NDIS could inject more than 2000 new jobs into the Gold Coast region

The Gold Coast and Hinterland region can expect an injection of up to 2050 new jobs following the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Employment and training representatives, as well as business leaders gathered at the NDIS Industry Forum on the Gold Coast today to learn how the NDIS will support local people with disability, while creating new jobs for their region.

On the Gold Coast for Community Cabinet, Disability Services Minister Coralee O’Rourke opened the forum and highlighted the important role employment and training providers will play during the lead up to the NDIS rollout.

“Once fully operational, the NDIS is expected to support more than 9000 people with disability in the Gold Coast and Hinterland area, who will become a powerful new consumer group,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“The NDIS will create a disability sector workforce of up to 36,000 jobs statewide and inject around $4 Billion into our state’s economy every year.

“Building skills and planning for how to meet a surge in demand for workers are essential to the smooth implementation of the NDIS.

“As part of this transition, we are encouraging people with disability, service providers and employment and training organisations to start planning now and to share their collective knowledge and experience, and that’s what this forum is all about.

“To help the community prepare, we have also committed $9.4 million to support 11 community organisations deliver readiness activities across the state.”

The Palaszczuk Government provides more than $80 million to 35 disability service providers on the Gold Coast for a range of services including accommodation support, community access, recreation and domestic and social supports.

At the forum, NDIS ambassador and Paralympian Karni Liddell discussed the types of services people with disability were seeking and the importance of finding the right people for the right job.

“People with disability now have a greater voice and can play a more active role in deciding what service is best for them,” Ms Liddell said.

“Also the NDIS will provide a wide variety of career opportunities for people from all walks of life.

“We will be looking for a range of roles such as support workers, specialist practitioners like physiotherapists and occupational therapists and also case managers, customer service and community engagement workers.

“More importantly if providers would like to find out what people with disability want and need, ask an expert — a person with a disability.”

The NDIS will start rolling out across the Gold Coast from 1 July 2018.

The industry forum was held on Monday 16 May 2016 from 5-7pm at Southport Sharks Events Centre, Musgrave Avenue, Southport.

For more information on the NDIS, visit www.ndis.gov.au or to find out about jobs and career pathways in the disability sector go to www.carecareers.com.au. The NDIS Hotline is 1800 800 110 and for people with hearing or speech loss, phone TTY 1800 555 677.

Media Contact:                                  Minister O’Rourke’s office                  0434 849 454