Expert groups

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) expert groups were established in May 2012 to help the Australian Government design a scheme that meets the lifetime care and support needs of people with significant and permanent disability.

The expert groups will work under the NDIS Advisory Group and advise on the design of key elements of the scheme including eligibility and assessment, quality safeguards and standards, a national approach to choice and control for people with disability and workforce and sector capacity.

The expert groups include people with disability, their carers, advocates, service providers and other sector experts and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to help people with disability, their families and carers, and the disability service sector, get ready for this change and to make sure the scheme works for them.

There are four expert groups are:

National Approach to Control and Choice

  • Jeff Harmer, NDIS Advisory Group (co-chair)
  • Fran Vicary, NDIS Advisory Group (co-chair)
  • Robbi Williams, Julia Farr Association
  • Kirsten Deane, National Disability and Carers Alliance
  • Lesley Hall, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
  • Sally McManus, Australian Services Union
  • Samantha Jenkinson, National People with Disability and Carers Council
  • Ara Cresswell, Carers Australia
  • Vicki O’Halloran, Somerville Community Services Darwin
  • Daniel Leighton, Inclusion Melbourne

Eligibility and Assessment

  • Rhonda Galbally, NDIS Advisory Group (co-chair)
  • Joan McKenna-Kerr, NDIS Advisory Group (co-chair)
  • Ros Madden, University of Sydney
  • Janet Dore, Transport Accident Commission
  • Robbi Williams, Julia Farr Association
  • Tim Moore, Carers Australia
  • Graeme Innes, Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissioner
  • Frank Quinlan, Mental Health Council of Australia
  • Suzanne Lulham, New South Wales Lifetime Care and Support Authority
  • Lesley Hall, Australian Federation of Disability Organisations

Quality, Safeguards and Standards

  • Lorna Hallahan, NDIS Advisory Group (co-chair)
  • Bruce Bonyhady, NDIS Advisory Group (co-chair)
  • Stephanie Gotlib, Children with Disability Australia
  • Margaret Reynolds, University of Tasmania
  • Marita Walker, Perth Homecare
  • Sally Robinson, Southern Cross University
  • Kevin Cocks, Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commissioner
  • Kelly Shay, United Voice

Disability Workforce and Sector Capacity

  • Ken Baker, National Disability Services (co-chair)
  • Rhonda Galbally, National People with Disabilities and Carer Council (co-chair)
  • Sally McManus, Australian Service Union
  • Gordon Duff, National Disability Services
  • Damian Griffis, First Peoples Disability Network
  • David Barbagallo, Endeavour Foundation
  • Sue Lines, United Voice
  • Samantha Connor, CY O’Connor Institute
  • David Meldrum, Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia
  • Kim Windsor