Victoria’s SHS workforce provides vital support to some of the most marginalised people in our society. Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) is committed to fostering a thriving sector that ensures homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring. To achieve this, workers in the sector need to be well supported and recognised for the complex work they do. For too long, the vital and lifesaving work of the SHS has been undervalued.
CHP is pleased to make a submission to the Fair Work Commission’s ‘Gender-based undervaluation – priority awards review’. The review of five awards includes the award that applies to Victoria’s SHS, the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award, commonly known as SCHADS. Following consultation with employers, unions, and other stakeholders, the Fair Work Commission sought wider input on a ‘proposed award’, an ‘alternative award’, and some outstanding questions.
Our submission was based on consultation with SHS workers, particularly through CHP’s Workforce Development Group. Our submission highlihghts how the new award has the potential to support the SHS at a critical moment where homelessness is at a tipping point. The award is a chance to properly recognise the important and life-saving work of the SHS, after decades of poor pay for difficult work.
Our recommendations were:
Recommendation 1
Retain the alternative award as an improvement on the proposed award, subject to amendments outlined in Recommendations 2 – 4
Recommendation 2
Allow crisis and supported housing workers access to classification levels 9 and 10
Recommendation 3
Implement progression after 12 months for part-time and casual staff
Recommendation 4
Do not mandate minimum qualification requirements for any levels