Glenn Jones (to December 2011) Patrick Maher (Acting from December to June 2012) Scott Holz (from June 2012 Northern Territory Chair: Vicki O’Halloran Vice-Chair: Eileen Farrell Committee Members: Ian Campbell Ian Fisher Narelle Higginson Greg McMahon Kim McRae Joseph Smith Steve Vitone NT Manager: Jenny Upton Queensland Chair: Angela Tillmanns (from June 2011) Vice-Chair: Joanne Jessop Committee Members: David Barbagallo Peter Callaghan David Curd (from December 2011) Kaye Deeley Judy Dickson Robert Evelyn Bruce Milligan Lynn Quirk
NDS ACT has been working closely with the Community Services Directorate to identify and address reforms affecting community services and, specifically with Disability ACT, to identify disability sector specific with the move towards an NDIS. Areas identified by the NDS ACT Committee include: people with disability receive support from a skilled workforce NDIS/financial readiness for a new world NGOs are effective, viable and accountable. Through its involvement in working groups, as well as direct representation to Disability ACT and the Minister, NDS ACT has represented its members in the following areas: fair funding from the ACT Government to all service providers to meet requirements the equal remuneration order, regardless of current rate of pay reversal of decision of the ACT Government to keep back 0.34% of indexation per year for three years for reform projects review of the Social Compact that outlines the relationship between the community sector and government budget submission for 2012–13 budget response for 2012–13 the ACT Government to focus on NDIS readiness submission to Working With Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Bill 2010. A number of forums were held in 2011-12, including joint chaired forums with Disability ACT. Joint chaired forums focused on updating the sector on government initiatives and developments and provided the opportunity for the sector to voice their concerns on current issues. specific forums included: Equal Remuneration Case, Portable Long Service Leave, Optimal Individual Service Design, Putting a Price on Support Needs in Direct Funding – The UK Experience, and The ACT Disability Sector into the Future – People at the Centre of Decision Making about their Supports.
addressing a number of members’ staff and families/carers groups on the NDIS and assisting with a successful community event which attracted approximately 700 people conducting the Inaugural Australia Disability Awards event. A capacity audience congratulated winners Autism SA for their iModeling Project and Finding Workable Solutions for their ‘Salvage and Save’ Social Enterprise. Special guests included the Minister for Disabilities. Hesta Super Fund committed to ongoing sponsorship for this biennial event. More than half the eligible NDS SA members participated in state-based committees this year. Their contribution assisted NDS SA to provide informed responses to the many requests received for input and comment. Add this voluntary involvement to that provided by the individual state committee members who represent NDS SA on the NDS National Board and seven national committees and we have an invaluable commitment to the advancement of the disability sector in this state. Tasmania Influence on state government NDS TAS has been an active participant in all areas of major policy reform in working with, and on behalf of, members to provide a strong and articulate voice to the state government across a number of areas of interest. In 2011, the state introduced new legislation focused on the provision of specialist disability services under a rights-based approach. NDS TAS engaged state parliamentarians through meetings and formal briefings to advocate for these reforms. This legislation was adopted in 2012 and NDS TAS has worked collaboratively with government to communicate the changes to members and the wider sector. The implementation of government reforms to unit pricing arrangements continued to be an important for providers during 2011–12. NDS TAS staff and state committee members placed a significant amount of effort in providing representation