Research on specific disabilities from the Technical Advisory Branch
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
I'm writing to request access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. Specifically, I'm seeking access to these documents from the list of the TAB's research documents (as mentioned on the NDIS disclosure log ~ FOI reference number 23/24-1189):
– Early intervention for agoraphobia, anxiety or schizoaffective disorder
– Eating Disorder Program (Exercise Physiology, Bulimia and Anorexia Nervosa)
– Treatment of Somatic Symptom Disorder
– Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections
– Childhood speech apraxia
– Cystic Fibrosis in Children
– Arthogryposis Multiplex Congenita
– Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
– Russell Silver Syndrome
– Antley-Bixler Syndrome & Persistent Depressive Disorder
– Down Syndrome and Sleep Apnoea
– Delayed sleep phase disorder
– Persistant Postural Perception Disorder
– New daily persistent headache
– Therapy to manage dementia
– Epilepsy and seizure monitoring - take 2
– Corticobasal syndrome
– Lupus Treatments
– Lyme Disease
– Multiple chemical sensitivity
– Congestive Heart Failure
– Evidence Based Treatments for Osteoporosis
– Evidence Based Treatments for Degenerative Lumbar Disc Disease
– Evidence Based Treatments for Deep Vein Thrombosis / Pulmonary Embolism
– Evidence Based Treatments for Bursitis
– Obesity
– Weight Management Interventions
– Correlation between weight loss and pain, and contraindications of bariatric surgery
– Definition early intervention
As this is a fairly significant request, I think it's reasonable I preemptively agree to extend the decision period to be a total of 60-days now in anticipation of you requiring it to process these documents.
Please contact me at this email address if you require further information or clarification.
Thank you for your assistance.
Yours faithfully,
CS
Thank you for your email to the National Disability Insurance Agency
(NDIA) Freedom of Information (FOI) team.
Please note: due to a high volume of requests, our ability to respond to
you in a timely manner may be affected. We will action your request as
soon as possible and will endeavour to process your matter within the
legislative deadlines. We may need to seek your agreement to an extension
of time. We appreciate your understanding if this is required.
Participant Information
Did you know the NDIA has other ways to access the documents and
information that we hold?
Participants, Guardians and Nominees can obtain copies of some participant
information through our National Contact Centre (NCC). For more
information about what’s available through the NCC, please contact 1800
800 110.
Please visit our [1]Access to Information webpage to find out more about
accessing information through:
* The [2]Participant Information Access (PIA) scheme
* The [3]Information Publication Scheme (IPS)
* The [4]myplace portal for participants
* The [5]myplace portal for providers
Access to Data
You can also request data and statistics. Please visit our [6]Data and
insights webpage page for further information.
If you are able to obtain your information from a source listed above, you
can withdraw your FOI request by emailing [7][NDIA request email]
Further Information
Information about how to make an FOI request can be found on our website:
[8]Freedom of Information
Should you have a query unrelated to FOI, please contact the Agency by
email at [9][email address] or via webchat at [10]ndis.gov.au.
Alternatively, you can also contact us by phoning 1800 800 110.
Kind regards
Freedom of Information Team
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [11][NDIA request email]
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.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
2. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
3. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
4. https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/usi...
https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/usi...
5. https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/workin...
https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/workin...
6. https://data.ndis.gov.au/
https://data.ndis.gov.au/
7. mailto:[NDIA request email]
mailto:[NDIA request email]
8. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
9. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
10. https://www.ndis.gov.au/
https://www.ndis.gov.au/
11. mailto:[NDIA request email]
Dear CS (clementine saber)
Freedom of Information Request: Acknowledgement
Thank you for your request of 30 September 2024 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:
“ … Specifically, I'm seeking access to these documents from the list of
the TAB's research documents (as mentioned on the NDIS disclosure log ~
FOI reference number 23/24-1189):
– Early intervention for agoraphobia, anxiety or schizoaffective disorder
– Eating Disorder Program (Exercise Physiology, Bulimia and Anorexia
Nervosa)
– Treatment of Somatic Symptom Disorder
– Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with
Streptococcal infections
– Childhood speech apraxia
– Cystic Fibrosis in Children
– Arthogryposis Multiplex Congenita
– Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
– Russell Silver Syndrome
– Antley-Bixler Syndrome & Persistent Depressive Disorder
– Down Syndrome and Sleep Apnoea
– Delayed sleep phase disorder
– Persistant Postural Perception Disorder
– New daily persistent headache
– Therapy to manage dementia
– Epilepsy and seizure monitoring - take 2
– Corticobasal syndrome
– Lupus Treatments
– Lyme Disease
– Multiple chemical sensitivity
– Congestive Heart Failure
– Evidence Based Treatments for Osteoporosis
– Evidence Based Treatments for Degenerative Lumbar Disc Disease
– Evidence Based Treatments for Deep Vein Thrombosis / Pulmonary Embolism
– Evidence Based Treatments for Bursitis
– Obesity
– Weight Management Interventions
– Correlation between weight loss and pain, and contraindications of
bariatric surgery
– Definition early intervention..”
