The State’s first Office of Disability is to be established within the Department of Communities.
The Department said the Office would promote the rights and interests of people with disability and the broader disability sector and be a conduit of information and knowledge on the range and quality of services people with disability required.
Minister for Disability Services, Don Punch said the Office would have a role in informing and advising the Government on the experiences between Western Australians with disability, their families and carers and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
“The role and structure of the Office of Disability has been shaped by an extensive consultation and engagement process undertaken across the State in 2020, and its formation answers calls from peak and advocacy bodies in the disability sector for such a body to be formed,” Mr Punch said.
“The establishment of the Office ensures disability continues to be at the forefront of the Government’s focus and that there is a strong voice advocating for people with disability across Government, the disability sector and the broader community.”
He said the Government had a continuing commitment to deliver better outcomes for the 411,500 Western Australians living with disability, as part of its commitment to support key services to support all Western Australians.
“The new Office of Disability is the key to both optimising the local delivery of the NDIS and increasing the economic and social participation of people with disability,” Mr Punch said.
