Social & Community Services

The Australian Services Union today welcomed a substantial increase to funding for frontline homelessness services announced by the Government ahead of the Federal Budget.  ASU Assistant National Secretary Emeline Gaske said the funds directed to homelessness, particularly crisis and transitional accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic violence, was urgently needed. “Today,…

Today we have written a letter to Minsters in reference to the critical role that Community Legal Centres and their workers play in preventing and reducing gendered violence.  You can read the letter we sent below.   TO:  The Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, Treasurer Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, Minister…

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…

The Australian Services Union has urged all governments to immediately start implementing recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission after it found a direct connection between secure and stable jobs for support workers and quality services for people with disabilities. In delivering its final report, the Royal Commission has supported a…

The 2023-24 Federal Budget has just been announced. So what does it all mean for you? Tonight’s Federal Budget provides substantial funding to community services and cost of living relief for those most in need. While increases to Job Seeker and Rent Assistance are welcome more must be done to…

Valuing our work Fair increases to pay and allowances in each year of the enterprise agreement. 6.5% Pay increase in 2022, future pay increases to maintain 2022 percentage above SCHDS Award, back pay to 1 July 2021. Increase all allowances. Better incremental progression to value our growing experience. New salary…

NEAMI Management is proposing big changes your NEAMI Enterprise Agreement. Read this bulletin to make sure you know exactly what management is asking for in this round of enterprise agreement negotiations. These are the biggest changes management wants to make to your Agreement: Overnight travel expenses by re-imbursement. Reducing pay…

Thanks to the work of ASU members, the NDIS has announced a 9% increase in NDIS prices to cover wage rises and better working conditions for disability support workers. This new funding recognises that the NDIS prices needs to change the way it operates to keep skilled, professional disability support…

The Fair Work Commission has agreed with ASU members that working practices in our sector are unfair and need changing. This is what we’ve won: A 2-hour minimum payment for part-time disability workers and a 3-hour minimum payment for part-time community sector workers. The right to refuse additional hours. The…

On Tuesday, 4 May the Fair Work Commission issued a provisional decision in its review of the minimum terms and conditions that apply to workers in the disability and community services industry, the SCHDS Award. It’s taken 5 years of work by your union, but it’s good to see the…