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.  

show quoted sections

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 Bob Buckley

  

Freedom of Information Request: Acknowledgement & Extension of Time
Request 

 

Thank you for your request of 17 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 about or used in the training, instruction, or
retraining of NDIS planners or delegates since 3/10/2024 about
autism-related aspects of developing or reviewing (conducting internal s48
or s100 reviews) Statements of Participants Supports (SOPS) or NDIS plans
for young (up to age 18 years) autistic NDIS participants (being
participants with autism as their primary or secondary disability type)…" 

 

Processing Timeframes

 

In accordance with section 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act, a 30-day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from 17 July 2025. This
30-day period expires on 16 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 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 15 September 2025.

 

Please let us know if you agree by 7 August 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 an FOI decision is not made within
the statutory timeframe. This is because when 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 Office of the Australian Information Commission
(OAIC).

 

You are not obligated to agree to this request; you would still retain
your review rights with our regulatory body OAIC.

 

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 NDIA staff members’
surnames and contact details would be relevant to you. Can you please send
me a reply email confirming such details are irrelevant to your request
for access?

 

Action Required

1.        Please response regarding our request for a 30-day extension of
time, by 7 August 2025

2.        Please reply confirming staff members’ names are irrelevant
to your request.

 

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 shall contact you using the email address you have provided, please
advise if you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.

 

Further information can be found on our [1]Freedom of Information webpage.

 

Should you have any questions please contact us at [2][NDIA request email].

 

Mellisa

Triage Officer – Triage & Early Resolution

Information Release, Privacy and Legal Operations Branch

Reviews and Information Release Division

National Disability Insurance Agency

E [3][NDIA request email]

[4]NDIA logo

[5]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.

[6]A close-up of a flag AI-generated content may be incorrect.

 

show quoted sections