Techenical Adivsory Team Decison Making Process
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
I am writing to make a formal request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) for access to documents held by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) concerning the Technical Advisory Team (TAT).
Specifically, I seek access to the following documents:
Policies, procedures, guidelines, or manuals used by the Technical Advisory Team (TAT) in its decision-making processes regarding participant plans, supports, or funding determinations;
Internal decision-making frameworks, charters, terms of reference or process maps that describe the role, authority, and operational processes of the TAT;
Records of standard operating procedures or workflow documents that outline how matters are referred to, considered by, and decided by the TAT;
Any document that sets out criteria, principles, or factors considered by the TAT in providing advice or recommendations to NDIA decision-makers;
If available, any training materials provided to NDIA staff that explain how the TAT process interacts with participant planning and decision-making.
For the avoidance of doubt, I seek documents that were current as at the date of this request as well as those that were in effect in the previous 24 months.
Format:
I request that any documents identified in response to this request be provided in electronic format (PDF preferred).
Scope limitations:
I am not seeking personal information about any individuals, such as names of NDIA employees below SES level or names and details of NDIS participants. Please redact such material if it appears in the documents.
Contact:
Should you require clarification regarding this request or if any part of this request needs to be refined to assist with processing, please contact me at [insert email address or preferred contact details].
I would appreciate an acknowledgment of receipt of this request and confirmation of the statutory timeframe for processing.
Yours sincerely,
Justin Elks
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.
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References
Visible links
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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 NDIA Freedom of Information Team,
I am writing to follow up on my FOI request titled “Technical Advisory Team – Decision-Making Process”.
The statutory decision period has now expired. Under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth), an agency must acknowledge a valid FOI request within 14 days and notify the applicant of a decision within 30 calendar days of receipt, unless a valid extension applies.
If an extension applies, it must be (a) an applicant-agreed extension of up to 30 days under s 15AA (in writing and notified to the OAIC); (b) an automatic 30-day extension due to third-party consultation under s 15(6) (ss 26A/27/27A); or (c) an extension granted by the OAIC under s 15AB. Absent a valid extension, a deemed refusal now exists under s 15AC. Please treat this as notice that, by law, the authority should have responded by now.
Please, within 5 business days:
1. confirm the date you recorded my request as received and the original statutory due date;
2. state whether any extensions were sought and granted (identify the provision—s 15AA, s 15(6), or s 15AB—and provide the revised due date and evidence, e.g., applicant agreement or OAIC instrument); and
3. if no valid extension applies, issue your decision and release any documents without further delay.
For completeness, I note that even where time has expired and the matter is deemed refused, the agency remains obliged to continue processing the request and may seek limited further time from the OAIC; however, the deemed status still arises once the original period expires.
Kind regards,
Yours faithfully,
Justin Elks
Dear Justin Elks,
I refer to your below correspondence.
I acknowledge that we have failed to meet the 30-day statutory deadline
for providing you with a decision on your request. That deadline expired
on 18 August 2025.
I apologise for the lack of update provided to you by the FOI team and
acknowledge your frustrations in relation to this. The volume of requests
we have, and continue to receive, has regrettably impacted on timeframes
for response, however, we are working to address each one in a logical and
timely manner and I can assure you that this approach will be taken to
your current request.
I apologise again for the delay you are experiencing, and I thank you for
your patience and understanding.
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
[1][NDIA request email]
[2]NDIA logo
[3]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.
-----Original Message-----
From: Justin Elks <[FOI #13425 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 17 September 2025 7:21 AM
To: foi <[NDIA request email]>
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Techenical Adivsory Team
Decison Making Process
[You don't often get email from
[4][FOI #13425 email]. Learn why this is
important at [5]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Dear NDIA Freedom of Information Team,
I am writing to follow up on my FOI request titled “Technical Advisory
Team – Decision-Making Process”.
The statutory decision period has now expired. Under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (Cth), an agency must acknowledge a valid FOI request
within 14 days and notify the applicant of a decision within 30 calendar
days of receipt, unless a valid extension applies.
If an extension applies, it must be (a) an applicant-agreed extension of
up to 30 days under s 15AA (in writing and notified to the OAIC); (b) an
automatic 30-day extension due to third-party consultation under s 15(6)
(ss 26A/27/27A); or (c) an extension granted by the OAIC under s 15AB.
Absent a valid extension, a deemed refusal now exists under s 15AC. Please
treat this as notice that, by law, the authority should have responded by
now.
Please, within 5 business days:
1. confirm the date you recorded my request as received and the original
statutory due date;
2. state whether any extensions were sought and granted (identify the
provision—s 15AA, s 15(6), or s 15AB—and provide the revised due date and
evidence, e.g., applicant agreement or OAIC instrument); and
3. if no valid extension applies, issue your decision and release any
documents without further delay.
For completeness, I note that even where time has expired and the matter
is deemed refused, the agency remains obliged to continue processing the
request and may seek limited further time from the OAIC; however, the
deemed status still arises once the original period expires.
Kind regards,
Yours faithfully,
Justin Elks
-----Original Message-----
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
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7. [12]mailto:[NDIA request email]
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11. [16]mailto:[NDIA request email]
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IMPORTANT: This e-mail is for the use of the intended recipient only and
may contain information that is confidential, commercially valuable and/or
subject to legal or parliamentary privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient you are notified that any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon,
this information is prohibited and may result in severe penalties. If you
have received this e-mail in error please notify the sender immediately
and delete all electronic and hard copies of this transmission together
with any attachments. Please consider the environment before printing this
e-mail
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References
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Emily Lacey left an annotation ()
Hey Justin — I thought these might be of interest to you if you haven’t seen them. These are the TAB related requests I’ve made:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/t...
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/a...
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/a...
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/a...
There’s also some other TAB docs floating around (I’m remembering something about mandatory referrals). They have been very inconsistent with what information they redact vs include, so there might be some things in those that have been kept out of mine — I’ve got them all somewhere so could probably track them down if you’re interested and don’t already have them.
And this request isn’t TAB, but might be up your alley https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/a... it’s also still currently under review by the OAIC here https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/a...