Transcript Social inclusion Can we advance funding and quality

Social inclusion
Can we advance funding and
quality service provision
through the new agenda?
Social Inclusion
• New platform for the ALP
• Draw on the UK and Ireland approaches in
particular
• Definition – Gillard
“to be socially included, all Australians must be given
the opportunity to :
- Secure a job;
- Access services
- Connect with others through family friends work,
personal interests and local community;
- Deal with personal crisis – ill health, bereavement
- Have their voice heard”
Principles
• “cooperation between the Commonwealth,
States and not for profit sector”
• “an investment strategy to join social and
economic policy…to benefit both”
• “bottom up not top down measures to
tackle disadvantage”
• “Place-based – bring together CW, State
and local funds” Vinson research
• Target-focused
Focus areas
• Education – school completion, universal
pre-school education
• Employment – long term unemployed and
people with disability and mental illness
• Homelessness – reduce wait list, build
new homes
• Rental and home affordability
• Health – dental, health reform
Community sector?
• “The non profit sector is best placed to
promote social inclusion” - Ursula
Stephens
– “in close contact with excluded communities”
– Ensure ‘missing voices’ are heard and
“excluded groups are mobilised to claim
frights that are theirs as citizens”
• A Compact with the not for profit sector
• Advocacy – back in funding agreements
• How do we ensure workforce development
issues are central to the debate on social
inclusion?
Industry at a cross roads
• Massive expansion of the non government
social and community services sector due to
contracting out by government and deinstitutionalisation
• Increased accountability measures and
administrative burden
• Wages in comparable sectors outstrip industry
workers
• Lack of a professional identity inhibit education
opportunities and career paths
Attracting and retaining staff
“Crisis”
• Peak groups – eg ACOSS, ACSA, Family
Services Association, National Disability
Services
• Employers
• Union -2007 survey of workforce – 50 % of
workers not committed to working in the
industry in 5 years time
Skills, education and training
• “Skills atrophy trajectory” – John
Buchanan, University of Sydney
• Minimal funding for/investment in
education and training
• No minimum qualifications for the industry
• No state/national coordinated industry
planning processes (NSW well behind)
Career opportunities
• No portability of conditions of employment
• Lack of career paths within and between
organisations
• Few programs for exchange, transfer,
mentoring and leadership development
Identity
• Visibility – we remain an relatively invisible
workforce
• Valuing ourselves for the work we do
• Professionalism – recognising a greater
link to quality care
• Promoting the value of the sector within
certain professions – not ‘2nd rate’
Hope in the new context
• Energy for a new federal government
• Social inclusion – driving a ‘fresh’ look at
old issues
• Wall-to-wall Labour – greater hope for
cooperation around funding issues
How to drive an agenda to address
the crisis?
• Fundamental issue- greater funding
• Target- governments
We must be:
• Unified
• Focused
• Organised
CARE – Community Advocacy
Respect Equity
• Quality service delivery
• A highly skilled workforce
• Wages and working conditions that truly
reflect the value of the work we do
• Workplace Safety
• Access to and recognition for education
and professional development
3 key areas
• Funding
• Workforce education and development
• Wage parity
Campaign Plan – 2008-2009
Build New Standards
• ASU Survey
• Forums/discussions – workplaces,
regions, sector-specific
• Reaching agreement with peaks and
employers
• ASU members endorse the New
Standards
Campaign Plan – 2008-2009
Build a CARE Alliance
• Employers, peaks, union, carer/client
groups
• Research, lobby, coordinate, focus
• A partnership
Campaign Plan – 2008-2009
Build our own power
• Become an organised workforce – look to
history
• Grow the union in our workplaces
• Grow our union in our regions and in our
industry groups
How to begin?
• ASU Survey – on line
• Begin the debate about our New Standards – in
your workplace, region, amongst CLCs
• Ask people to join the union
• Set up a local CARE Campaign group in your
area (or work through your ASU sub-branch)
• What evidence/research is need to assist our
claim – how can CLCs help?
• How can you help build the momentum?