Introduction
National Disability Services (NDS) is Australia's peak body for disability service organisations. We are Australia's biggest and most diverse network of disability service providers. Our valued members collectively operate several thousand services for more than 300,000 Australians with disability and employ a workforce of more than 100,000 people.
NDS has a strong and influential presence in every state and territory across Australia. Our core functions are to advocate to government for sector-wide changes and improvements, to inform our members about issues that impact them, and to provide resources and services that assist them to deliver sustainable high quality support services for people with disability.
NDS employees have the passion to make a difference, are driven to deliver the highest quality support and services to our members and thrive in an environment of positive change and continuous improvement. To find out more about NDS, please visit our website at
Description
About the Role:
Location: ACT
Working Arrangement: Hybrid (1 day in the office per week)
Hours: Part-time, 20 hours per week, days flexible
Status: Fixed-term contract (26 weeks)
Industrial Instrument: Non-Award
This role will lead a short-term project to identify ways to the strengthen the architecture of an early intervention service system for children between 0 – 8 years in the ACT. It will be achieved by undertaking activities which engage local service providers to:
1. Identify existing service gaps and general access barriers to Targeted Foundational Supports (TFS) for children 0 – 8 years.
2. Assess current service effectiveness across sectors and areas for development.
3. Identify additional barriers and ways to improve service access for intersectional disadvantaged families.
4. Identify existing NGOs providing service provision areas for TFS (e.g. peer support, parental support and capacity building) and opportunities for expanding service areas provided by NGOs.
5. Identify models and approaches to funding that support best practice in TFS.
6. Identify workforce issues and considerations for workforce development.
Key Responsibilities:
The Project Lead plays a critical role in delivering the industry development project. The role reports to the NDS Territory Manager ACT and works collaboratively and in close liaison with NDS's Policy and Advocacy, Disability Reform and Quality and Safeguards teams. The Project Lead will:
7. Lead and manage the project to ensure high‑quality planning, delivery, and achievement of agreed objectives and KPIs.
8. Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with external stakeholders and NDS colleagues.
9. Provide high‑level support to disability providers and broader stakeholders through targeted advice, forums, meetings, presentations, publications, and individual consultation.
10. Maintain current and comprehensive knowledge of the disability sector, including emerging issues, reforms, and national and ACT specific strategies.
11. Produce high‑quality written materials such as policy submissions, reports, and workshop content.
12. Represent NDS by offering informed advice, responding to enquiries, and participating in meetings, forums, workshops, and conferences.
13. Deliver project management activities to a high standard, ensuring work is completed on time, within budget, and aligned with NDS deliverables and good practice methodologies.
14. Contribute to broader NDS policy initiatives as required.
Other Responsibilities (applicable for all NDS employees):
15. Perform other duties and responsibilities as required by manager/supervisor from time to time
16. Comply with NDS's policies and procedures at all times, including (but not limited to) HR, Quality, Work Health & Safety (WHS), IT, Security, and Data Privacy
17. Respond to reasonable contact from NDS outside standard work hours if required as part of role responsibilities.
18. Develop accessible versions of documents for internal and external distribution.
Skills And Experiences
Skills & Experience:
19. Demonstrated experience in the early childhood, health or social care sector or in a role providing consultancy, peak body or member led services supporting the sector.
20. Knowledge of the disability sector and current challenges and opportunities
21. Demonstrated experience to determine key stakeholder needs and create tailored solutions based on sector environment, trends, and opportunities.
22. Knowledge of best practice change management practice.
23. Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) including demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and maintain networks with a range of stakeholders and publicly present on sector opportunities.
24. Demonstrated project management skills and proven capability to support multi-faceted projects delivered to quality, on time and on budget.
25. Proactive and self-driven. Resilient and adaptable to change course of action as needed.
26. Proficiency with the MS Office Suite.
27. Willingness and capacity for regular travel with the ACT.
28. A tertiary qualification in a discipline relevant to the role.
What we Offer:
29. Flexible working opportunities
30. Salary packaging benefits
31. Employee Assistance Program
32. Staff Rewards & Discounts program
33. Learning and development opportunities
To Apply:
We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and value diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We encourage all applicants, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, LGBTIQA+ and culturally diverse communities to join NDS.
NDS is committed to supporting equal employment opportunities for individuals with disability and will provide reasonable workplace adjustments. We encourage potential applicants with lived experience to contact NDS to discuss any questions regarding individual workplace adjustments. NDS also provides adjustments throughout the recruitment process. If you identify as a person with disability and require adjustments to the application, recruitment, selection and/or assessment process, please advise via or and indicate your preferred method of communication (email or phone).
Applications close: 25 February 2026. Please send your CV and a cover letter outlining your Skills & Experience in the areas listed above by clicking on the Apply button. For further information please contact Please do not send your application to this email address, as it's for enquiries only.
The successful applicant must be prepared to undertake a pre-employment police check.
No agencies please.