Tasmania’s inaugural Disability Commissioner appointed

The Tasmanian Government has today announced the appointment of Ms. Catherine Whitington as Tasmania’s inaugural Disability Commissioner.

Minister for Disability Services, Jo Palmer, said the appointment is an exciting milestone for the Tasmanian disability community.

“I am thrilled to have someone of Ms. Whitington’s calibre relocating to Tasmania to take on this significant role for the State,” Minister Palmer said.

“Ms. Whitington brings a wealth of experience to this role from across government and nonprofit sectors, including as Deputy Commissioner at the Office of the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner, and as an Advocate in the Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People in South Australia.

“Perhaps most importantly, Ms. Whitington brings lived experience to the role, as a person with disability and will apply both her professional and personal experiences to this critical role.”

The role of the Commissioner, a key measure under the Disability Rights, Inclusion and Safeguarding Act 2024 will have a broad range of duties, including to:

• provide leadership, foster inclusion, and promote accessibility across government and universal services;
• establish and monitor safeguarding mechanisms that address violence against, and the abuse, neglect and exploitation of, people with disability;
• take action, where appropriate, in relation to allegations of violence against, or the abuse, neglect and exploitation of, people with disability, whether on the basis of a report made to the Commissioner or at the Commissioner’s own initiative, including by referring matters to appropriate persons or bodies and by conducting investigations.

Minister Palmer has also paid tribute to Tasmania’s interim Disability Commissioner, Mary Mallett.

“I sincerely thank Mary for her dedication and service to the role as Interim Disability Commissioner.”

Ms. Whitington will commence her 5-year term as Disability Commissioner on May 12.