It has been a busy month, which will culminate in our WA Disability Support Awards hosted by NDS in partnership with the Department of Communities. The awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of those who work to increase the quality of life and inclusion of people with disability. 

The State Committee has been engaging with government representatives, making sure the key issues for people with disabilities, their families and disability service providers are raised as a priority. We met the ministers covering the disability and training portfolios, as well department heads and the shadow minister.  

Among our discussion priorities were the Full Scheme Agreement Bilateral negotiations, the NDIS Review, workforce challenges, housing, NDIS and health interface issues, and the implementation of the new NDIS customer relationship management system PACE. 

At the February State Committee meeting, Stewart Brown Chartered Accountants presented an overview of their Disability Services Financial Benchmarking Survey. Designed to collect financial performance, equity, and staffing data, it allows providers to benchmark their data at an organisational level and across different service types.  

Image description (right): Members of the Council of Regional Disability Services (CORDS) in Busselton for their quarterly meeting.

The Council of Regional Disability Services (CORDS) held their February meeting in Busselton to discuss improving service provision for people with disabilities in regional and remote areas. The key topic up for discuusion was the NDIS and health interface system. We need to find ways for health staff, service providers and people with disabilities to collaborate for better outcomes. CORDS believes that building local connections within their regions, along with strategic meetings with government, will be the way forward.

Image description (right): At the NDS in WA Annual Members Meeting, Julie Waylen (Diversity South), Frances Buchanan (WA Blue Sky), Frances Thomas (NDS), Amanda Cumberbatch (WA Blue Sky), Marina Re (Identity WA and Deputy Chair NDS WA State Committee)

And while I am writing about meetings: it was great to see so many of you at the Annual Members Meeting in February, where we celebrated the significant work of members. State Committee Deputy Chair Marina Re and I talked about the successful state initiatives that feed into the goals of the NDS Strategy – Towards 2025. You will be aware of most of these great programs: the Quality and Safeguarding Sector Readiness Project, the Access and Inclusion Program, the Grants Management Program, the Sector Support and Development, and the NDIS Job Matching Service.

Worth a special mention is the Ready to Go Home Project, which has just launched the My Hospital Pack and a series of Your Hospital guides to assist people with disability to have a well-prepared and positive hospital stay. The packs and guides are free and printed versions can be ordered up to Friday 17 April. Or you can download them from our Ready to Go Home page. 

Image description (right): At the NDS in WA Annual Members Meeting: Stephanie Willson (NDS) , Sharon Buonvecchi (NDS), and Coralie Flatters (NDS State Manager WA)

In the March NDS News WA newsletter, you’ll also find a report on recent Network meetings, which address the challenges of workforce, finance and sustainability, and access and inclusion. And a reminder of what a great program our NDIS Job Matching Service is.  

I look forward to seeing you at the Disability Support Awards where we will celebrate and honour those who have been nominated for the impact that they have had on the lives of people with disability.