14 November 2024 - meeting 14 - communique

The Northern Territory Disability Advisory Committee (the Committee) met on 14 November 2024 in Darwin with the new Minister for Disability, the Hon Jinson Charis MLA.

The Committee was able to meet with the Minister for the first time and discuss ideas and its focus going forward, noting the significant reforms happening in the disability space. The Committee also continues to provide oversight and monitoring of the Northern Territory Disability Strategy and Action Plan.

Minister's Update

The Minister for Disability introduced himself to members and spoke of his previous background in the health sector. The Minister sought input from members on what their current focus was and encouraged them to ask questions.

The Committee asked the Minister about the priorities for the new Northern Territory Government, including with regard to Foundational Supports, a response to the Disability Royal Commission recommendations and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (N DIS) Review.

The Minister assured Members the new Northern Territory Government is committed to delivering the significant national reform agenda underway for disability and advocating for Territorians living with disability.

Health Care Decision Making Act 2023

Ms Beth Walker, Public Guardian of the Northern Territory, presented to the Committee on the new Health Care Decision Making Act 2023 (the Act), alongside Mr Ben Hankin and Ms Bee Hall from Inclusion NT.

The Act resolves a gap in Northern Territory law regarding health care decision-making for people who cannot make their own decisions, allowing people close to the person to make health care decisions on their behalf. It works on the principle that the people closest to the person when they had capacity know what decisions they would have made for themselves.

The Public Guardian hopes this Act will reduce the need for full Guardianship orders and allow for more flexible decision-making circumstances which allow greater rights to people living with disability.

EmployAbility Strategy

The Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment (OCPE) presented an update to members on progress under the Northern Territory Public Sector (NTPS) EmployAbility Strategy, which commenced on 20 June 2024. The Strategy's aim is to increase disability representation in the NTPS to 8 per cent by 2027.

OCPE advised members of a pilot program they were undertaking with Helping People Achieve (HPA) to engage with the community and raise awareness among senior Government executives. The pilot included a pop-up at Bunnings Warehouse Palmerston.
OCPE also sought feedback from members on new initiatives, including seeking governance advice for the establishment of the EmployAbility Reference Group under the EmployAbility Strategy.

Mr Callum Hooley
Chair
Northern Territory Disability Advisory Committee