Mai-Wel Co-Hosts NDIS Roundtable with NSW Minister for Disability Inclusion in Newcastle
On Thursday 23 May 2026, Mai-Wel co-hosted a roundtable discussion with National Disability Services (NDS) in Newcastle, bringing together disability support providers from across the region alongside NSW Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington MP and NDS representatives Lowri Williams and Michael Perusco.
The roundtable provided a valuable forum for providers to come together as a unified voice and speak directly with government about the real impact that current NDIS system settings are having on both providers and the people they support.
Why These Conversations Matter
The disability sector is navigating a period of significant change. As NDIS reform continues to evolve at a national level, the pressure on providers to deliver quality, sustainable supports while managing uncertainty is real and ongoing. Roundtables like this one create a direct line between the experiences of frontline providers and the people in government who have the capacity to influence policy outcomes.
Co-hosting this roundtable with NDS was a genuine opportunity to bring the sector together and have real, direct conversations with government. The issues facing providers and participants in the Hunter region are significant, and having a seat at the table to advocate for meaningful change is something Mai-Wel takes seriously.
Bringing the Hunter Region Voice to the Table
What makes these roundtables so valuable is the collective voice they create. When providers come together and speak as one, the message to government is much stronger. Minister Washington has been a consistent advocate for the disability sector, and the opportunity to engage with her directly alongside fellow providers is exactly the kind of constructive, solutions-focused dialogue the sector needs.
For Mai-Wel, co-hosting this roundtable is about more than representation. It is about ensuring the experiences of the people supported in the Hunter region are part of the national conversation.
Mai-Wel looks forward to continuing to engage constructively with government and sector partners as NDIS reform progresses, and to advocating for outcomes that genuinely work for participants, families, and providers alike.
