NDIS brings 150 jobs to western Sydney
Western Sydney will be the location for the head office of the new National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Quality and Safeguards Commission.
Minister for Social Services Christian Porter and Assistant Minister for Social and Disability Services and Disability Services, Jane Prentice, said the head office would be established through the first half of 2018, creating up to 150 jobs in western Sydney.
“Western Sydney will provide an excellent home base for the important work of the new NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission,” Minister Porter said.
“The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission is being established to oversee the delivery of quality and safe services for all participants in the NDIS.
“Being in western Sydney will allow the Commission to access the significant skills and experience of the local disability sector workforce, including staff from State-based systems.
“It’s absolutely vital that those entering the NDIS have confidence that they will receive quality services and that we have a rigorous regulatory framework covering those providing services and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission will provide that confidence,” Minister Porter said.
Minister Porter said that apart from the establishment of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission in western Sydney, the NDIS was providing a jobs bonanza for the area as the market in disability grows to meet the demand generated by the NDIS.
“The job market for the provision of services to people in the NDIS in New South Wales is doubling from almost 30,000 full-time equivalent positions in 2016 to almost 59,000 full-time equivalent positions in 2019,” the Minister said.
“It’s estimated that up to 3,300 of those additional positions will be in western Sydney.
“So, not only is the NDIS ensuring we are doing the best we can for people with disability, their families and carers, it is also driving the creation of a new service market and, as a consequence, significant numbers of new jobs in the disability sector will benefit communities in western Sydney.”
The NDIS has already exceeded 100,000 participants, on its way to approximately 460,000 participants when it reaches full scheme in 2020, including about 140,000 in New South Wales.
The Turnbull Government allocated $209 million in the 2017-18 Budget for the establishment and operations of the Commission over four years. It will commence operations in 2018 and take responsibility for each state and territory as they reach full scheme.
“It’s appropriate that we are announcing that western Sydney will host the headquarters of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission as New South Wales will be one of the first states to reach full scheme in July 2018,” Assistant Minister Prentice said.
“The Commission’s headquarters in western Sydney will house up to 150 staff, who will be supported by approximately 150 more staff across the country, ensuring the rights and protections of local participants are upheld.
“The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission will provide central oversight to the full scheme NDIS, ensuring quality and safe services for all participants, providers and carers, no matter where they live in Australia.
“As well as regulating NDIS providers, the Commission will investigate complaints and play a key educative role to help strengthen the capability of people with disability, workers and providers of supports under the NDIS.”
“The Commission’s work will be underpinned by the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework which was released in February this year. Once operating nationally, the Commission will bring together the nine current systems operating across Australia, providing a single approach for regulating the NDIS across the country.”
“I look forward to western Sydney playing an important role in the delivery of this life changing scheme.”
Assistant Minister for Cities Angus Taylor said the announcement reflected a whole-of-government focus on driving jobs growth across western Sydney.
“It builds on the Commonwealth’s landmark investment in the Western Sydney Airport, which will be a jobs hub for new industries, from advanced manufacturing and logistics to medical research and healthcare support services,” Assistant Minister Taylor said.
“More jobs for western Sydney support the objectives of the Western Sydney City Deal which is a shared vision across all levels of Government.”
For more information: www.dss.gov.au/ndisqualitysafeguards