MEDIA RELEASE
8 May 2012
Community Sector Reform: There is still more to do
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Whilst acknowledging much has been done, nearly a year after significant funds were announced in the
2011 WA State Budget to sustain vital community services, community sector employers are saying
there is still more to do.
The call comes as the Premier opened the Western Australian Council of Social Service 2012
Conference at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
“We must make the message loud and clear. Much has been achieved in the past 12 months, including
many staff receiving pay increases, but there is still more, much more, to do to make our community
services sustainable” said Community Employers WA’s Executive Director, James Lawton.
Community Employers WA (CEWA) represents over 100 non-government, not-for-profit employers in the
community services sector in Western Australia.
The announcement by Premier Colin Barnett in May 2011 that there would be an extra $600 million over
four years for the not-for-profit, community services sector was welcomed by Community Employers WA.
“The Barnett Government is to be congratulated for taking the bold step to secure vital services and
undertake genuine social reform. Serious funding was committed to ensure that vital community
services remain viable.
“But employers still face significant issues. The sector still needs the full 30% that we have been
advocating for, for community services to be sustainable” said Mr Lawton.
“Only 15% has actually been paid. The planning for Component II of the funding announced last year,
an average of 10% planned for 2013/14, is underway and must remain true to its original intent; that is,
to address the current under funding that already exists in the sector” said Mr Lawton.
CEWA has been advocating for the past four years for increased funding for the sector to ensure the
sustainability of services and to pay fair and just wages to its staff.
“We are starting to address the issue of poor salaries for community sector staff. Many organisations
have passed on a significant proportion of the initial 15% in funding to staff salaries. But again, there is
still further to go. The sector needs to be able to attract, recruit and retain qualified and experienced
staff, especially in the current economic environment in Western Australia.
“This is complex time for the community service sector. The Fair Work Australia Equal Remuneration
Case has been handed down, and we wait to see how the Commonwealth Government will provide its
promised supplementation funding. The Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission is in its
formative stages, but we have yet to see if it genuinely provides benefits for the sector or adds another
level of bureaucracy. The tax review on Unrelated Business Income Tax is underway and the
Commonwealth Government has still not addressed the issue of indexation.” said Mr Lawton.
“This is just the beginning. We must pause, acknowledge what has been achieved and then get on with
the work that needs to be done to achieve genuine and long lasting reform that ensures that services
continue to be provided to vulnerable and disadvantaged Western Australians” said Mr Lawton.
ends.
James Lawton, contact number: 0403 677 635