Australian Council of Social Service

We are peak representative bodies, community organisations, sector employers, employer associations and unions working in social and community services across Australia. In an equal remuneration application currently before Fair Work Australia, workers in our sector are being considered for an increase to award rates of pay.

We have come together to campaign for full funding of any pay increases that emerge from that case.

Social services assist at least 6.5 million Australians living on low incomes. They also make a significant contribution by working with and in the community. Yet historically, this work has been undervalued. 87% of community workers are women and only a small number of organisations have the ability to enter into enterprise bargaining.

Achieving pay equity is crucial for the sustainability of social services. Demand for support far outstrips supply and most services are already struggling to attract and retain workers. If wages do not improve, we will not be able to sustain this vital workforce and organisations will not be able to continue their crucial work. The ageing of our workforce adds another dimension, as low salaries make it even harder to replace workers who retire.

In 2009 the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission awarded significant pay increases to community sector workers. The Productivity Commission has also recognised that there is particularly poor pay in our sector, recommending that funding for community services should include market-based wages. The current national equal remuneration case is seeking to extend the Queensland increases to sector workers across the country.

We call on state and federal governments and non-government funders to commit to provide new and full funding of any increases awarded by Fair Work Australia in the application for an Equal Remuneration Order for social and community service workers.

Click here to read Fast Facts on the Equal Pay Campaign

We are continuing to collect signatures to show the support of the sector for improved wages.
To join your name to ours, contact Tessa.Boyd-Caine@acoss.org.au, ph 02 9310 6200.

WE CALL FOR FULL FUNDING OF ANY WAGE INCREASES IN THE PAY EQUITY CASE FOR SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE WORKERS:

