Queensland Disability Advisory Council

The Queensland Disability Advisory Council is a key channel for independent advice to the Minister on a range of disability and related matters that affect the broader community.

The Council is representative of the community and includes people with disability, family members, carers, as well as members from community organisations and disability service providers.

Council term

The new Council term is to 30 June 2022.

Membership

11 members are appointed to the Council including members with specific areas of expertise and/or lived experience of disability.

Dr Sharon Boyce Chair
Ms Anita Veivers Deputy Chair
Ms Gillian Costabeber member
Mr Ken Parker member
Mr Simon Wright member
Professor Harry McConnell member
Mr Peter Gurr member
Ms Pam Spelling member
Ms Semah Mokak-Wischki member
Ms Paige Armstrong member
Mr Peter Tully member

Role

The Queensland Disability Advisory Council operates as a key channel for independent advice to the Minister for Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, and for the Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, on regional, state and national disability related matters. The Council represents the views and opinions of the disability community that are important to Queenslanders.

In doing so, the Council:

  1. provides frank, independent and evidence-based advice to the Minister and department on major policy, program and practice initiatives and systemic issues impacting people with disability, their families and carers, with an emphasis on the experiences of people with disability and the sector that supports them
  2. provides feedback on issues that may include participants’ experiences with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and access to mainstream services systems
  3. promotes a socially inclusive Queensland with a particular focus on increasing employment for people with disability, in line with the Queensland state disability plan and priorities under the new National Disability Strategy 2021-2031
  4. acts as a consultative forum for policy and program initiatives under development by Queensland Government agencies or on other occasions where the government or Minister requests stakeholder views
  5. supports communication and understanding among the community about opportunities presented through development of the new state disability plan, the National Disability Strategy and about the NDIS
  6. fosters strong working relationships with other disability-related advisory councils and networks in other jurisdictions and within Queensland and including the National Disability Advisory Council will continue to operate as a key channel for independent advice to the Minister for Disability Services and for the Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships on regional, state and national disability matters.

Contact

For more information contact QDACsecretariat@dsdsatsip.qld.gov.au.