Sitting down to dinner with Prime Minister Turnbull was one of the last things NDIS planner Rhonda Plummer thought she would be doing on a Sunday night.
Rhonda is a local Tennant Creek woman and has been a planner with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) since 2016. She was one of few who dined with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull when he visited recently.
Rhonda was eager to let Prime Minister Turnbull know just how much she enjoys working for the NDIS.
"It allows me to do something for my people," Rhonda told the Prime Minister.
"The Prime Minister replied that he recognised the importance of local people being employed by the Agency to work with the community, which I really appreciated hearing."
Rhonda attended the dinner along with other community leaders including her husband Ron, who as a Traditional Owner, performed the welcome to country for the Prime Minister.
Accompanying Prime Minister Turnbull to Tennant Creek were the Minister for Social Services Dan Tehan, Minister for Indigenous Affairs Senator Nigel Scullion and Chief Minister of the Northern Territory Michael Gunner.
The Agency's Northern Territory Regional Manager Lizzie Gilliam also briefed the Prime Minister and Minister Tehan on the NDIS in the Territory.
"Minister Tehan was especially interested to learn how participants in remote communities are pooling funds," Lizzie said.
"Pooling funds gives participants' greater purchasing power, enabling them to bring allied health services into their community.
"It is a very culturally appropriate way to use funding and is something we are encouraging, if participants are choosing it," Lizzie said.