New Workforce Strategy prepares Qld for NDIS jobs boom

Nearly 13,000 Queenslanders are set to benefit from new employment opportunities thanks to the projected National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) jobs boom to come in Queensland’s disability sector.  

Disability Services Minister Coralee O’Rourke today officially launched the NDIS NGO Workforce Strategy – WorkAbility Queensland: Building tomorrow’s NDIS workforce, at Parliament House in Brisbane to strengthen and grow Queensland’s workforce ahead of the NDIS.   

“The NDIS NGO Workforce Strategy is an important step towards ensuring Queensland’s workforce is ready for the significant job opportunities the NDIS will create,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“The Palaszczuk Government invested more than $1 million towards the implementation of the NDIS NGO Workforce Strategy, which is operational in the Townsville region and will be rolled out across the state over three years,” she said.

“Developed by the sector through a consortium of peak bodies, the strategy will help to facilitate effective and timely access to training, by building on the sector’s existing strengths and networks in the community.                                                              

“It is all about ensuring 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.”

The Strategy had been developed in partnership with a consortium of peak bodies including:

• National Disability Services (NDS),
• Health and Community Services Workforce Council (Workforce Council),
• Community Services Industry Alliance (CSIA), and
• Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS).

Mrs O’Rourke said the Palaszczuk Government, in partnership with the consortium, had appointed a State Advisory Group to make recommendations during the implementation of the strategy.

“The Advisory Group includes people with lived experience of disability, disability service providers, education and training providers, employment services, unions and key government agencies.

“This collaboration and input from the wider community will be critical to the successful implementation of the NDIS, and the strategy, in Queensland.”

NDS Queensland State Manager Richard Nelson said under the NDIS, the number of people receiving disability supports in Queensland was expected to more than double to more than 90,000 once the scheme was fully implemented.

“This progressive increase in demand, and available options for people with disability under the NDIS, will require significant growth in the number of workers across the sector,” Mr Nelson said.

Workforce Council CEO Doug Evans said the release of the strategy was a key component in preparing, strengthening and growing the workforce to meet future demands under the NDIS.

“The aim of strategy is to supply service providers, who are responding to the growth in demand created by the NDIS, with a strong and skilled workforce,” Mr Evans said.

“It will also build the community through social and economic opportunity, which will support the workforce to build capacity and capability to respond to growth and become sustainable into the future.”

CSIA CEO Belinda Drew said the strategy would provide both local and state-wide workforce solutions and would build on the sector’s existing strengths and networks.

“The strategy will seek local solutions to local needs through the establishment of networks that will work on the supply of workers to meet the needs of people with a disability,” Ms Drew said.

“It will be critical that we engage all parts of the system, in particular local employers, businesses and the training providers.”

QCOSS CEO Mark Henley said it was essential that every Queenslander, regardless of circumstance, had the opportunity to achieve social and economic wellbeing.

“The consortium is working with local community-based organisations to make sure the best response possible is being provided to each person supported by the NDIS,” he said.

For information on the NDIS visit www.ndis.gov.au or call the National Disability Insurance Agency on 1800 800 110. People with hearing or speech loss can call TTY 1800 555 677.

Media Contact:                                  Minister O’Rourke’s office                  3719 7184