New economic research shows up to 12,000 community service jobs are at risk due to the Federal Government’s failure to confirm whether federal funding for community service organisations will be maintained.
Key Findings:
- The Federal Government is yet to confirm whether it will continue $576.5 million in supplemental funding for federally-supported community services
- If this funding is not renewed, the loss would result in up to 12,000 job losses in federally-supported community organisations, or effective wage reductions of as much as $15,000 per year for full-time staff
- The broad health and social services sector has reduced the gender pay gap by more than any other industry since the pay equity reform was announced — progress that will be reversed without ongoing funding
“To put up to 12,000 community service jobs at risk, or force community service workers to take a $15,000 a year pay cut in the middle of a global pandemic, is both heartless and economically self-destructive,” said Dr. Jim Stanford, director of the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work.