Disability reform Ministers' meeting (DRMM) Melbourne - 17 June 2022 - Communique

Event

Commonwealth, State and Territory Disability Ministers met on Friday 17 June 2022 in Melbourne. It was the first meeting chaired by the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Australian Government Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and Minister for Government Services. Ministers also welcomed the Australian Government Minister for Social Services, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP; South Australian Minster for Human Services Nat Cook MP; the Tasmanian Minister for Disability Services, the Hon Jo Palmer MLC; and the NT Minister for Disabilities, the Hon Ngaree Ah Kit MLA to their first Disability Reform Ministers’ Meeting. All Ministers committed to working together in partnership to build trust, empathy, and support better outcomes for people with disability, including by improving the effectiveness of the NDIS through  commitments to:

  • Improving pandemic preparedness: All Ministers agreed to work actively across governments and  with people with disability to ensure our response to COVID-19 is best practice to support the  disability community through winter, including RATs, PPE, booster shots and information campaign Ministers agreed to work together to identify high risk environments for people with disability. • Increased transparency, trust and action: All Ministers agreed to work together to measure and report on progress under the Australian Disability Strategy and the Targeted Action Plans under the Strategy.
  • Bring forward the planned 2023 review of the NDIS: All Ministers agreed to work together to develop and consult on the terms of reference for a review of the design, operation and sustainability of the NDIS.
  • Building a stronger workforce and service provider market: All Ministers agreed to work together to develop and consult on the terms of reference for a review of NDIS pricing, markets, compliance, quality and safeguards, and develop a comprehensive workforce strategy including ensuring  appropriate supports are provided for participants with complex needs.
  • Speeding up hospital discharge: All ministers agreed to work together as a priority to develop a strategy for agreement at our next meeting to improve safe and timely discharge of NDIS participants from hospital.
  • Ensuring access to services: State and territory ministers agreed to work within their jurisdiction to promote the availability of community mental health services for people with disability, and improve the support of early childhood and school education services for children with developmental delay or disability.
  • Reduce NDIS Appeals: All Ministers agreed on the need to address the high numbers of NDIS cases going to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal by working together to develop alternative dispute resolution options.

Ministers agreed to reconvene in late July to continue to advance this work on these areas. Ministers also noted the resignation of NDIA CEO, Mr Martin Hoffman, with effect from 2 July 2022 and expressed their thanks for his service. Ministers noted an open recruitment process will be conducted to identify a permanent CEO as soon as possible.