NewsNDIS Champions: Emerging Grassroots Leaders
The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) is the national voice representing people with disability in Australia. AFDO and our member organisations are run by and for people with disability, which we believe is very important to truly represent the voice and lived experience of people with disability.
AFDO is looking for 30 people with disabilities to become NDIS Champions. We are especially interested in emerging grassroots leaders – people who are great communicators with a fresh voice.
NDIS Champions program
People with disabilities are not often asked to provide information about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to their peers and community. AFDO is now offering an NDIS Champions program that will put together a group of people with disabilities from all around Australia who can confidently provide information on the NDIS. Training will be provided to the NDIS Champions to make sure they have the necessary skills and knowledge.
Who can apply?
- The NDIS Champions Program is only open to people with disabilities
- Applicants must provide an Australian Business Number (ABN); either a personal ABN or through their employer (not AFDO)
- Applicants must be covered by insurance; either personal accident and indemnity insurance, or WorkCover through their employer (not AFDO)
Payment
The NDIS Champions will be paid $30 per hour for their work, including training. However, they will not become employees of AFDO.
Time involved
The NDIS Champions will be expected to attend two days of training in Melbourne – either 12 & 13 September 2016 or 22 & 23 September 2016. Note that they will not be able to choose which dates. After that they will give speeches when invited. The total time involved is likely to be around 20 to 30 hours.
Relationships
The NDIS Champions is run for and by people with disability. NDIS Champions will be supported by an AFDO Disability Loop Project Officer. They will be expected to develop relationships with the other NDIS Champions and with people in their own networks and local community.
Expectations
We would like the people who apply to be an NDIS Champion to:
- Have great connections in the grassroots disability community
- Be recognised by their peers as a good communicator who gets along well with other people
- Promote the program through their own networks
- Be available to inform others about the NDIS
- Develop relationships with other NDIS Champions to provide peer support
- Be able to have sufficient time to participate in all parts of the program
Choosing the NDIS Champions
To be chosen as an NDIS Champion, you must:
- Be interested in the role, and be excited about the possibilities the NDIS could bring
- On your own or with support you must be able to:
- Develop a good understanding of the NDIS
- Learn how and where to find further information
- Learn how to confidently provide that information to others
- Learn to talk about disability issues beyond their own experience
- use Microsoft PowerPoint when giving presentations
- Be able to make sufficient time commitment
- Be able to travel to attend training, with supports as required
- Have the ability to develop relationships
To apply, people with disability should tell us about why they think they will be a suitable NDIS Champion. They will need to answer the questions in the Application Form. These questions can be answered in a number of different ways – the Application Form has all the details.
Young people, women, and people from rural, remote, Indigenous, CALD, and LGBTI communities are encouraged to apply.
Applications must be sent in before 5pm on Monday 15 August 2016.
NDIS Champions links and resources:
- Visit the NDIS Champions section of our website here
- Download a print-ready version of this Position Description (PDF, 233KB, 2 pages)
- Download an NDIS Champions advertisement to print, and help us find the best people for the job! (PDF, 150KB, 1 page)
- Fill out the online Application Form here (HTML, via Survey Monkey), or
- Download the Application Form to print and fill out, or fill out in Microsoft Word (DOCX, 250KB, 6 pages)
