Shocking new statistics have revealed a major crisis in one of Australia’s most important sectors.
The disability support sector is confronting a major catastrophe, with one in three workers planning to quit in the next 12 months.
More than 2500 employees have been interviewed on their views in a major union survey.
Many revealed they were feeling unsatisfied, blaming negative workplace culture, and nearly one in four said they wanted to leave for more pay.
Union representatives are concerned the conditions will exacerbate already “extreme workforce shortages”.
Last week, a parliamentary inquiry revealed a shortfall of 83,000 full-time workers in the disability sector.
“You can’t have an ‘efficient’ National Disability Insurance Scheme if a third of the workforce leaves due to poor conditions, because there won’t be a system left at all,” Australian Services Union assistant national secretary Emeline Gaske said.
Covid-19 has also weighed heavily on the sector, with one in five workers contracting the virus since November last year.
The Disability Royal Commission has identified a lack of personal protective equipment and tests as factors compounding staff shortages during the Omicron surge.
Last month, it was revealed three disability support workers were given permission to work while infectious with Covid-19 by Victoria’s Department of Health due to “extreme staff shortages”.
“Throughout the pandemic people with disability and the worxjmtzywkers who support them have been abandoned by the Morrison Government,” Health Services Union national secretary Lloyd Williams said.
Union representatives pointed to the federal government’s “neglect” of the sector and called for urgent meetings with workers and advocates to address conditions and worker retention.
“The abandonment of the disability sector by the Federal Government during the Covid crisis is diabolical,” United Workers Union director Demi Pnevmatikos said.
“Disability Support Workers face poor working conditions including, low pay and lack of job security.
“This diminishes quality and the disability sector becomes a stop in one’s working life rather than the destination. This is not good enough.”
