SACS: Social & Community Services

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ASU report shows SACS industry crisis looming

By ASU - the social and community services (SACS) industry union

A survey by the ASU of over 2100 workers has revealed that there is a crisis in attracting and retaining staff in the social and community services industry. Unless this crisis is addressed, the new focus on the goal of greater social inclusion by Australian governments will not be achieved.

The national workforce survey by the ASU of over 2100 workers found that:

• 52% of workers are not committed to staying in the industry beyond the next five years;
• 40% of workers who intended to leave the industry gave better pay elsewhere as the reason - this was the single biggest reason identified;
• 77% of managers surveyed nominated low wages as the main barrier to attracting and retaining staff;
• 75% of managers said low wages was the main reason staff gave for leaving their service;
• 17% of managers said they expected a staff turnover of over 50% in the next two years and 43% expected turnover of 20-49%;
• Rural/remote and regional managers identified that the two biggest barriers to attracting and retaining staff were lower wages compared to city jobs and limited training opportunities available;
• Paid parental leave, portability of long service leave, a less stressful work environment, additional staff to cover workload would all contribute to retaining the SACS workforce; and
• 56% of managers who are trying to attract and retain indigenous workers have difficulty doing so.

The ASU is the key union in the non-government social and community services (SACS) industry.

The SACS industry is at a crossroads. Strong industry growth is predicted to continue but widespread evidence shows that staff turnover is high with workers often leaving the industry for better pay and conditions elsewhere.

The ASU has developed a set of recommendations for SACS industry reform to ensure a workforce which can meet Australia's future needs for high quality services to disadvantaged and vulnerable Australians. The recommendations focus on funding; workforce development; industrial relations; advocacy; and governmental and industry responses.

Get a copy of the report

The ASU's report "Building Social Inclusion in Australia - priorities for the social and community services sector workforce: recommendations for stronger social and community services" can be downloaded below. Alternatively, if you would like a hard copy of the report, please email Luke Cherry lcherry@asu.asn.au at the ASU National Office with your request and postal address.

Further information

For further information on this issue, check out the following articles and our previous report:

• SACS delegates take issues to Canberra - 30 September 2007
  http://www.asu.asn.au/media/sacs/20070930_sacs.html
   
  
• SACS workers tell us your views - 19 June 2007
  http://www.asu.asn.au/media/sacs/20070619_sacs.html
   
  
• ASU launches social inclusion discussion paper - 04 May 2007
  http://www.asu.asn.au/media/sacs/20070504_socialinclusion.html

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