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 de-institutionalisation

• 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?