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?
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 September 2024, this
30-day period expires on 31 October 2024.
Thank you for your patience, we appreciate your pre-emptive agreement to a
30-day extension of time.
In accordance with section 15AA of the FOI Act, the new due date for us to
decide on your request will be 30 November 2024.
Disclosure Log
Subject to certain exceptions, documents released under the FOI Act will
be published on the NDIA’s disclosure log located on our website.
If you have any concerns about the publication of the documents you have
requested, please contact me.
Next steps
Your request will be allocated to an authorised FOI decision-maker. 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].
Regards
Megan
Freedom of Information Officer
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [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.
[5]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags graphic
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
I confirm that NDIA staff surnames and contact details are irrelevant and can be removed.
Yours faithfully,
Clementine Saber
Dear Megan,
This request was due back about two weeks ago now. Can I expect them soon?
Yours sincerely,
Clementine
Dear foi,
This request was due 20 days ago now. Can I expect to receive them before the end of December?
Yours sincerely,
Clementine
Dear foi,
I’m disappointed that both my emails since this became overdue have been left unanswered. You’ve had this request for over three months and there is no dispute about what documents I’m asking for or where they can be found. Please send me a progress update and a new estimated decision date as soon as possible please.
Yours sincerely,
Clementine Saber
Thank you for your email to the National Disability Insurance Agency
(NDIA) Freedom of Information (FOI) team.
Please note: due to a high volume of requests, our ability to respond to
you in a timely manner may be affected. We will action your request as
soon as possible and will endeavour to process your matter within the
legislative deadlines. We may need to seek your agreement to an extension
of time. We appreciate your understanding if this is required.
Participant Information
Did you know the NDIA has other ways to access the documents and
information that we hold?
Participants, Guardians and Nominees can obtain copies of some participant
information through our National Contact Centre (NCC). For more
information about what’s available through the NCC, please contact 1800
800 110.
Please visit our [1]Access to Information webpage to find out more about
accessing information through:
* The [2]Participant Information Access (PIA) scheme
* The [3]Information Publication Scheme (IPS)
* The [4]myplace portal for participants
* The [5]myplace portal for providers
Access to Data
You can also request data and statistics. Please visit our [6]Data and
insights webpage page for further information.
If you are able to obtain your information from a source listed above, you
can withdraw your FOI request by emailing [7][NDIA request email]
Further Information
Information about how to make an FOI request can be found on our website:
[8]Freedom of Information
Should you have a query unrelated to FOI, please contact the Agency by
email at [9][email address] or via webchat at [10]ndis.gov.au.
Alternatively, you can also contact us by phoning 1800 800 110.
Kind regards
Freedom of Information Team
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [11][NDIA request email]
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.
References
Visible links
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 Clementine Saber,
Thanks for your email.
I’m sorry about the continued delays with your FOI request.
I am writing to give you a progress update on your request.
Progress update
I have conducted search consultations with a business area in the NDIA to
locate the documents you are seeking. We are now in the final stages of
processing your request.
If you have any questions, please reach out. If there are any further
delays, I will keep you updated.
Kind regards
Megan
Freedom of Information Officer
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [1][email address]
[2]NDIA logo
[3]LGBTIQA+ rainbow graphic
[4]A white sign with green text Description automatically generated
Dear Megan,
Thank you for the update, I hope I can hear from you again soon.
Yours sincerely,
Clementine
Dear Clementine,
Further to my previous email, we have located the following nine (9)
documents that are relevant to your request, these documents were
previously released under FOI and published on our disclosure log. I have
attached the following disclosure log documents to this email, can you
please confirm whether you are happy to exclude these documents from the
scope of your request?
o Early intervention for agoraphobia, anxiety or schizoaffective
disorder
o Childhood speech apraxia
o Delayed sleep phase disorder
o Evidence Based Treatments for Osteoporosis
o Evidence Based Treatments for Degenerative Lumbar Disc Disease
o Evidence Based Treatments for Deep Vein Thrombosis / Pulmonary
Embolism
o Evidence Based Treatments for Bursitis
o Weight Management Interventions
o Definition early intervention
Additionally, we have located two (2) documents that will be uploaded to
our disclosure log shortly, can you please confirm if you are happy to
exclude these documents from the scope of your request and we will release
the following two documents administratively once they have been
published.
o Epilepsy and seizure monitoring - take 2
o Multiple chemical sensitivity
We will continue to finalise the remaining documents within your request,
If you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach
out.
