In the lead up to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s National Jobs and Skills Summit, the Hon. Bill Shorten, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), is holding the first ever NDIS Jobs and Skills Forum.

NDIS participants, their families, providers, disability organisations, the wider disability sector, and unions are coming together to talk about employment and disability.

“Growing NDIS jobs and skills is a crucial piece in addressing Australia’s shared economic challenges,” Minister Shorten said.

“This forum will support immediate actions and opportunities to help the Albanese Government shape the future of Australia’s labour market.”

Newly appointed Chair of the NDIS Joint Standing Committee, Libby Coker MP, is looking forward to working with Minister Shorten to improve outcomes for people with disability.

“The forum is a great opportunity to re-engage with NDIS participants, their families, carers and disability workers to understand their perspective and work towards solutions,” Coker said.

Experiences and ideas from the NDIS Jobs Forum will feed into the Prime Minister’s September National Jobs and Skills Summit to inform the Employment White Paper.

Grassroots campaign spokesperson Elly Desmarchelier will MC the Forum, and the day will include hearing from a panel of people with disability on their experiences at work and finding work.

“In order for the NDIS to thrive, innovation needs to follow the voices of people with disability,” Minister Shorten said.

“Whether that be innovation on how worker conditions can change, to make sure the best and brightest are looking after people with disability or perhaps it is innovation for employers on how can make their workplaces better by hiring people with disability.”

“COVID exposed the fault lines in disability workforce planning. We need to listen to people with disability and workers to ensure NDIS is an attractive career, so people with disability receive high quality support when they need it.”