I was invited to the first Disability stakeholder meeting on 5 May led by the incoming state Minister for Disability Inclusion, Kate Washington. Parliamentary Secretary Liesl Tesch also attended the forum. It included representatives from key bodies for people with disability and provider organisations. It turned out to be a positive first opportunity for the Minister to hear about the priorities for NSW directly from stakeholders. The discussion included a focus on the NDS’s NSW election priorities.

Image description: Minister Kate Washington (seated centre in red) with attendees at the first Disability Stakeholder forum for the Minns Government. 

The NSW Divisional Committee met recently to plot the way forward for NDS in NSW in the next 12 to 24 months. The committee discussed ways to support and promote the work of NDS across NSW, including regional areas. The members also recommitted themselves to the priorities in our NSW election platform.  

The NSW Divisional Committee will be calling for nominations in July this year. If you are an NDS member interested in joining the committee, please contact me. We can arrange a discussion with a committee member.  

In NSW, the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2022 legislation will come into effect on 28 November. NDS is engaged with the NSW Health project team, and NDS members have been included as provider representatives on the implementation working group. We will be closely involved with the implementation planning to keep members updated. 

In NSW, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has been asked by the NSW Minister for Education to review affordability, accessibility and consumer choice in the early childhood education and care sector in NSW. The review covers services for children aged up to 12 years, including Out of School Hours Care. Members in NSW can make a submission, and IPART representatives are holding a focus group for NDS members on 29 May to get your feedback. 

The Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry at UNSW and the Council for Intellectual Disability have developed a new website, Intellectual Disability Mental Health Connect. The website provides ways to navigate the mental health system for people with disability, family or support persons, as well as professionals. 

In national NDS news, nominations are open for our exciting new initiative, the National Disability Awards. Nominations in eight categories for individuals, teams and organisations are open until 31 July. This is a great opportunity for members to showcase the great work in their organisations. By recognising the everyday dedication and innovation of workers and organisations in disability services, we can promote the sector as a place for a rewarding career. We look forward to entries showcasing outstanding work in NSW, so if you know any person, project or organisation deserving national public recognition, nominate them today.  

NDS wants members to be well-prepared for the change and reform expected later this year. The NDS’s Royal Commission Hub is a valuable source of information and analysis on key directions from the Royal Commission. The NDS national Communities of Practice are playing a key role in opportunities for providers to engage with others and contribute to the discussion of emerging directions and issues.  

Please contact me if you would like to discuss any of these items.