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Report on DEA Members NDIS Co-design Project

This session reports back on DEA’s member‑led NDIS co‑design work, focusing on how providers have engaged with reform processes, what has worked, and where system and implementation gaps remain. It is intended to ground broader policy discussion in lived, operational provider experience and to inform future advocacy positions.

Presenters

Renae Hartmann

Renae Hartmann

NDIS Policy Manager, Disability Employment Australia

Renae Hartmann is the NDIS Policy Manager at Disability Employment Australia and a respected leader in disability employment, policy reform, and inclusive workforce development. With over 15 years’ experience across policy, program design, and frontline service delivery, she brings a unique end to end perspective from system design through to real world implementation.
Renae’s career spans government-funded programs, national initiatives, and regional service leadership. She has led employment programs across multiple funding models—including NDIS, DES, and psychosocial supports—and previously delivered a national disability employment initiative with the NDIS Partner in the Community.
A passionate innovator, Renae founded an award winning microenterprise program supporting people with disability to build sustainable businesses and meaningful careers. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to inclusion, ensuring people with disability are valued and empowered in the workforce and broader community.

Simon Rowberry

Simon Rowberry

Deputy CEO, Disability Employment Australia

With extensive experience across the disability employment ecosystem, Simon brings a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing people with a disability, providers and employers in Australia. His leadership style emphasises collaboration, innovation, and impact, ensuring that services are responsive to the evolving needs of both jobseekers and employers.

Simon’s professional career has focussed on advancing social inclusion through employment and championing practical, scalable solutions that benefit individuals, businesses, and the broader economy, shaping a more inclusive and accessible labour market across Australia.

In his current role as Deputy CEO of Disability Employment Australia (DEA), Simon plays a key role in representing and supporting the national network of disability employment service providers, operating within the disability employment ecosystem. He works closely with government, industry, and community stakeholders to advocate for policy settings and programs that improve employment outcomes for people with disability.