NDIS Executive Rob Watkins joins House with No Steps (now Aruma)

Rob Watkins, the executive who has led the establishment of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in New South Wales and the Hunter launch site, will join us on Monday 9th December as State Manager of the NSW & ACT Community Services.

In his position as the NDIS NSW Launch Manager, Rob played a lead role in setting up the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) in Newcastle. He has been instrumental in fostering relationships with clients, families, government agencies and NGOs; implementing the processes and systems that underpin the actual delivery of the NDIS; and fine tuning the work practices that support the business transactions between service providers and the NDIA.

“Rob is an extremely capable leader. He will bring great value to our team and will be able to offer significant insight into how to best align us with the rapidly changing external environment”, said Managing Director Andrew Richardson.

Prior to his role with the NDIA, Rob had a successful executive career at ADHC, culminating in his role as Executive Director, Home Care & Operational Policy, where he was responsible for 5,000 employees and 50,000 clients across NSW in home care, group homes and centre-based respite. Rob has deep knowledge of government policy settings and extensive experience liaising with senior Ministers at both State and Federal level, including the NSW Premier and former Prime Ministers.

Andrew Richardson said, “These are amazing and exciting times for people with a disability and their families. The move to individualised funding, greater choice and control and of course the all-important introduction of the NDIS have given people with a disability renewed hope and opportunity after decades of frustration and unmet need.”

“Rob’s appointment is an important investment in the future of our organisation – both for the expertise and experience that he brings and also in ensuring that we have appropriate, focused leadership during an unprecedented era of change and opportunity”.

Rob Watkins said, “I am very much looking forward to joining House with No Steps (now Aruma), to seeing first-hand the great work that the organisation does and to getting out and about to meet as many service users and employees as possible.”