date.
Documents requested
1. Classification of the IAT for automated decision-making (ADM) purposes
Documents describing or summarising whether, and on what basis, the
department has classified or assessed the use of the IAT classification
algorithm as automated decision-making or non-automated decision-making.
This includes any assessments, reviews, or analysis conducted using the
Digital Guide, Commonwealth automated decision-making guidance, internal
ADM frameworks, or equivalent governance tools, including any
consideration of whether the IAT constitutes decision support, decision
assistance, or automated decision-making under relevant Commonwealth
guidance.
2. Governance papers on the role of human decision-makers
Documents describing the respective roles, responsibilities, and
decision-making powers of assessors in the IAT-based assessment model,
including documents that outline any limits on assessor discretion,
human-in-the-loop requirements, or conditions under which assessors may or
may not depart from the IAT-generated classification of need. This
includes documents describing the design, rationale for, or evolution of
override provisions, including any changes to the circumstances in which
assessors are permitted to override the IAT classification.
3. Documents outlining decision-making pathways
Documents describing or depicting the decision-making workflow or pathway
from assessor input through to classification of need and prioritisation,
including high-level process diagrams, governance flowcharts, role
definitions, or descriptions of how the IAT classification algorithm’s
output forms part of the final eligibility or classification outcome,
including where the classification of need is treated as determinative or
binding for subsequent service allocation or prioritisation.
4. Risk, governance, or legal issues identified
Documents describing or summarising risks, limitations, or legal,
administrative law, or procedural fairness issues identified in relation
to:
* classifying the IAT as automated or non-automated decision-making
* the removal or limitation of assessor discretion to depart from
algorithmic outputs
* the capacity for assessors to apply clinical judgement or consider
additional evidence not captured by the tool
* the implications for review or appeal rights under aged care legislation
This includes internal risk assessments, governance papers, and high-level
legal risk summaries, excluding documents subject to legal professional
privilege.
5. Internal briefs or executive papers relating to ADM considerations
Any briefs, decision papers, or executive summaries provided to senior
departmental executives or the minister that discuss automated
decision-making considerations, governance concerns, or decision-making
implications arising from the use of the IAT classification algorithm.
I am not seeking privileged legal advice. To the extent that any documents
contain limited privileged content, I am happy to accept redacted versions
with privileged material removed.
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.
Yours faithfully,
Ada
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Dear FOI,
Thank you for your acknowledgement.
I agree to the department’s request for a 21-day extension of time under s 15AA of the FOI Act.
I also confirm that I agree to the exclusion under s 22(1)(a)(ii) of the names and direct contact details of public service employees below Senior Executive Service level.
Yours sincerely,
Ada