Queensland Government
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services

The Queensland and regional disability advisory councils are a key channel for advice to the Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services on a range of regional, state and national disability and related matters that affect the broader community.

They comprise people from across the community, including people with a disability, family members, carers, advocacy representatives, as well as members from community organisations, businesses, local government and disability service providers.

Members of the Queensland Disability Advisory Council and the seven regional disability advisory councils commenced their three year term from 1 September 2011.

The Queensland Disability Advisory Council is comprised of an independent chair, the chairs of the seven regional councils, and four additional members with specialist expertise or knowledge.

The regional councils each have up to 10 members with varied experiences and expertise.

The key roles and responsibilities of the Queensland Disability Advisory Council are to:

  • advise the Minister on opportunities for Queensland arising from national disability reforms
  • play a key role in supporting the priorities identified in Absolutely everybody: enabling Queenslanders with a disability (which will also implement Queensland’s commitment under the National Disability Strategy) from a whole of Queensland perspective
  • provide advice to the Minister on major policy, program and practice initiatives and systematic issues impacting on services to people with a disability and their family and carers, including transitioning to greater consumer choice and control from a whole of Queensland perspective.

It is the key role of the regional disability advisory councils to:

  • provide advice to the Minister through the Queensland Disability Advisory Council on opportunities arising from national disability reforms from a local and regional perspective
  • play a key role in supporting the priorities identified in Absolutely everybody: enabling Queenslanders with a disability at a regional level, and progressing the National Disability Strategy in Queensland through practical strategies at the regional and local level
  • provide advice to the Minister through the Queensland Disability Advisory Council on major policy, program and practice initiatives and systemic issues impacting on services to people with a disability and their family and carers, including transitioning to greater consumer choice and control from a local and regional perspective
  • act as a consultative forum as part of consultation processes during development of specific policy and program initiatives by government agencies on which the government and Minister would want stakeholder views.

Community members are encouraged to make contact with their regional disability advisory council and contribute their views and ideas to activities and processes within their region.

Learn more about your local council and its members or make contact with your regional council.