Introduction

The Office of Disability supports Territorians with a disability, including those that are not eligible for the NDIS, through:

whole of government disability policy and program development
ongoing contribution to the implementation of the NDIS in the Northern Territory (NT) and monitoring and reporting against the NDIS
grant funding to organisations for the provision of peak body operations, advocacy and information services, and awards programs on the NT Government website
secretariat and support to the NT Disability Advisory Committee.

You can find information about disability services including the NT Companion Card on the NT Government website.

Vision

The vision of the Office of Disability is for an inclusive society where people have productive and fulfilling lives as valued members of our communities. The Office of Disability is guided in its work by:

Partners

The Office of Disability works in partnership with key stakeholders to provide the above functions, these include:

people with disability and their families and carers
non-government disability service providers
local government
peak bodies
advocates
Northern Territory Government agencies
National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

Engagement framework

Legislation

The following legislation covers disability rights, carer rights and disability services.

Northern Territory

National

Contact

Office of Disability
Phone: 08 8999 2809

Disability Advisory Committee

The Northern Territory (NT) Disability Advisory Committee provides an opportunity for Territorians with disability to advise the Minister for Disabilities on issues impacting their lives.

The committee represents the diversity of people with disability in the NT.

The committee assists in raising awareness of the:

rights of people with disability
role of government and the community in meeting obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disability.

The committee supports the NT Government as it works towards achieving the vision of the NT Disability Strategy of an inclusive Territory where people with disability are valued, respected and can contribute to community, no matter where we live.

Territory Families, Housing and Communities provides secretariat support to the committee.

Terms of reference

Membership

The Minister for Disabilities established the NT Disability Advisory Committee on 3 December 2019, the International Day of People with Disability.

Current members

Callum Hooley - chair
Sarah Skopellos - vice chair
Jessica Nelson
Benjamin Hankin
Alishia Lindsay
Kyle Adams
Raylene Kunoth
Alana Michell
Alison Cunynghame
Helen Pachos
Kevron Foster
Amy James.

Ex-officios

Mr Mick Fallon - NT Manager, National Disability Services NT
Ms Sue Trimble - Principal, Gunbalanya School
Ms Carolyn Edwars - Principal, Zuccoli Primary School

Meeting schedule and communiques

The committee meets 3 times a year.

After a meeting, the secretariat needs to write a draft summary of the meeting.

A draft summary includes:

the minutes – what members talked about at the meeting
the actions they agree to take at the meeting.

The secretariat also needs to write a communique, an official announcement about a meeting.

Meeting	Date	Communique
Meeting 11	15 November 2023	Meeting communique 11
Meeting 10	18 August 2023	Meeting communique 10
Meeting 9	16 March 2023	Meeting communique 9

Past years

Below are past years' meetings.

2022

Meeting	Date	Communique
Meeting 8	7 December 2022	Meeting communique 8
Meeting 7	20 September 2022	Meeting communique 7
Meeting 6	3 March 2022	Meeting communique 6

2021

Meeting	Date	Communique
Meeting 5	9 November 2021	Meeting communique 5
Meeting 4	21 June 2021	Meeting communique 4
Meeting 3	12 February 2021	Meeting communique 3

2020

Meeting	Date	Communique
Meeting 2	5 November 2020	Meeting communique 2
Meeting 1	7 July 2020	Meeting communique 1
Special meeting - COVID-19	29 May 2020	Meeting communique special meeting
Inaugural meeting	20 March 2020	Postponed as a result of COVID-19

Contact

Disability Advisory Committee secretariat
Phone: 08 8999 2809
officeofdisability.tfhc@nt.gov.au
PO Box 37037
Winnellie NT 0821

Disability strategy and action plan

The Northern Territory (NT) Disability Strategy 2022-2032 and the 3-year action plan 2022-2025 is the first of its kind for the Territory.

It demonstrates the NT Government’s responsibility and accountability to all Territorians with disability.

People with disability have guided the development of the strategy, and their voices, experiences and choices are reflected throughout.

Aim of the strategy

The strategy is a whole-of-government commitment for the NT in fulfilling its:

obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
commitment to Australia’s Disability Strategy (ADS), released in late 2021
Closing the Gap: Disability Sector Strengthening Plan.

Strategy and action plan

The action plan sets the stage for delivering the 10-year strategy.

Get the:

Reporting

As part of their public reporting obligations, the NT Government has outlined achievements and progress made throughout the first year of the action plan.

Read the:

Register your commitment

The register of commitments is a formal register that acts like an extension of the action plan.

It outlines what the organisation needs to do, when it needs to do it, and who's responsible. It also helps track progress with agreed-upon performance measures and reporting.

Businesses, organisations and local governments can make a commitment to Territorians with disability through the register.

To register, follow the below steps.

Step 1. Fill in the registration form.

Registration form PDF (224.3 KB)
Registration form DOCX (90.4 KB).

Step 2. Submit the form to officeofdisability.tfhc@nt.gov.au.

Contact

To find out more, email officeofdisability.tfhc@nt.gov.au or call 08 8999 2809.