Help The Workers

We’re all about to have a choice – between more hospital funding, better pay and better access to care – or a Liberal government. Peter Dutton and the Liberals’ cuts will mean health, care and support workers are driven out of their jobs by inadequate pay and overwhelming workloads.

And if these essential workers disappear, it will put Australians in danger – waiting longer for health services, and losing access to aged care and disability support.

We can’t risk Peter Dutton’s Liberals. That’s why we’re asking you, at this election, to help the workers who help you.

Who has the policies to help the workers who help you?

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Labor funded historic pay rises of up to 28% for aged care workers – the Liberals didn’t support it.

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Labor will invest $33 billion in public hospitals – the Liberals would cut funding.

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Labor introduced new workplace laws to make it easier to get a pay rise, stop wage theft, and protect insecure workers. The Liberals voted against these changes.

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Labor is rolling out free Medicare urgent care and mental health clinics across the country to relieve pressure on emergency departments.

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Labor is funding fee-free TAFE, to help build the health and care workforce of the future. The Liberals are against it.

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Under Labor, the gender pay gap is at the lowest level it has ever been. Labor introduced payday super, increased paid parental leave, and required companies to report on their gender pay gaps.

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Labor is expanding access to reproductive health care – the Liberals won’t commit.

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Labor is increasing minimum wages, cutting HECS debt, taxes and energy bills for low-paid workers. The Liberals would do the opposite.

WORKERS' STORIES

“The workload we do as a support worker is just unbelievable. We just don’t get enough money for what we do.”

John,
Disability Support
Worker

“I used to tell people it’s the best job in the world, and I still maintain that, if you get the correct training and correct skills, and your work is valued, it is the best job in the world. But at the moment, if I said that to some people who work in the disability sector, they would probably just laugh me off.”

Sam,
Disability Support
Worker

“I’m worried about my job security. I might end up leaving my job – I’ve seen so many people leaving. Disability support workers should not be left behind. We deserve better.”

Margaret,
Disability Support
Worker

“Paid placements have been such a beneficial change for nursing, teaching and social work, but we really want to see it expanded to all health professions.’

Nadia,
Occupational
Therapist

“I did 23 weeks of placement last year. It was super tough. Still trying to pay rent, groceries and fuel, working a 40-hour week, and having to work on top of that, plus your assignments: it was a very, very stressful time and certainly took a toll on my mental health.”

Mitchell,
New Graduate
Physiotherapist

“We’re asking for other allied health professionals to get the same as what our social work colleagues have received, so we can continue providing quality care for our community and actually supporting students’ progress into valued careers.”

Jacquie,
Psychology Leader
and Clinical
Neuropsychologist

“I have chronic migraines associated with my menstrual cycle. Access to Reproductive Health Leave would change my life until I got my migraines under control, and it would make me more productive at work because I wouldn’t be so run down.”

Miranda,
Health Receptionist

“Aged care workers have long been undervalued and have had to fight for the recognition and remuneration we deserve as skilled professionals. We need a government that will make sure aged care providers are not allowed to undermine care standards. We need respect for aged care workers and our residents.”

Sarah,
Aged Care Worker

“The pay rise for aged care workers was most needed. However, our workload remains quite heavy, especially in the Dementia specific facilities.”

Kathy,
Aged Care Worker

This election we are asking for:

Better wages and conditions for NDIS workers

Disability support workers are doing vital, life-changing work – but right now, they’re not being fairly paid or properly supported. As the NDIS grows, we need to fund better wages and conditions, so support workers can keep doing the job they love – without burning-out or walking away. Aged care and early childhood workers got a pay rise, we can’t leave disability support workers behind.

An end to placement poverty in allied health, aged care and the NDIS

Allied health students are often required to do over 1,000 hours of unpaid placements, while aged care and NDIS apprenticeships pay too little to live on. It’s no wonder people are walking away before they even start. It’s time for paid placements and fair apprenticeships – because forcing our future care workforce to live in poverty can’t be right.

Professionalisation and registration of the care and support workforce

Care and support work is complex, skilled and essential – and workers deserve recognition. Through worker registration and mandatory levels of training, we can lift standards, improve safety, and ensure care and support workers are supported in their careers. It’s about raising the status of the job, and ensuring the best outcomes for the people they support.

Growth in funding for hospitals and the preventative health workforce

Public hospitals are doing more with less – and it’s not sustainable. Waitlists are blowing out, staff are stretched thin, and demand is rising. At the same time, preventative health services are overlooked and underfunded. We’re calling for more and permanent increases in federal funding – so hospitals and health workers can deliver the care Australians need.

Twelve days of reproductive health leave

No one should have to choose between their health and their job. Whether it’s recovery from treatment, managing chronic conditions, or attending specialist appointments, workers need time to care for their reproductive health. That’s why we’re calling for 12 days of paid reproductive health leave – for fairness, dignity and equality at work.

JOIN HSU

The only way to have your voice heard is to be part of the specialist union for health, care and support workers. The more members that stand together, the stronger our voice is.