National Disability Insurance Scheme
Brief ministerial statement
Ms Hannah Beazley (Victoria Park—Minister for Disability Services) (1:10 pm): In June this year, the Cook and Albanese governments signed Western Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) bilateral agreement, securing long-term funding arrangements for the NDIS and delivering certainty for over 65,000 Western Australian participants. Effective from 1 July 2025, this agreement reflects both governments' shared responsibility for an effective and sustainable NDIS in WA, with a commitment to strengthen governance arrangements through the establishment of the WA Community Advisory Council. The WA Community Advisory Council will advise me as Minister for Disability Services on the development, operations and delivery of the NDIS in WA. It will ensure that community representatives with lived experience, advocacy and sector backgrounds are involved in advising and advocating for participants at a systems level to ensure the scheme is working well for Western Australians.
I am pleased to advise the house that yesterday I opened the expressions of interest process to invite representatives from the WA disability community to apply to join the council. The WA Community Advisory Council is an important opportunity to join with state government and Commonwealth government officials, and advise on the operational effectiveness of the NDIS in WA. This will include advocating for people with disability at a systems level to ensure better access to the scheme and to improve outcomes for participants. It is vital that we elevate the voices of people and groups with direct experience of the NDIS, and I encourage expressions of interests from NDIS participants and their families and carers, along with the disability sector, advocacy groups, providers and other stakeholders. Expressions of interest close on 13 October 2025, with the first meeting of the Community Advisory Council planned to be held this year. More information about the council's terms of reference and the expression of interest process can be found at the WA Community Advisory Council webpage on the Department of Communities website.
The Cook government is committed to supporting the effective operation of the NDIS in WA and building an inclusive community. People with disability are best placed to play a crucial role in shaping the system's policies and the legislation that impacts their lives, and in doing so will benefit and strengthen our whole community.
