News
NDIS-making it the best it can be
Findings from a survey of more than 2300 disability workers released today shows that the current workforce conditions under the NDIS serve to undermine the capacity of the workforce to provide quality support to people with disability. Commissioned by the Health Services Union (HSU), United Workers Union (UWU) and Australian…
A report by the UNSW Sydney released today shares the initial experiences of the disability workforce during the COVID-19 outbreak. Commissioned by Health Services Union (HSU), United Workers Union (UWU) and Australian Services Union (ASU), the report surveyed more than 2,300 disability workers and shows how COVID-19 has massively increased…
NDIS Joint Letter & Proposal - COVID-19
08 April 2020
NDIS Unions are working together to support the disability sector workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic We understand the issues faced by the disability sector workforce during this difficult time. The Australian Services Union, along with the Health Services Union, United Workers Union and National Disability Services, are working on a…
BREAKING: Senators back ASU member demands for a fairer NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
08 November 2017
Today, the Senate Community Affairs Committee has handed down its report into the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission legislation, and made a number of recommendations supporting the positions that have been put by ASU members. ASU members appeared before the Committee hearing back in September, and told Senators that investment…
New Research: Current NDIS can’t provide decent jobs
13 July 2017
NEW REPORT: A new report examines the ability of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to provide decent jobs for disability support workers and sounds a warning on the developing problem of NDIS pricing. According to the report released by a University of New South Wales-led research team, the pricing…
Today the Fair Work Commission handed down its decision in the award review into casual and part-time employment. The ASU was successful in opposing employer applications that would have disadvantaged our members in the legal industry and the social and community services sector. Legal Services Award 2010 A group of…
Tonight the Federal Government handed down a budget that entrenches inequality at the same time as rewarding corporations. The message from Canberra is clear: Don’t be poor. Don’t be unemployed. Don’t be vulnerable. This Budget attacks those in our community who need the most support. The proposed changes to welfare…
Nurses, teachers, cleaners, community, social, disability and construction workers are all at risk of having their penalty rates cut following the recent Fair Work Commission (FWC) decision. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has received independent legal advice that shows the FWC decision opens the door to penalty rate…
Turnbull’s secret plan for big business to profit off domestic violence, homelessness services revealed
29 June 2016
The Turnbull Government has asked the Productivity Commission to investigate commercialising vital community services – a move that would divert scarce public funding away from supporting victims of domestic violence and homelessness services to shareholders of opportunistic businesses. In the days before the election was called, Treasurer Scott Morrison quietly…
The Turnbull Liberal Government has directed the Productivity Commission to prepare a plan to increase competition and privatisation in community services. Last Friday, the Productivity Commission called for submissions on which community services are fit to be commercialised and privatised. This could include any and all community services, including support…
ASU NDIS delegates forum update
31 May 2016
On Monday 30th May workplace delegates from across Australia met with key stakeholders to discuss and review our campaign to make the NDIS the best it can be. The summit had 3 guest speakers, the first was David Bowen, CEO of the National Disability Insurance Agency. Mr. Bowen spoke frankly…
Celebrate the ASU Equal Pay Case increase for social, community & disability workers
27 November 2015
On 1 December 2015 the third annual pay increase for workers in the social, community and disability sector will be delivered that arises from the ASU's victory in the Equal Pay Case in 2012. We encourage workers in the sector to celebrate this hard won increase by gathering in your…
ASU NDIS Delegates’ Summit formulates a plan
15 September 2015
ASU delegates from across Australia met in Sydney on 1st September to discuss what we know about the NDIS so far and to determine how ASU members can work together to make the NDIS the best it can be. After a welcome to country from a local Indigenous elder who…
Fed Govt misses deadline to sign NDIS agreements with states and territories and destabilises NDIS Board
07 September 2015
The ASU has been very concerned by reports in the media over the last week about the Federal Government missing a 31 August deadline to sign off on NDIS enabling agreements across the country. On Friday the media also reported that all NDIS Board positions were advertised that day, nine…