Community update - 5 February 2025

Visual description:

Grey background with two people standing – on the left is Chris Bunny – Deputy Chief Executive, Disability Support Services, who is wearing a blue and white striped shirt. The NZSL interpreter stands on the right wearing a black shirt. 

Transcript:

Kia ora koutou. I'm Chris Bunny. I'm leading the work to stabilise Disability Support Services. This is my first update for 2025. 

I know last year was tough for many of you and this year we want to do better for disabled people, their whānau and carers.

With that in mind, registrations are now open for our upcoming community consultation workshops. We’ve had the registrations open for a week now and it’s great to see people taking the opportunity to sign up. 

Consultation starts the week of the 10th of February and runs until the 24th of March. This includes in person and online workshop options. I will attend some of them myself and I am really looking forward to getting on the road and hearing from the community. 

You can also make a submission from the 10th of February – either in writing or by video – or complete a survey on our DSS website.  

We are seeking feedback on two specific issues:                   

• how assessment and allocation processes could be made clearer  
• options for changes to flexible funding.  

This is important mahi. Your feedback will help the Government make decisions on how to stabilise disability support services, so they are more fair, consistent, transparent and sustainable into the future. 

We want to hear from all of you, particularly the 52,000 people receiving disability support services, and their whānau, carers, and advocates.  

All of the information you need including dates and times and background information is on our DSS website -  disabilitysupport.govt.nz.  

Register now to have your say. 

Mā te wā, bye for now.