New survey shows crisis as disability workers flag exits, burnout and understaffing

A new survey of almost 500 disability support workers reveals an acute workforce crisis, with overwhelming concern about pay, chronic understaffing and burnout, and clear evidence that support and care quality is suffering.

The Health Services Union has warned the situation needs urgent action from the Federal Government after the survey made alarming findings from disability workers:

• 55% have considered leaving in the past year; 91% have at least thought about it occasionally.
• 49% report they often or always lack enough staff for safe, quality care (86% say it happens at least sometimes).
• 71% say shortages have already impacted their ability to provide quality care (rising to 91% including those worried it could happen).
• 74% say their pay doesn’t reflect their skill, responsibility and emotional labour.
• 62% report frequent or constant burnout; 72% say the workforce is not large or stable enough for current and future needs; and 86% fear wages could be cut without government action.

Employers and unions will come together for an NDIS Workforce Crisis Panel at Parliament House, Canberra on Tuesday 26 August, where MPs and Senators will hear first-hand from frontline workers and employers about the urgent need for federal intervention.

Unions representing the disability workforce and several major disability employers will also sign a pledge to work together, in codesign with people living with a disability, to lift the quality of services and supports.

The pledge calls for a Workforce Compact: a targeted funding pool of $5 per hour per worker (for workers employed by registered providers of core supports) to enable employers to negotiate with workers for better pay and conditions that stabilise the workforce and improve participant outcomes.

HSU National Secretary Lloyd Williams said:

“These workers are the backbone of the NDIS. Right now, they’re burnt out, underpaid and under-resourced. The people they support feel the consequences. The data unequivocally shows this is a workforce crisis.”

“When almost half of staff say they often or always don’t have enough colleagues on shift, you don’t get safe, high-quality care, you are escalating risk. That’s not fair on workers or NDIS participants.”

“A Workforce Compact of $5 an hour is a simple, targeted fix to keep skilled workers in the sector, lift wages and conditions, and deliver better supports for NDIS participants. This could be achieved with just a $900 million investment over three years.

“The government has a clear choice to make. They either invest in the people who deliver the NDIS, or watch more of them leave. While the sustainability of the NDIS has been in focus recently, what we’re talking about is immediate and existential.”

Media contacts:

Matt Coughlan 0400 561 480 / Kathleen Ferguson 0421 522 080

KEY FINDINGS FROM SURVEY

• Care quality hit: 71% say workforce shortages have already impacted their ability to provide the care they’d want for a loved one (regularly or occasionally). If you include those worried it could happen, that’s 91%.
• Workers heading for the exits: 55% have considered leaving in the last 12 months. Broadly, 91% have at least “thought about it occasionally.”
• Short-staffed care: 49% say they often/always lack enough staff for safe, quality care; 86% say it happens at least sometimes.
• Pay doesn’t match the job: 74% say current pay does not reflect the skill, responsibility and emotional labour required.
• Burnout is endemic: 62% report burnout/stress frequently or all the time; 95% at least sometimes.
• System under-resourced: 72% say the workforce is not large and stable enough to meet needs now and into the future.
• Wage-cut risk real: 86% are concerned wages could be cut or pushed back to award rates without government action.
• Top reasons for wanting to leave (multi-select): Emotional toll/burnout (62%), unsafe or stressful conditions (55%), lack of respect for the profession (45%), low pay (44%), unmanageable workload (37%).