NDIS participants who have died in aged care facilities
Dear Department of Health,
I recently received information about young people in nursing homes. It said that the cohort has shrunk sharply from 3 690 (2020) down to 734 (Mar 2025).
I would like both statistics and mortality statistics as follows;
a) statistics for the number of younger people in nursing homes (ie, under 65, including Aboriginal people at the approved age) per year from June 2018 to June 2025.
b) statistics for the number of younger people in nursing homes who have died per year from June 2018 to June 2025, (again, under 65, including Aboriginal people at the approved age)
c) disaggregated statistics for both for NDIS participants.
Thank you for considering my request.
Yours faithfully,
Rob Stewart
Good morning,
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 recently received information about young people in nursing homes. It
said that the cohort has shrunk sharply from 3 690 (2020) down to 734 (Mar
2025).
I would like both statistics and mortality statistics as follows;
a) statistics for the number of younger people in nursing homes (i.e.,
under 65, including Aboriginal people at the approved age) per year from
June 2018 to June 2025.
b) statistics for the number of younger people in nursing homes who have
died per year from June 2018 to June 2025, (again, under 65, including
Aboriginal people at the approved age)
c) disaggregated statistics for both for NDIS participants.
The reference number for your request is FOI 25-0518 LD. Please ensure
that you quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning
this request.
Timeframes
Your request was received on 30 June 2025. The statutory timeframe for
processing your request is 30 calendar days and you should expect to be
notified of a decision from the department on or before 30 July 2025. The
period of 30 days may be extended if the department needs to consult
third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.
Request to exclude irrelevant information from your request
To assist with processing your request, can you also please advise by COB
3 July 2025, 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
[1]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 [2][email address] or by phone
on 02 6289 1666, should you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Jordan - FOI Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [3][email address]
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.
Good afternoon Mr Stewart,
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).
Seeking Agreement to Withdraw
While processing your request, the department has contacted the relevant
business area to your request, as part of this process it was identified
that much of the details contained within the scope of your request is
currently publicly available information. The relevant business area has
provided the FOI team with this advice, and is seeking your agreement to
withdraw on the provision you are content with the following information:
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) Younger People in
Residential Aged Care (YPIRAC) data dashboard
([1]https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/reso...),
provides public information on younger people currently residing in
residential aged care, along with entry, length of stay and exit numbers
(including those who have passed away). Data in this dashboard is updated
on a quarterly basis and currently holds YPIRAC data as of December 2024.
Detailed data on the number of YPIRAC is available through the [2]data
download
([3]https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/getm...)
(including First Nations people aged 50-64):
a. statistics for the number of younger people in nursing homes (i.e.,
under 65, including Aboriginal people at the approved age) per year
from June 2018 to June 2025.
o Table 3 provides a quarterly breakdown (between July 2018 and December
2024) of the YPIRAC cohort, by state/territory. Table 4 provides a
quarterly breakdown of this cohort by age group and sex.
b) statistics for the number of younger people in nursing homes who have
died per year from June 2018 to June 2025, (again, under 65, including
Aboriginal people at the approved age)
o Table 5 provides a quarterly breakdown (between July 2018 and December
2024) of the number of younger people who have exited residential aged
care. Table 6 provides a quarterly breakdown of this cohort by ‘reason
for exit,’ including ‘death.’
March 2025 data is intended to be publicly released in July 2025, while
June 2025 data is intended to be released in October 2025.
While some information on younger people who are NDIS participants is
publicly available through the NDIS Quarterly Statistics:
[4]https://www.ndis.gov.au/publications/qua..., information for
question c) must be requested from the NDIA, via the NDIA YPIRAC mailbox:
[5][email address].
Noting the above, we are seeking you confirmation that you agree to
withdraw your request by COB 4 July 2025. Otherwise, the department will
continue to process your request in due course.
Kind regards,
Jordan - FOI Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [6][email address]
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.
From: FOI <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 1 July 2025 8:54 AM
To: Rob Stewart <[FOI #13340 email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information Request 25-0518 LD – Acknowledgement of
Receipt [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Good morning,
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 recently received information about young people in nursing homes. It
said that the cohort has shrunk sharply from 3 690 (2020) down to 734 (Mar
2025).
