The Health Services Union (HSU) is urging the Albanese Government to accept and act quickly on the Disability Royal Commission’s recommendation for a national disability support worker registration scheme.
The HSU has long called for worker registration to ensure disability support work is recognised as the skilled profession it is through accreditation of workers’ qualifications, experience, capabilities and skills. Portable leave entitlements must be included as part of the registration scheme design.
The HSU was instrumental in the introduction of a disability worker registration and accreditation scheme in Victoria, the first of its kind in Australia. The scheme requires registered support workers to meet continuous professional development requirements and possess a Certificate III or IV in Disability or Individual Support.
The HSU is also pleased to see the Royal Commission recommend reviewing Award pay rates to ensure equal remuneration of workers in the sector.
Quotes attributable to HSU National Secretary Lloyd Williams
“The Royal Commission heard from people with disability and support workers alike that an adequately trained, fairly remunerated workforce is best placed to deliver quality NDIS supports. Treating disability support work as a skilled profession and tying it to quality standards and decent working conditions ensures this.”
“The registration scheme should be phased in and recognise prior learning, so no worker is left without work.”
“This is a chance to ensure the workforce is appropriately regulated so the disturbing stories in the Royal Commission’s report are never repeated.”
“It’s also an opportunity to ensure NDIS participants receive the high standard of supports they deserve.”
“Disability support work must become a valued career of choice to attract and retain workers in the sector during the current critical workforce shortage.”
“It’s time to lift the status, wages and conditions of disability support work and we urge the Government to immediately begin work on these critical reforms.”
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