About the councils

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.

The councils are representative of the community and include people with a disability, family members, carers, and 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 comprises 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 promoting and progressing social inclusion and accessibility initiatives within their community
  • provide advice to the Minister 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
  • at the Minister's direction, represent the council on matters of broad national significance that impact on people with a disability, their family and carers. 

The role of the regional disability advisory councils is to provide advice on locally and regionally identified issues of a strategic and systemic nature through the Queensland Disability Advisory Council to the Minister.

The councils are also an invaluable consultative mechanism on state and national disability policy and program initiatives, from and through which the Minister and the department seek representative stakeholder views.

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