numbers and cost of NDIS participants with mild autism
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
Please provide, in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, all information held by your Agency that show:
1. the definition of "mild autism" the the Agency is currently using,
2. the most recent reporting of the numbers of NDIS participants with "mild autism" as their primary disability broken down by age or age groups,
3. the most recent reporting of the number of NDIS with "mild autism" but not as their primary disability type broken down by age or age category
4. reporting on the cost of NDIS plans for participants with "mild autism" as broken down in 2 & 3 above.
Yours faithfully,
Bob Buckley (A4 Co-convenor)
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Participants, Guardians and Nominees can obtain copies of some participant
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Please visit our [1]Access to Information webpage to find out more about
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Kind regards
Freedom of Information Team
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [11][NDIA request email]
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References
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1. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
2. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
3. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
4. https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/usi...
5. https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/workin...
6. https://data.ndis.gov.au/
7. mailto:[NDIA request email]
8. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
9. mailto:[email address]
10. https://www.ndis.gov.au/
11. mailto:[NDIA request email]
Dear Bob Buckley,
Thank you for your request of 19 July 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:
“ ...all information held by your Agency that show:
1. the definition of "mild autism" the the Agency is currently using, 2.
the most recent reporting of the numbers of NDIS participants with "mild
autism" as their primary disability broken down by age or age groups, 3.
the most recent reporting of the number of NDIS with "mild autism" but not
as their primary disability type broken down by age or age category 4.
reporting on the cost of NDIS plans for participants with "mild autism" as
broken down in 2 & 3 above...."
Processing Timeframes
In accordance with section 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act, a 30-day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from 20 July 2025. This
30-day period expires on 19 August 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 18 September 2025.
Please let us know if you agree by 29 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, by 29 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][NDIA request email].
Kind Regards,
Mellisa
Triage 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, present
and emerging.
[5]A close-up of a flag AI-generated content may be incorrect.
Dear foi,
you wrote
"I am therefore seeking your agreement to a 30-day extension of time under section 15AA of the FOI Act."
I agree to a 30-day extension because it would be pointless to do otherwise. However, I note that "to ensure I preserve your review rights under the FOI Act" is not a reason for an extension at all, it just describes a benefit arising from an extension. The *reason* you need the extension is that the NDIA does not have the capacity to meet its legislated FoI obligations in the legislated timeframe.
You also wrote "it does not seem that NDIA staff members’ surnames and contact details would be relevant to you". The names and/or roles of senor NDIA staff, staff at the executive level of the organisation, involved in the information I'm requesting are likely to be quite relevant. I do not consider the names and contact information for staff at lower levels to be relevant.
Yours sincerely,
Bob Buckley (A4 Co-convenor)
Dear foi,
I agree to a 30-day extension.
I do not consider "NDIA staff members’ surnames and contact details" relevant in this request.
Yours sincerely,
Bob Buckley (A4 Co-convenor)