AIWCW supports Fair Pay campaign and calls for adequate funding

In 2010, the Australian Services Union initiated a case with Fair Work Australia testing the Equal Remuneration laws embedded in the Fair Work Act. The case aims to address the underpaid and undervalued nature of community sector workers. A positive final outcome in the Fair Work Australia case will prove that our workers are undervalued but adequate funding and remuneration would be a tangible sign that governments across Australia acknowledge the importance of our workers to the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals, and the cohesion of Australian society.

Governments must fund any shortfalls in the claim made to Fair Work Australia for the social and community services sector and the final pay rise awarded by the tribunal to avert reductions in the quality of services in our sector, and minimise risks to the outcomes for vulnerable and disadvantaged clients.

National President of AIWCW, Colleen Blunt, said that experiences in Queensland should be a warning to governments about the impact on services after funding shortfalls. “The Queensland Department of Communities made a $414 million commitment to non-government organisations when the Fisher pay scale was introduced but the commitment only covered part of the sector,” said Ms Blunt. “Some services received supplementary funding and some were left out. The result was renewed stress on poorly funded organisations, inequality in remuneration within the sector and significant disparity in services available to clients.”

Commitments by state and federal governments to fund the outcome of the Fair Work Australia case would be an encouraging message to the 200,000 community workers in Australia and would be a significant benefit to their working lives. The AIWCW calls on all governments in Australia support the community services sector by ensuring adequate funding for workers and services.