It has been another busy month with significant changes taking place both locally and nationally. 

It seems like a long time ago now, but it was only late last month that Minister Bill Shorten announced the independent review into the NDIS. This wide-ranging review will look at the design, operations and sustainability of the NDIS. NDS will be working closely with members throughout the review process to ensure the issues facing providers are considered. Member CEOs would have received an initial survey link this week to get your feedback on priority areas. 

ACT providers can discuss the review and give feedback in person through our ACT Disability Sector Quarterly Forum on 15 December. The Forum will have a session on the review and this is your chance not only to collaborate on the priorities of the ACT sector with colleagues but also to feed directly into NDS’s advocacy in this area. Get your tickets today. 

It seems that COVID cases are rising again across the country. It is time for us all to check our current COVID-safe settings to make sure they will prevent transmission. Mask wearing, getting your booster shot and social distancing should be top of our minds. 

We encourage members to contribute to the multiple consultations open at the moment, either by making a submission yourself or contributing to NDS’s. Links to the consultations are listed in this newsletter. 

Data security is also back in the news with the Medibank hack. In the wake of these high-profile, incidents, disability service providers have been considering the sort of information they store and how they store it. The Commonwealth Government has created a useful Cyber Security Assessment Tool, which provides a rating on your cyber security readiness. The report generated from the survey tool identifies the cyber security strengths of your organisation, gives insights into areas where your organisation can improve, and gives suggestions and resources to improve your systems.  

We are also on the countdown to the CEOs’ Meeting, which will be held at the Hilton Sydney on 28 and 29 November. This is the premier event in the disability service provider calendar. We have a great array of speakers and topics, all vital in the current changing environment, including a session with the NDIS Review Panel Co-Chairs Bruce Bonyhady and Lisa Paul. I’m looking forward to catching up with ACT providers over the two days.