I would like both statistics and mortality statistics as follows;
a) statistics for the number of younger people in nursing homes (i.e.,
under 65, including Aboriginal people at the approved age) per year from
June 2018 to June 2025.
b) statistics for the number of younger people in nursing homes who have
died per year from June 2018 to June 2025, (again, under 65, including
Aboriginal people at the approved age)
c) disaggregated statistics for both for NDIS participants.
The reference number for your request is FOI 25-0518 LD. Please ensure
that you quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning
this request.
Timeframes
Your request was received on 30 June 2025. The statutory timeframe for
processing your request is 30 calendar days and you should expect to be
notified of a decision from the department on or before 30 July 2025. The
period of 30 days may be extended if the department needs to consult
third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.
Request to exclude irrelevant information from your request
To assist with processing your request, can you also please advise by COB
3 July 2025, 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
[7]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 [8][email address] or by phone
on 02 6289 1666, should you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Jordan - FOI Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [9][email address]
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.
Good afternoon Mr Stewart,
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).
I am contacting you again to follow up my email from 2 July 2025. Noting
we have not received a response, the department is seeking your
confirmation on the below. We would be grateful for your response by COB
11 July 2025.
If we do not hear back from you, the department will continue to process
your request.
Kind regards,
Jordan Rubio (he/him)
FOI Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 5132 0296 | E: [1][email address]
Location: Yaradhang Building 3.N.6
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.
From: FOI <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, 2 July 2025 1:39 PM
To: Rob Stewart <[FOI #13340 email]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information Request 25-0518 LD – Acknowledgement
of Receipt [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Good afternoon Mr Stewart,
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).
Seeking Agreement to Withdraw
While processing your request, the department has contacted the relevant
business area to your request, as part of this process it was identified
that much of the details contained within the scope of your request is
currently publicly available information. The relevant business area has
provided the FOI team with this advice, and is seeking your agreement to
withdraw on the provision you are content with the following information:
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) Younger People in
Residential Aged Care (YPIRAC) data dashboard
([2]https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/reso...),
provides public information on younger people currently residing in
residential aged care, along with entry, length of stay and exit numbers
(including those who have passed away). Data in this dashboard is updated
on a quarterly basis and currently holds YPIRAC data as of December 2024.
Detailed data on the number of YPIRAC is available through the [3]data
download
([4]https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/getm...)
(including First Nations people aged 50-64):
a. statistics for the number of younger people in nursing homes (i.e.,
under 65, including Aboriginal people at the approved age) per year
from June 2018 to June 2025.
o Table 3 provides a quarterly breakdown (between July 2018 and December
2024) of the YPIRAC cohort, by state/territory. Table 4 provides a
quarterly breakdown of this cohort by age group and sex.
b) statistics for the number of younger people in nursing homes who have
died per year from June 2018 to June 2025, (again, under 65, including
Aboriginal people at the approved age)
o Table 5 provides a quarterly breakdown (between July 2018 and December
2024) of the number of younger people who have exited residential aged
care. Table 6 provides a quarterly breakdown of this cohort by ‘reason
for exit,’ including ‘death.’
March 2025 data is intended to be publicly released in July 2025, while
June 2025 data is intended to be released in October 2025.
While some information on younger people who are NDIS participants is
publicly available through the NDIS Quarterly Statistics:
[5]https://www.ndis.gov.au/publications/qua..., information for
question c) must be requested from the NDIA, via the NDIA YPIRAC mailbox:
[6][email address].
Noting the above, we are seeking you confirmation that you agree to
withdraw your request by COB 4 July 2025. Otherwise, the department will
continue to process your request in due course.
Kind regards,
Jordan - FOI Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [7][email address]
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.
From: FOI <[8][email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 1 July 2025 8:54 AM
To: Rob Stewart <[9][FOI #13340 email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information Request 25-0518 LD – Acknowledgement of
Receipt [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Good morning,
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 recently received information about young people in nursing homes. It
said that the cohort has shrunk sharply from 3 690 (2020) down to 734 (Mar
2025).
I would like both statistics and mortality statistics as follows;
a) statistics for the number of younger people in nursing homes (i.e.,
under 65, including Aboriginal people at the approved age) per year from
June 2018 to June 2025.
b) statistics for the number of younger people in nursing homes who have
died per year from June 2018 to June 2025, (again, under 65, including
Aboriginal people at the approved age)
c) disaggregated statistics for both for NDIS participants.
The reference number for your request is FOI 25-0518 LD. Please ensure
that you quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning
this request.