139 Club Inc
ACT Deafness Resource Centre Inc
ADEC - Advocacy, Disability, Ethnicity, Community
Advocacy for Inclusion
Advocacy Tasmania Inc
Agencies for South West Accommodation
AIDS Housing Action Group
Alice Springs Youth Accommodation & Support Services
Albury Wodonga Community Network Inc
Alcohol & Drug Foundation ACT
Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT
Alzheimer's Australia NT
Anglicare Australia
Anglicare WA
Aspire - A Pathway to Mental Health Inc
Association for the Wellbeing of Children in Healthcare
Association of Children's Welfare Agencies
Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres
Australian Association of Social Workers
Australian Capital Territory Council of Social Service
Australian Centre for Leadership for Women
Australian Community Children's Services
Australian Council of Social Service
Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
Australian Federation of Graduate Women (NSW)
Australian Federation of Graduate Women Inc
Australian Federation of University Women (WA) Inc
Australian Financial Counselling and Credit Reform Association
Australian Pensioners' & Superannuants' League
Australian Polish Community Services
Australian Turkish & Kurdish Community Services Co-Op LTD
Australian Youth Affairs Coalition
BABI Youth & Family Service
Baptistcare Western Australia
Barnardos Australia
Barwon Community Legal Service
Bega Valley Community Transport Service
Berry Street
Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre
Blue Mountains Commuter & Transport Users Association Inc
Board of the Hepatitis C Council of SA Inc
Booval Community Service Inc
Bowen Neighbourhood Centre
Break Through Community Housing Service Inc
Brenda House Domestic Violence Service Vic
Bridging the Gap Sydney West Inc
Brisbane Youth Service
Broken Hill YASS Inc
Burnie Brae Centre
Cabramatta Community Centre
Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service Inc
Caloundra Community Centre Inc
Canberra Rape Crisis Centre
CAPAH Centre-Based Day Care
Capricornia Community Development Association
Capricornia Respite Care Association
Cara Inc
Carers ACT
Carers Australia
Carers NT
Carers Queensland Inc
CareWays Community
Carina Youth Agency
Carrie's Place Women's & Children's Services Inc
Casey North Community Information & Support Service
CatholicCare Sydney
Catholic Community Services
Catholic Prison Ministry
Catholic Social Services Australia
Centacare Cairns
Central Coast Community Council Inc
Central Coast Tenants' Advice and Advocacy Service
Central Domestic Violence Service
Central Family Support (QLD)
Centrecare Inc WA
Centrecare Migrant Services
Cessnock Community Transport
Charleville and District Community Support Association Inc
Charters Towers Neighbourhood Centre Inc.
Chester Hill Neighbourhood Centres
Children by Choice
Children's Services Support Program
Chisholm Inc
Choice Australia Management Ltd
Churches of Christ Care
Citizens Advice Bureau ACT
Clarence Family Day Care Scheme
Clubhouse SA Inc
Coast Shelter
Combined Pensioners & Superannuants Association of NSW Inc
Commonwealth Respite & Carelink Centre
Communicare Inc (NSW)
Communicare Inc (WA)
Communication Rights Australia
Community Based Support South Inc
Community Business Bureau Inc
Community Care NESB Inc
Community Centres Family Support Network Association QLD
Community Development Services Inc
Community Employers WA
Community Focus Association Inc
Community Information Victoria (CIVic)
Community Legal Centres NSW
Community Services Australia Limited
Community Transport Organisation
Community Transport Warren
Compass Whitsundays Inc
ConnectGroups - Support Groups Association of WA
Connections Inc Lifestyle Support Service
Cooloola Family & Community Development
Cooloola Youth Service
COSMOS Inc
Council of Social Service of NSW
Council of the Ageing NT
Cyrenian House
Dalby Crisis Support Association Inc
Darwin Centre Against Rape
Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation
Disability Employment Australia
Didactic Enterprises Pty Ltd
Disability Enterprises Leura
Disability Information Advocacy Service Inc
Disability South West Inc
Discipline of Community Studies, Australian National University
Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast Inc
DRUG ARM Australasia
Dungog & District Neighbourcare Inc
East Creek Neighbourhood Centre
ECHO Neighbourhood Centre Inc
Edmund Rice Camps (SA) Inc
Environmental Defender's Office of NQ Inc
Equality Rights Alliance
Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria
Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland
Families ACT
Family Life
Family Planning Queensland
Family Planning Tasmania Inc
Family Planning Welfare Association NT
Family Relationship Services Australia
Family Services Illawarra Inc
Family Support Centre Inc
FamS (NSW Family Services Inc)
Financial and Consumer Rights Council
Flemington & Kensington Community Legal Centre Inc
