Chronic and systemic underpayment is placing social workers under significant financial strain and contributing to labour shortages.
This is according to Australia’s largest-ever study of pay and conditions in the social and community services sector, released by the Australian Services Union and the University of New South Wales today.
One in three frontline workers in essential social and community services are relying on financial support from family and friends, results revealed. And half of the workforce is being paid below their qualifications, skills and level of experience.
These alarming findings come at a time when Australia is navigating a crisis of violence against women, an area of support where workers in the sector are desperately needed.
At the same time that they’re being underpaid, social workers reported they’re dealing with more complex patient issues and experiencing more extreme examples of family violence.
The report, Australia’s social and community services workforce: characterisation, classification and value, drew from a survey of more than 3000 workers, with 73 per cent identifying as women.
The report compared worker’s levels of pay with levels stipulated under the Social, Community, Home Care & Disability Services (SCHADS) Award by taking two approaches.
First, the survey asked workers if they thought they were under classified (paid less than they should be for the work they do) and 56 per cent thought that they were.
Second, it ran an independent analysis of the workplace agreements and found an even higher proportion (67 per cent) were under classified.
ASU Assistant National Secretary Emeline Gaske said there’s a “loophole in the system” that’s causing these essential workers to be underpaid.
“Social and community workers’ skills and experience are not being recognised under the current Award,” said Gaske.
“The study shows they are highly qualified workers, with more than half holding a university degree, and the nature of the work is highly specialised and increasingly complex.”
“We’re definitely not seeing examples of workers being over classified and overpaid, which shows that the process is systematic, not accidental, and designed to lower costs.”
Gaske noted as well that the paradox happening shows the government is failing to support workers in the domestic violence sector, while these services are also having to turn away individuals in need due to a lack of resources.
“Workers say a lack of government funding for services is compounding the issue, with employers frequently using insufficient funding as an excuse to refuse requests for career progression or fair pay.”
“Services are repeatedly turning away women escaping family and domestic violence due to insufficient workforce capacity, yet the way we treat workers is a huge disincentive to work in the sector and stay,” Gaske said.
“If we want to ensure that our communities receive the support they need, we must pay people appropriately and recognise the value of the work they do.”