Timeframes
Your request was received on 30 June 2025. The statutory timeframe for
processing your request is 30 calendar days and you should expect to be
notified of a decision from the department on or before 30 July 2025. The
period of 30 days may be extended if the department needs to consult
third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.
Request to exclude irrelevant information from your request
To assist with processing your request, can you also please advise by COB
3 July 2025, 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
[10]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 [11][email address] or by
phone on 02 6289 1666, should you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Jordan - FOI Administration Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [12][email address]
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.
Good Afternoon,
Partial transfer of freedom of information request to another agency
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 recently received information about young people in nursing homes. It
said that the cohort has shrunk sharply from 3 690 (2020) down to 734 (Mar
2025).
I would like both statistics and mortality statistics as follows;
a) statistics for the number of younger people in nursing homes (i.e.,
under 65, including Aboriginal people at the approved age) per year from
June 2018 to June 2025.
b) statistics for the number of younger people in nursing homes who have
died per year from June 2018 to June 2025, (again, under 65, including
Aboriginal people at the approved age)
c) disaggregated statistics for both for NDIS participants.
I am writing to tell you that the department has transferred part of your
request to the National Disability Insurance Agency.
Under section 16(1) of the FOI Act, the department is able to transfer a
request if the subject matter of the document is more closely connected
with the functions of another agency.
On the 17 July 2025 the department transferred the part c) disaggregated
statistics for both for NDIS participants of your request to National
Disability Insurance Agency.
This department will continue to process the remaining part of your
request.
We received your request on 30 June 2025 and the 30-day statutory period
for processing your request commenced from the day after that date.
National Disability Insurance Agency will treat your request as though it
received it the same day that this department did. You should expect a
decision from National Disability Insurance Agency on 30 July 2025. The
period of 30 days may be extended if National Disability Insurance Agency
needs to consult third parties or for other reasons. They will advise you
if this happens. An FOI officer at National Disability Insurance Agency
will be in contact with you shortly.
Jess Scott
Freedom of Information Section
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability & Ageing
P: 02 6289 1666 | E: [1][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health, Disability & Aged Care acknowledges 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 elders both past and present.
Please note that this email and attachments may contain confidential or
legally privileged information. Please consult with Legal Division before
disclosing any part of this email, or attachment, outside the Department.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
Dear Rob,
Freedom of Information Request: Acknowledgement & Extension of Time
Request
Thank you for your request on 30 June 2025, made under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), for copies of documents held by the
National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
We have received your request as a partial transfer under section 16 of
the FOI act from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
The section 16 transfer request was received and accepted as the NDIA is
most likely to hold documents relating to part of your requested scope. We
have accordingly taken carriage of point C of your below request.
Scope of your Request
You have requested access to:
"...I recently received information about young people in nursing homes.
It said that the cohort has shrunk sharply from 3 690 (2020) down to 734
(Mar 2025).
I would like both statistics and mortality statistics as follows;
a) statistics for the number of younger people in nursing homes (ie, under
65, including Aboriginal people at the approved age) per year from June
2018 to June 2025.
b) statistics for the number of younger people in nursing homes who have
died per year from June 2018 to June 2025, (again, under 65, including
Aboriginal people at the approved age)
c) disaggregated statistics for both for NDIS participants...."
Processing Timeframes
In accordance with section 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act, a 30-day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from 1 July 2025. This 30-day
period expires on 30 July 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 August 2025.
Please let us know if you agree by Friday 25 July 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 and if staff names are irrelevant to your request, by
Friday 25 July 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][email address].
Kind regards,
Adam
Freedom of Information Officer – Triage and Early Resolution
Information Release, Privacy and Legal Operations Branch
Reviews and Information Release Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [2][email address]
[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 and
present.
[5]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags graphic
Good afternoon Rob,
We refer to your freedom of information request received on 30 June 2025.
Please find attached a decision on access together with the document for
release referred to in the decision.
If you have any queries in relation to this decision, please contact the
Freedom of information section on the details below.
Kind Regards,
Jess Scott
Freedom of Information Section
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group Australian Government
Department of Health, Disability & Ageing
P: 02 6289 1666 | E: [1][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health, Disability & Aged Care acknowledges 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 elders both past and present.
Please note that this email and attachments may contain confidential or
legally privileged information. Please consult with Legal Division before
disclosing any part of this email, or attachment, outside the Department.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
OFFICIAL