FORWAARD Aboriginal Corporation
Fremantle Women's Health Centre
Good Shepherd Youth and Family Service
Goodna Neighbourhood House
Goodwood Community Centre GordonCare
Goulburn Family Support Service Inc
Granville Multicultural Community Centre
Greenacres Disability Services
Griffith Neighbourhood House Community Centre
Hastings Macleay Community Transport Services Inc
Hastings Women and Children's Refuge
Health and Community Services Workforce Council Inc
Health Care Consumers' Association ACT
Health Consumers Alliance of South Australia
Hills Community Options
Hinterland Community Development Association of Caloundra Inc
Holyoake
Home Help Service ACT
Homelessness Australia
House With No Steps
Housing Resource and Support Service Inc
HTM Community Transport
Hunters Hill Ryde Community Services Inc
Information on Disability & Education Awareness Services Inc
Identitywa
Illawarra Forum Inc
Illawarra Women's Health Centre
Inner South-West Community Development Organisation
Inner Sydney Regional Council
Inner West Community Transport
Inner West Neighbour Aid Inc
Interchange Illawarra
Intereach NSW
Ipswich Regional Advocacy Service
Ishar Multicultural Women's Health Centre
Jabiru Community Youth & Children's Services Association Inc
Joan Harrison Support Services for Women
Jobs Australia
Karinya House for Mothers & Babies
Kilmany Uniting Care
Koomarri
Koongoora Inc
Kogarah Community Services Inc
Kurri Kurri Community Centre Inc
Kyabra Community Association
Laidley Crisis Care and Accommodation
Laidley Shire Community Care Association Inc
Lake Macquarie Support Services Inc
Leichhardt Community Group Inc QLD
Lifeline Community Care (Brisbane North)
Lifeline Mackay-Whitsunday
Life Without Barriers
Lifestyle Solutions (Aust) Ltd
Lions Emergency Accommodation Centre Inc
Lithgow Information & Neighbourhood Centre
Liverpool Districts Neighbourhood Centres Association Inc
Liverpool Youth Accommodation Assistance Company
Local Community Services Association
Logan East Community Neighbourhood Association Inc
Youth and Family Service (Logan City) Inc
Macarthur Diversity Services Initiative
Mackay Regional Council for Social Development
Mackay Youth Support Services Inc
MacKillop Family Services
Macleay Kalipso Inc
Maitland Community Care Services Inc
Mackay Regional Council for Social Development
Macleod Accommodation Support Service Inc
Manly Warringah Pittwater Family Support Service
Manly Warringah Women's Resource Centre
Mareeba Community Housing Association
MDSS support
Mid North Coast Regional Council for Social Development
Meerindoo Youth Accommodation Service
Men's Referral Service
Mental Health Association of Central Australia
Mental Health Association NSW
Mental Health Community Coalition ACT
Mental Health Coordinating Council
Mental Illness Fellowship South Australia
Mercy Family and Community Services
MercyCare
Metro Migrant Resource Centre
Micah Projects Inc
Mid North Coast Regional Council for Social Development
Mission Australia
Monaro Crisis Accommodation Service
Monash Student Association Women's Department
Moranbah and District Support Services Association Inc
Mosaic Community Care Inc
Mount Gravatt Community Centre
Multicultural Communities Council of SA Inc
Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory
Multicultural Development Association
Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association of NSW
Murrane Housing Inc
Muswellbrook Neighbourhood Service
Nambour Community Centre Inc
Nambucca Valley Community Services Council Inc
National Association of Community Legal Centres
National Association of People Living With HIV/AIDS
National Children's and Youth Law Centre
National LGBT Health Alliance
National Shelter
National Union of Students
Navigate
Nepean Community & Neighbourhood Services
Network of Alcohol and Drug Agencies
Neurofibromatosis Association of Australia Inc
Newcastle Family Support Services
New England HACC Development Inc
New Farm Neighbourhood Centre
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre
Nimbin Neighbourhood and Information Centre Inc
No To Violence Male Family Violence Prevention Association
North Queensland Community Services
North Richmond Community Centre Inc
Northside Community Forum
North West Disability Services
Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre
Northern Rivers Social Development Council
Northern Territory Council of Social Service
Northside Community Forum Inc
No To Violence Male Family Violence Prevention Association
NQ Community Services
NSW HACC Development Officers Network
NSW Family Services Inc
NSW Meals on Wheels Association Inc
NSW Rape Crisis Centre
NT Council of Government School Organisations Inc
NT Shelter
Nundah Community Support Group Inc
Older Women's Network NSW Inc
Orbost Regional Health
Othila's Young Women's Housing and Support Service
Outcare
OzChild
PACT Community Support
Parklands Cottage
