Former Paralympian Kurt Fearnley appointed as new NDIA chair

By admin On Sep 26, 2022

Former Paralympian Kurt Fearnley has been appointed as the new chair of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), marking the first time someone with a disability has held the role.

The body is responsible for administering the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the appointment was announced by NDIS Minister Bill Shorten in Canberra.

Fearnley uses a wheelchair after being born with lumbar sacral agnesis, meaning he was missing the lower portion of his spine. He said it was important for people who use the NDIS to see people with a disability involved in running the program.

Australia Day Kurt Fearnley — Former Paralympian Kurt Fearnley has been appointed as the new chair of the National Disability Insurance Agency. (Getty)

“It’s important that the participants of the NDIS get to see themselves in this organisation,” he said.

“Trust with the organisation itself is a visceral thing. The scheme cannot be a success without trust and that is built over a period of time.”

Fearnley was an independent adviser during the rollout of the NDIS and had lobbied for its creation.

While the scheme has since been plagued by reported delays, inadequate funding and support for its participants, Fearnley said the initial hopes for the program remain.

“The hope I think that I had while we were lobbying for it, the hope I had as an independent advisor, is still there,” he said.

“The country needs an NDIS that’s trusted, that is efficient, that is effective, and I hope that I can play a part in that.”

Fearnley won three marathon gold medals at the Paralympics and two at the Commonwealth Games, and in 2009 he crawled the Kokoda track to raise awareness for mental and men’s health.

Kurt Fearnley — Fearnley won three marathon gold medals at the Paralympics and two at the Commonwealth Games. (AAP)

Shorten said Fearnley was a “formidable advocate” for the disability community, making him perfectly suited to the role.

“I got to meet him again in 2009 where he was due to attend an event where I was the junior minister,” Shorten said.

“Unfortunately, Jetstar wouldn’t let him take his own wheelchair on the plane.

“Kurt was a formidable advocate on that day. He stands up for Australians.

“His contribution in the disability sector, the sporting sector, and his general leadership and advocacy in our community makes himself an exceptionally qualified new chair.”

Scammer’s plot brought undone by several glaring mistakes in text message

Also joining the NDIA as directors are Graham Innes, Marie Diamond and Dennis Napthine, while Rebecca Falkingham has been appointed as chief executive of the NDIS, becoming the first woman to permanently hold the role.

“We now have five of the directors and chair that are people with disability, the highest number the scheme’s ever had,” Shorten said.