10 November 2011   Download the PDF

The Federal Government has demonstrated its commitment low paid staff in the Not-for-Profit sector today by announcing with the Australian Services Union that it will make a joint submission to Fair Work Australia arguing for fair rates of pay, of which Government will fully fund its share.

Anglicare Australia Executive Director, Kasy Chambers said "The community sector faces many challenges whilst continuing to provide quality services for those forced to the margins. The wage increase recommended to FWA by the government is a major boon for the sector but also a major concern for how our services are to meet it.

"The Federal Government's announcement today of full supplementation for Commonwealth funded programmes is indicative of its clear intention to work in partnership with the NFP sector and in doing so acknowledges its duty of care to those in Australia with great need.

"With so many of our staff in the community sector working to help improve the quality of life for the most excluded in our society they are doing so living very close to the poverty line themselves. The wage increase will mean that staff will be appropriately remunerated for their contributions.

"Full supplementation of Commonwealth Government funded programmes must now be matched by state and territory funding bodies in order to meet the costs of the increase across the board.  Organisations will otherwise be forced to consider making cuts to either jobs or programs.  Services which are funded through generous donations from the public will also have to work hard to make this work and the six year transition period will be useful in this.

"Challenges also still exist around underfunding of Government programmes. This will continue to be a point of discussion as the increase is phased in however full supplementation is a major commitment from the Commonwealth to this process and it should be commended accordingly.

"It's true to say that it will never be either Government or the NFP which is going to ease the burden of poverty and deprivation in Australia; only through an integrated approach with all levels of Government and the NFP sector working in concert with communities will the cycle of disadvantage be broken. With this announcement Government is clearly making inroads to that end" Ms Chambers said.

MEDIA CONTACT Roland Manderson 0412 241 379 | 02 6230 1775

This statement represents the views of Anglicare Australia, as the national peak body of the Anglicare network.

It may not necessarily represent the views of the Anglican Church of Australia or the views of an individual member of the Anglicare Australia network.