After a decade of corner cutting by the Coalition, the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) today welcomes the Albanese Labor Government's announcement of a much-needed reboot of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The reboot, which was announced in a National Press Club address by Minister Bill Shorten, includes increases to public service staffing numbers, bringing the NDIA call centre in-house, investing in staff capability and addressing the high rates of labour hire use and staff turnover.

The CPSU has been actively campaigning for these measures and is pleased to see that the Minister and the Government have not only listened to our concerns but acted.

This reboot will go a long way towards creating a workplace that values employees, which in turn will deliver a better scheme for participants and their families.

Putting people with disability at the heart of the NDIA and ensuring that it becomes a model employer for people with disability is essential to improving outcomes for participants. We know that insecure work, poor culture and lack of support and progression within NDIA has a disproportionate impact on staff with disability and this needs to change.

The CPSU looks forward to continuing to work closely with our members in the NDIA and the Government to ensure that the NDIA has the staffing and capability to ensure the best outcomes for participants.

Quotes attributable to Beth Vincent-Pietsch, CPSU Deputy Secretary:

“After the former Coalition Government cut as many corners as they could with the NDIA, a reboot is desperately needed, for the sake of both employees and participants.

“This is a big ship to turn around, with labour hire use at an all-time high, but we look forward to working with the NDIA and the Government to increase APS staffing levels as well as give those workers on insecure labour hire and outsourced contracts the opportunity of secure, ongoing APS employment.

“CPSU members who work in the scheme know its potential but have been frustrated by rampant outsourcing and increasing rates of labour hire, that have led to high rates of staff turnover, poor workplace morale and inevitable consequences on service delivery to people with disability and their families.

“Our members in the NDIA work there because they believe in the scheme and the potential it has to transform people’s lives.

“Since the change in Government, Minister Shorten has worked closely with the CPSU and our members to identify what needed to change and how to change it.

“The NDIA can and must be a better employer and an employer of choice for people with disability if it is to realise its potential and deliver for participants. This has certainly not been the case in recent years and CPSU members with lived experience of disability have been raising areas where the agency must lift its game. We look forward to continuing to work with the Minister and the agency to ensure that this reboot achieves what it needs to.

Media Contact: Tori McGregor 0429 000 620