Kind Regards
Megan
Freedom of Information Officer
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [1][NDIA request email]
[2]NDIA logo
[3]LGBTIQA+ rainbow graphic
[4]A white sign with green text Description automatically generated
Dear Megan,
If the disclosure log documents are exactly the same as what I've requested, then yes I'm happy for them to be excluded from my request. I'm also happy for the other two documents to be excluded soon as I receive a copy of them.
Thanks,
Clementine
Dear Megan,
Just following up. Have the 2 other documents been added to the disclosure log and you are able to pass them on yet?
And is there any update on how long it will be until the rest of the request is finalised?
Thank you,
Clem
Dear foi,
This request is 133 days old and 73 days overdue. I would really appreciate if you would send the documents now or tell me a specific date that I can expect to receive them.
Yours sincerely,
Clementine Saber
Dear foi,
This request is 171 days old and 111 days overdue.
When will I receive your response?
Yours sincerely,
Clementine Saber
Dear foi,
Contacting you again to ask for an update on this extremely overdue request. The due date you assigned it was more than 4 months ago.
Yours sincerely,
Clementine
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
I've sent 5 emails since mid January asking for an update about this request and received no response to any of them. Your decision was due back on 30 November 2024 and that was 131 days ago. By the end of next week it will be have been 200 days since I made this request.
I would appreciate an update on why this request has been so significantly delayed before we reach day 200.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/r...
Yours faithfully,
Clementine Saber
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
Please explain why I haven't received the documents or any reply since January despite my numerous emails requesting an update. This very straight forward request is 146 days overdue and you've had 206 days to make a decision. I find your lack of reply and disregard for the legislation quite disrespectful.
Yours faithfully,
Clementine Saber
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
If I don't receive some kind of acknowledgement from you within the next week I'll be contacting the OAIC to ask for their assistance in reviewing how this request has been mismanaged by the agency.
I've sent 7 emails since mid January asking for an update without any response. Your decision is more than 150 days overdue. I made this request 7 months ago. You know exactly what documents fall into the scope of the request and where they are located. There should have been no issues with finalising this request in a timely fashion.
This is actually just getting a bit ridiculous and I really don’t appreciate being ignored.
Please provide your update ASAP.
Yours faithfully,
Clementine Saber
Hello,
This is Ben from Right to Know. I’m attaching the FOI decision provided by
the NDIA.
Kind Regards
Ben
--
Ben Fairless
[1]OpenAustralia Foundation
[2]openaustralia | [3]planningalerts | [4]righttoknow | [5]theyvoteforyou | [6]morph
---------- Forwarded message
Ben (Right to Know) left an annotation ()
We’ve received the documents from the NDIA separately and attached them to the request (as you can see above).
We’ve also spoken with the NDIA to let them know how to identify if this problem has happened and how to report it to us. Hopefully it’s a one off (as I can see plenty of emails between the NDIA and other requests on Right to Know coming through with no issues).
Sorry for the inconvenience!!
Dear Ben @ Right To Know,
Sorry to keep you here acting as my middle man a little longer...
The NDIA only sent me 9 of the 11 documents by administrative release that they list in the decision notice. In their email on the 9th of January they sent 9 documents and told me the other 2 documents would be sent to me shortly... and then I never received another reply again haha
Any chance you can bother them for these two?
- Epilepsy and seizure monitoring - take 2
- Multiple chemical sensitivity
My sincere thanks,
Clem
Hello NDIA FOI Team,
Please see the below reply from Clem regarding this request:
[1]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/r...
Can you please reply all to this email with your reply? This will allow us
to keep an eye out for any technical issues.
Thanks,
Ben
--
Ben Fairless
[2]OpenAustralia Foundation
[3]openaustralia | [4]planningalerts | [5]righttoknow | [6]theyvoteforyou | [7]morph
On May 12, 2025 at 7:35 PM, clementine saber
([8][FOI #12104 email]) wrote:
Dear Ben @ Right To Know,
Sorry to keep you here acting as my middle man a little longer...
The NDIA only sent me 9 of the 11 documents by administrative release
that they list in the decision notice. In their email on the 9th of
January they sent 9 documents and told me the other 2 documents would be
sent to me shortly... and then I never received another reply again haha
Any chance you can bother them for these two?
- Epilepsy and seizure monitoring - take 2
- Multiple chemical sensitivity
My sincere thanks,
Clem
Ben (Right to Know) left an annotation ()
Hi there,
My name is Ben and I work for the charity that runs Right to Know. We are working with the NDIA on a technical issue which is preventing replies from being received. We appreciate your paitence.
Kind Regards,
Ben Fairless - Right to Know