NDIS boosts Whitsunday jobs opportunities

Up to 650 jobs could be created in the Mackay-Whitsundays region following the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) which commences next month.

In the Whitsundays for Community Cabinet, Disability Services Minister Coralee O’Rourke hosted an industry forum to urge businesses to take full advantage of the opportunities available under the NDIS, as focus moves from traditional delivery to a market driven by customer needs and demand.

“Once fully operational, the scheme will support more than 3100 people with disability in the Mackay-Whitsundays region – creating a powerful new consumer group and a red-hot-marketplace for service providers,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“This unprecedented growth and, consequently, major employment boost will provide great opportunities for those who are looking for work or for a career change.

“Our Government, through WorkAbility Queensland, is assisting the sector to build the workforce by supporting job-seekers find real and rewarding jobs that make a difference in people’s lives.

“We need to ensure Queensland has the right people, with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time by full implementation of the NDIS in July 2019 – and that is what today’s forum is all about.”

Minister O’Rourke said the NDIS would open the sector to businesses who may not have previously identified themselves as traditional disability services providers.

“The NDIS will create new opportunities in areas not usually associated with the disability sector such as education, tourism, transport and technology – just to name a few,” she said.

“We are already seeing the establishment of great new businesses across the state, such as ballet schools for children with disability and respite camping adventures – the opportunities are endless.”

Paul Stephens from the Health and Community Services Workforce Council and a WorkAbility representative said that people with disability were looking for workers that they can relate to.

“The sector has the opportunity to grow a diverse workforce to provide the services and supports that local people with disability will want to purchase,” he said.

“WorkAbility Queensland is establishing a network of key stakeholders with local knowledge and employment and training expertise to develop an NDIS Workforce Action Plan for the region.”

The industry forum was held at Souths Leagues Club, Milton Street, Mackay, coinciding with the Whitsunday’s Community Cabinet which started yesterday in Proserpine.

To find out about WorkAbility and how your organisation can take advantage of NDIS opportunities go to www.workabilityqld.org.au or for more information on the NDIS, visit www.ndis.gov.au or call the NDIA on 1800 800 110. 

Media Contact:                                  Minister O’Rourke’s office                  3719 7170