Fair pay for social and community services workers

Background

On 1 February 2012, Fair Work Australia (FWA) made a historic decision to increase wages in the social and community services sector from 1 December 2012.

This decision affects workers who are employed under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (SACS Modern Award). Specifically, the decision affects those workers classified under the following Schedules:

  • Schedule B – Classification Definitions - Social and Community Services Employees; and
  • Schedule C – Classification Definitions - Crisis Accommodation Employees

To find out whether you or your staff are covered by the FWA decision, you can view the  Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 [PDF 724kb] from Fair Work Australia.

The Equal Remuneration Order (ERO) handed down by FWA on 22 June 2012 determines how these pay increases will be introduced. If this applies to you or your employees, you may be interested in using the Fair Work Ombudsman’s online SACS calculator.

What is the Australian Government’s commitment to Community Sector workers?

The Australian Government’s introduction of the Fair Work Act provided a new broader test for equal pay that is based on equal or comparable work. The Australian Government supported the case of social and community sector workers before Fair Work Australia. FWA’s decision is the first ever successful pay equity claim in the national system, and a significant advance for equal pay for women.

The Australian Government will pay supplementation to organisations that deliver in-scope Commonwealth programs.  The Australian Government will also pay its share of the increases to organisations  who deliver in-scope programs through Commonwealth-State Agreements.

To pay its share of the wage increases, the Australian Government created the Social and Community Services Pay Equity Special Account. This Special Account locks in $2.8 billion to be used for supplementation payments to eligible organisations, so they can provide their workers with the increased equal pay to 30 June 2021.

What's New?

Final offers have been issued to State and Territory Governments to fund the Commonwealth’s share of Commonwealth-State Agreements.

New frequently asked questions are available, including how organisations can use supplementation if they already pay staff above the Equal Remuneration Order rate.

If your organisation has not yet received an offer of SACS supplementation and your program is not an in-scope program you should read our review section.

How can I find out more?

The Minister for Community Services, the Hon Julie Collins MP, is leading whole-of-government communications with the sector.  Minister Collins will provide regular updates to the sector as key matters relating to the equal pay case progress.

To receive Minister Collins’ messages, and other updates about the SACS equal pay case, you can subscribe to receive email updates.

Education and Information sessions are being run across the country for employees and employers by the Australian Services Union and National Disability Services regarding the impact of the changes on them.

Media Releases & Transcripts

    Content Updated: 6 May 2013