Minister for Disability Services, the Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, launched the WA Disability Services Sector Industry Plan at the National Disability Services (NDS) WA Conference.

NDS (WA) commissioned ACIL Allen Consulting to research and establish a knowledge base on the contribution and potential of the WA disability sector under the NDIS. The team engaged the disability sector and analysed new and existing data to compile the report.

The WA Industry Plan provides a snapshot of the key findings, an analysis of service capability, strategies for transition and a plan for implementation that require strong investment by the State Government. It identifies that the NDIS will provide a significant opportunity for WA, with the potential to trigger large-scale economic growth and job creation in the State with the total economic contribution of the disability sector in WA increasing from $1.4 billion to $2.7 billion in 2020.

Some key themes that emerged from the research

1. The need to build the knowledge base of the WA disability sector.
2. The need to build and enhance capacity and capability of the WA disability sector during the transition to the NDIS.
3. The need for ongoing sector leadership to address areas of market failures and drive for necessary policy and legislative change.

To read more, and download the report, got to the NDS website.