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Ready, Willing and Able is a program of three actions to provide sustainable opportunities in the NSW public sector and Government funded initiatives for people with disabilities.
Action 1: Each NSW government department will directly employ a minimum of five staff with disability each year in permanent full-time positions in 2010-2011 and 2011- 2012.
Action 2: Each principal NSW government department must have at least one procurement contract with a registered disability employer in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012.
Action 3: Departments and agencies can create opportunities for people with a disability by giving priority to 5% of all apprenticeship, cadetship and traineeship places for people with disability.
With specific reference to procurement, (Action 2), the NSW public sector procurement rules were changed in January 2010 to allow departments and agencies to buy goods and services from disability employment organisations without going through a competitive tender process.
Amendments to the Public Sector Management (Goods and Services) Regulation 2000 permit NSW government agencies to procure goods and services directly from disability employment organisations without the need for a competitive tender or to seek approval from the State Contracts Control Board.
The exemption covers organisations that have been placed on a register of disability employers by approval from the Minister for Disability Services.
The register of eligible businesses is maintained by National Disability Services (NDS), the peak body for non-government disability service providers. The businesses on the register are enterprises that mainly employ people with a disability.
To support the Ready, Willing and Able program, NDS organised a “New Business Expo” in Sydney recently, which was attended by over 250 procurement professionals from every government department and agency.
Over 30 Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) exhibited, giving a comprehensive demonstration of the range of goods and services offered by the 600-plus ADEs situated around Australia.
Details of all these businesses can be found on the register at the NDS website:
For help and further information
The Ready, Willing and Able program unit in Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Department of Human Services will provide information about the program and coordinate sector-wide liaison, monitoring and reporting.
Ageing, Disability and Home Care has contracted NDS to promote the products and services provided by businesses on the register and to assist government procurement officers make contact with suitable suppliers.
Contact: Ian McHugh, Project Manager, NDS T: 9256 3113, E: ian.mchugh@nds.org.au
Agencies should continue to undertake their own value for money assessment prior to purchasing goods and services from disability employment organisations, taking into account all factors relevant to the goods or services being provided. | 
