March 29, 2019
Oz to Oz Fulbright scholar Gordon Duff to present on Tuesday, April 2
Gordon Duff, an Oz to Oz professional scholar in National Disability Services from the Australia-American Fulbright Commission, will present "Australian Disability Reform: The Story So Far and Key Challenges with Implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)" from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, April 2, in 1014 Throckmorton Hall.
Don L. Kurtz, professor of social work and director of nonviolence studies, is the K-State Fulbright host for Duff.
Duff is currently general manager of development and research for National Disability Services, the peak body for nongovernmental disability services. He has more than 20 years experience in human services and advocacy in a career spanning New Zealand, Canada, the U.K. and Australia across academia, government, nongovernmental and business sectors. He holds honors degrees in economics and business administration from New Zealand universities and a master's in social policy and health economics from the London School of Economics.
"This presentation provides an overview of current Australian disability reforms with a focus on current challenges on implementation of the NDIS as the centerpiece of those reforms," Duff said. "This presentation highlights a well-orchestrated grassroots campaign delivering reforms with great ambitions and principles but with problematic policy implementation. These reforms raise issues about the role of government in the 'stewardship' of quasi-markets in social care, the reality of choice and control for consumers, and the sometimes unintended consequences of marketization."
Everyone also is invited to join with faculty, students and community partners to meet and mingle with Duff from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, in the Flint Hills Room at the K-State Student Union.
Duff will be on campus April 1-4.