Minister for the NDIS the Hon. Bill Shorten MP has thanked outgoing Acting NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner Michael Phelan APM for his outstanding contribution to the NDIS Commission over the last six months, as new Commissioner Louise Glanville and Associate Commissioner Natalie Wade prepare to take the helm from tomorrow.

Minister Shorten said Acting Commissioner Phelan’s strong focus on weeding out unscrupulous providers while strengthening the NDIS Commission’s processes and keeping a focus on safeguarding the rights of people with disability, had resulted in significant improvements.

“Mike Phelan was absolutely the right person for the tough gig of leading the NDIS Commission into its next phase as a trusted and effective regulator of the NDIS,” Minister Shorten said.

“While the initial Acting Commissioner role was only for three months, Mike agreed to stay on for an additional three months while we found the right replacement, because he understood the importance of the Commission’s role.

“The improvements that have been made in that short time have been extraordinary and are due in large part to Mike’s extensive experience in the policing and financial crime worlds but are also a testament to the inherent empathy and humanity of the man himself.

“Mike has been an exceptional leader who has guided the NDIS Commission to a new stage of maturity, to become a regulator with teeth.”

To enable this evolution, the Australian Government last year invested in an effective doubling of the NDIS Commission workforce, and over the next four years the organisation will be strengthening its systems and capabilities through the $160 million Data and Regulatory Transformation (DART) Program.

Minister Shorten said during Acting Commissioner Phelan’s tenure the NDIS Commission:

• Initiated the design of a fit-for-purpose risk-based Prioritisation Model to ensure the NDIS Commission’s resources are directed to the matters of the highest priority
• Implemented a state-of-the-art communication system in the Contact Centre, that has resulted in twice as many calls handled
• Advocated for the proposed reforms to registration to be prioritised, which will commence with compulsory registration for platform providers, support coordinators and SIL providers
• Strengthened compliance and enforcement processes and prioritised intelligence functions to maximise the return on the Australian Government’s investment in DART
• Commissioned an external Human Resources review to bolster the NDIS Commission’s HR function as it matures
• Appointed the firm led by former Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick to lead a comprehensive review into the workplace culture of the NDIS Commission.

“Mike has made an invaluable contribution in his short time at the NDIS Commission, and I wholeheartedly thank him for his commitment, his leadership and his dedication to realising the potential of the organisation,” Minister Shorten said.

“From tomorrow, the NDIS Commission welcomes new Commissioner Louise Glanville, who is highly experienced in both the legal and disability sectors, and who will be tasked with picking up what Mike has started and delivering on this incredibly important program of work.

“Natalie Wade, who is an experienced disability rights lawyer and advocate, will also be joining the NDIS Commission as Associate Commissioner, with responsibility for registration and reform.”