PRIVATE CONCERNS
PUBLIC disability workers marched through Geelong’s CBD yesterday to highlight their dispute with the State Government over cuts that could affect some of Victoria’s most vulnerable people.
Health and Community Services Union state secretary Lloyd Williams said the Government was “abandoning its election commitment and is trying to privatise public disability services”, which workers claim will result in a drastic drop in experience, training and quality of care.
Mr Williams said the difference between the public disability service and private sector suppliers was profound — while public support workers require at least a certificate IV qualification, it is estimated 43 per cent of such staff outside the government sector hold no qualification.
The union also claimed wages could be slashed and full-time workers replaced with casuals unless the Government came to the table over the union’s new enterprise bargaining agreement.
“There is a very real risk of a mass exodus of the most experienced and qualified workers,” Mr Williams said.
Department of Health and Human Services operations manager Karena McClurg said those in the private sector “clearly demonstrate a lack of training, lack of care and lack of follow-up in relation to the wellbeing of the resident they are paid to support”.
Almost 200 DHHS staff work in the Barwon region, looking after more than 100 residents.
“Our safeguards, our reporting and our training is vastly different from the private sector,” Ms McClurg said.
Victorian Disability Minister Martin Foley said EBA negotiations were ongoing, and the Government was working to provide greater choice and control for people with a disability under the NDIS.
“The disability sector needs to expand, with more organisations providing a diverse range of disability services,” Mr Foley said.
The Government has indicated services will only be transferred if potential providers can guarantee a safe, high quality service.