Disability Investment Group

On 23 April 2008 the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Childrens' Services, the Hon Bill Shorten MP, announced the establishment of a Disability Investment Group.

The group's terms of reference include identifying opportunities to increase private sector involvement and investment in the funding of disability services and related infrastructure, including identifying barriers to this and ways in which these barriers might be overcome.

The members of the group, is chaired by Mr Ian Silk, Chief Executive, AustralianSuper, have a wealth of experience and knowledge in philanthropic investment, as well as personal involvement in issues involving people with disability, their families and carers.

The group welcomes information, advice and ideas from people with disability, their families and carers, and from organisations involved in any aspect of disability, relevant to its terms of reference. The group can be contacted via email at disabilityinvestmentstrategy@fahcsia.gov.au or dig@fahcsia.gov.au

Other related Information

As a part of its Social Inclusion Agenda the Australian Government is developing a National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy.

A copy of the strategy can be obtained from the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations website. For a copy of the discussion paper in an alternative format or for more information on the strategy please phone 1800 047 848 or email employmentstrategy@deewr.gov.au

Disability Investment Group-Terms of Reference

The terms of reference for the Disability Investment Group are to:

identify international best practice in leveraging greater investment in disability support

identify opportunities to increase private sector involvement and investment in the funding of disability services and related infrastructure, including new innovations to develop alternative funding sources and arrangements for people with disability and their families; identify barriers to this and how they might be overcome

Identify current and potential avenues for philanthropic investment in disability support.

explore government assistance to encourage family and private investment in the provision of housing, education, employment, equipment and other support for people with disability

consider, with the community and financial institutions, avenues for new products and services to assist families plan for the future of their child with a disability

develop options for investment in housing for people with disability through private and shared equity

develop ways to assist people with disability, their families and not-for-profit organisations to engage with the private sector to enable development of accommodation and support options

identify research reforms to encourage private sector engagement in research.