The Australian Services Union welcomes plans by the Albanese Government to work with the community sector to develop a framework to improve funding and drive better outcomes.
Announced on Wednesday by Minister for Finance Katy Gallagher and Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth, the new Community Sector Partnership Framework intends to drive administrative and cultural change across government agencies, deliver grants that support the sustainability of community organisations, and ensure better outcomes are achieved in delivering government policy.
The Framework will be developed in partnership with the Community Services Advisory Group in 2024.
The ASU also welcomed confirmation that the upcoming consultation on the Government’s proposed Secure Australian Jobs Code will explore how to better support the rights of community sector workers.
ASU Assistant National Secretary Emeline Gaske said the community sector was vital to the health, wellbeing, and viability of communities yet had been neglected over the past decade.
“We look forward to working with the Government in this forum to deliver on the commitments it made to community sector workers before the previous election to implement long-term funding contracts and indexation of funding that covers wage rises that the workforce deserves,” said Ms Gaske.
“We also welcome the announcement that the Secure Australian Jobs Code will apply to community sector funding thereby ensuring that workers are employed in secure, permanent, fairly paid jobs so they can focus on delivering the excellent services they provide to their communities.
“The ASU will continue to play an active role in advocating for the interests of our members when consultation on the code commences shortly.”