PeakCare
People Living with HIV/AIDS SA Inc
People with Disability Australia
Peppercorn Services Inc
Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre
Playgroup Australia
Playgroup Association of Queensland Inc
Pole Depot Community Centre
PositiveLife NSW
Port Kembla Community Project
Port Stephens Community Care Inc
Port Stephens Family Support Service
Public Health Association of Australia
Pregnancy Help Queensland Inc
Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria
Public Health Association of Australia
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
Queensland Aged & Disability Advocacy Inc
Queensland Association of Independent Legal Services Inc
Queensland Association for Healthy Communities Inc
Queensland Baptist Care
Queensland Council of Social Service
Queensland Narrating Service
Queenslanders with Disability Network
Queensland Shelter
Queensland Women's Health Network Inc
Queensland Working Women's Service Inc
Queensland Youth Housing Coalition
Ravenshoe Community Centre
Raymond Terrace Neighbourhood Centre
Redcliffe Area Youth Space
Relationships Australia
Relationships Australia NSW
Relationships Australia Qld
Relationships Australia (SA)
Respite Recreation Support
Richmond Community Services Inc
Richmond Fellowship of WA
Rosebank Child Sexual Abuse Service Inc
Rosewood Community Centre (Qld)
Ruth's Women's Shelter Cairns Inc
Ryde Family Support Service Salvation Army (Southern Territory)
Safer Communities Australia Inc
Sandgate & Brackenridge Action Group Inc (SANDBAG)
Sands Qld
SCALES Community Legal Centre
Sector Connect
Security4Women Inc
SEARCH Foundation
Settlement Council of Australia
Sexual Health information networking & education SA Inc
Share Bayside Inc
Shelter Housing Action Cairns
Shelter SA
Shire Wide Youth Services
Shoalhaven Community Transport Service Inc
Shoalhaven Neighbourhood Centre Inc
Somerville Community Services Inc
South Australian Council of Social Service
South Australian Network of Drug and Alcohol Services
South Coastal Women's Health Services
Southern Riverina Youth Support Services Inc
South West Women's Housing Inc
Spinal Cord Injuries Australia
South East Neighbourhood Centre
Southside Community Care Inc
St George Community Transport Project Inc
St George Youth Services Inc
St Johns Youth Services
St Marys Area Community Development Project Inc
St Mary's House of Welcome
St Vincent de Paul Society National Council
St Vincent de Paul Society SA
Sunshine Coast Community Cooperative
Sutherland Shire Community Transport
Swan City Youth Service Inc
Tableland Women's Centre Inc
Tasmanian Council of Social Service
Tenants' Union ACT
Tenants Union of NSW
Tennant Creek Women's Refuge
The AIDS Council of South Australia Inc
The Benevolent Society
The Bridge Youth Service
The Burdekin Association
The Ella Centre
The Factory Community Centre
The Family Centre
The Haven Association Inc
The Haymarket Foundation
The Housing Connection
The Link Youth Health Service
The Smith Family
Time for Kids
Top End Women's Legal Service
Totom House Multicultural Early Childhood Centre
TransCare Hunter Ltd
TRI Community Exchange
Tripoli and Mena Association
Tumut Regional Family Services Inc
Tweed Shire Women's Service
UnitingCare Australia
Uniting Care Gippsland
Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association
Victorian Council of Social Service
Vietnamese Community in Australia (SA Chapter) Inc
Volunteering ACT
Volunteering Central Coast Inc
Volunteering Qld
Volunteering SA & NT Inc
WA AIDS Council
WA Association for Mental Health
Warren Meals on Wheels
WASH House
Watershed
Wauchope & District Delivered Meals Service Inc
Welfare Rights Centre
Welfare Rights Centre Qld
WESNET Inc
West Moreton Migrant Resource Services Inc
Western Australian Council of Social Service
Western Australian Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies
Western Sydney Community Forum
Whitsunday Community Services Inc
Whitsunday Crisis & Counselling Service
Windana Support Centre
Woden Community Service
Wollongong Meals on Wheels Association
Wollongong Women's Centre
Women's Activities and Self Help House
Women in Adult & Vocational Education Inc
Women With Disabilities Australia
Women's Centre Cairns Inc
Women's Health In the North
Women's Health NSW
Women's Health Victoria
Women's Health West
WOMEN'S Healthworks
WOMEN'S Healthworks W.A.
Women's Legal Centre ACT
Women's Legal Service
Women's Legal Services NSW
Working Women's Centre SA Inc
Wyalong & District Community Transport Group Inc
Wyong Neighbourhood Centre Inc
Yoorana Women's Domestic Violence Service
Young Parents Program
Youth Action & Policy Association NSW Inc
Youth Affairs Council of South Australia
Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia
Youth Affairs Network of Queensland
Youth Coalition of the ACT
Youth Emergency Services
Youth Housing Support (Mid North Coast)
Youth Projects Ltd
YWCA Australia