Dear Mae,

 

Freedom of Information Request: Acknowledgement & Extension of Time
Request

 

Thank you for your request of 29 August 2025, made 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:

 

“documents held by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) that
relate to chronic pain and fibromyalgia.

 

To assist you in processing my request, I have outlined the specific types
of documents I am requesting below. This is not an exhaustive list, and I
request that you conduct a comprehensive search across all relevant NDIA
systems and records.

 

I request access to all documents, in their original, unredacted format
where possible, that contain information related to the NDIA's management,
policy, and data on chronic pain and fibromyalgia, including but not
limited to:

 

1. Internal Policy and Guidance Documents:

 

All current and superseded internal policies, guidelines, and procedures
for NDIA staff regarding the assessment of chronic pain and fibromyalgia.

 

Documents outlining the NDIA's position on chronic pain and fibromyalgia
as primary and/or secondary disabilities for the purpose of NDIS access
and planning.

 

2. Reports, Data, and Research:

 

Any reports, research papers, or summaries held by the NDIA concerning
chronic pain or fibromyalgia.

 

Statistical data on the number of NDIS participants with a primary or
secondary diagnosis of chronic pain or fibromyalgia, including data on
their funded supports and outcomes.

 

Statistics on the number of people who have been approved for NDIS access
with chronic pain and/or fibromyalgia as their primary disability, broken
down by year for the last five years.

 

3. Training and Communication Materials:

 

Training materials, presentations, or handbooks used to educate NDIA staff
on chronic pain and fibromyalgia and their impact on a participant's
functional capacity.

 

Correspondence or records of meetings between the NDIA and external
medical bodies, research organisations, or government departments
regarding chronic pain and fibromyalgia…”

 

 

Processing Timeframes

 

In accordance with section 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act, a 30-day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from 30 August 2025. This
30-day period expires on 29 September 2025.

 

The 30-day period can be extended in a number of ways, including with your
agreement.

 

Extension of Time Request:

 

Unfortunately, it is currently taking us a little longer than 30 days to
process FOI requests due to a very high volume of incoming matters. I am
therefore seeking your agreement to a 30-day extension of time under
section 15AA of the FOI Act. If you agree to this extension, the new due
date for us to decide on your request will be 29 October 2025.

 

Please let us know if you agree by COB Wednesday 3 September 2025.

 

Explanation of Extension of Time Request:

 

The reason I am seeking an extension of time is to ensure I preserve your
review rights under the FOI Act.

 

FOI applicants are normally entitled to exercise a right of internal
review if they are unsatisfied with the outcome of an FOI decision.
However, this right of review lapses if a FOI decision is not made within
the statutory timeframe. This is because if an agency doesn’t issue their
decision within the statutory timeframe, they are deemed to have refused
the request for documents. If this situation happens, it will limit your
options for formal review to only contacting the OAIC.

 

You are not obligated to agree to this request you would still retain your
review rights with our regulatory body OAIC (Office of the Australian
Information Commission).

 

Irrelevant Information

 

Section 22 of the FOI Act allows an Agency to redact information from
documents if that information would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant
to a request for access.

 

Given the nature of your request, it does not seem that NDIA staff
members’ surnames and contact details would be relevant to you. Can you
please send me a reply email confirming that such details are irrelevant
to your request for access?

 

Action Required

 

Can I please request a response regarding our request for a 30-day
extension of time, by COB Monday 8 September 2025..

 

Next steps

 

I have completed some preliminary work on your request; however, your
matter will be allocated to an authorised FOI decision-maker for any
further action. The decision-maker may need to contact you to discuss a
range of matters, including refining the scope of your request.

 

We will contact you using the email address you have provided. Please
advise if you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.

 

In the meantime, if you have any questions or need help, please contact us
at [1][NDIA request email].

 

Kind regards,

 

 

Wendy (WTN314)

Triage Officer – Triage and Early Resolution

Information Release, Privacy and Legal Operations Branch

Reviews and Information Release Division

National Disability Insurance Agency

[2][NDIA request email]

[3]NDIA logo

[4]LGBTIQA+ rainbow graphic

The NDIA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout
Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to them and their cultures and to Elders past, present
and emerging.

 

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