NDIS Advisory Group

The Advisory Group will help steer the development of a National Disability Insurance Scheme by providing advice on progress with the foundation reforms required to improve the system of care and support for Australians with disability and their carers.

The Advisory Group has brought together a wealth of knowledge about the experience of people with disability and carers, the challenges for the service sector and government administration.

The group includes people with expertise in social insurance principles, disability policy, service provision, performance monitoring, training and curriculum development, academia and research, psychological and intellectual disability, indigenous disability services, young people and children with disability.

Membership

Dr Jeff Harmer AO

Dr Harmer has occupied a range of executive positions in the Australian Public Service. He was appointed Secretary of the then Department of Family and Community Services in October 2004. In 2008 Dr Harmer was appointed as a member of the panel to review Australia’s Future Tax System. Dr Harmer retired from his role as Secretary in the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs in 2011.

 

Dr Ken Baker

Dr Baker has been the Chief Executive of National Disability Services since 2000. In that role he provides advice to governments and information to service providers on a broad range of disability policy issues. Among other groups, he is a member of advisory committees to the federal Minister for Workforce Participation and the Minster for Ageing. He has worked in areas of social policy development and public affairs for more than 25 years. He received a Centenary Medal for work in relation to disability services.

 

Mr Bruce Bonyhady AM

Mr Bonyhady is President of Philanthropy Australia. Mr Bonyhady is the Chairman of Yooralla and Chairman of the Advisory Panel to Solve! at the Royal Children’s Hospital. He was a Member of the Disability Investment Group, the Reference Group for the Pension Review and the Convenor of the Independent Panel appointed to advise Productivity Commission and Government during the Inquiry into long-term care and support for Australians with disability.

 

Dr Rhonda Galbally AO

Dr Galbally is currently the Chair of the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council. Dr Galbally has made unique contributions to Australian and international social development by establishing new organisations and programs for Australia and the world, from concept to operational success. These include the ‘our community’ website, a hub of resources and support for Australia’s 700,000 community organisations. Dr Galbally was a member of the Independent Panel appointed to advise the Productivity Commission and Government during the Inquiry into long-term care and support for Australians with disability.

 

Dr Lorna Hallahan

Dr Hallahan has specific expertise in disability systems reform, the ethical consideration of disability services and safeguarding people with disability from abuse or harm. Dr Hallahan is currently Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Flinders University, and has advised governments in a variety of forums including the Pension Review, the SA Social Inclusion Board and as Chair of the Disability Advisory Council in South Australia.

 

Ms Joan McKenna-Kerr

Ms Joan McKenna Kerr has spent the last 20 years working in the field of disability and holds the position of Chief Executive Officer with the Autism Association of Western Australia. She has a Moderatorship in Sociology from Trinity College, Dublin and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Ms. McKenna Kerr is a member of the Partnership Forum of Western Australia established to strengthen the partnership between Government and the Not-For-Profit Sector. Ms. McKenna Kerr is Chair of National Disability Services WA and is a Director of the Australian Advisory Board on Autism Spectrum Disorders. She has served on numerous Working Parties tasked with addressing unmet need, as wells as major initiatives involving disability sector development and reform.

Ms Fran Vicary

Ms Vicary is the Manager of Queenslanders with Disability Network. Ms Vicary has worked as a web developer and research consultant for disability organisations, a health promotions officer at the Woman’s Health Service and has been a lecturer and tutor in the Occupational Therapy Division of the University of Queensland.