Highlighting Urgency of Wage Justice for Aged Care Workers

August 7th is Aged Care Employee Day, and Community Industry Group would like to take this opportunity to recognise the dedicated and compassionate people who work to ensure older people live safe, enjoyable, and fulfilling lives.

Aged Care Employee Day highlights the vital role of aged care workers, who truly emerged as some of the heroes of the pandemic and showed the world who the real essential workers are. Of course, this makes the delay in wage increases even more significant.

Community Industry Group would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our members delivering aged care services across southern NSW, who take such wonderful care of our older community members. These compassionate professionals go above and beyond to provide essential and life-affirming services, whether through helping older people stay in their own homes, coordinating social supports, delivering a delicious meal, or offering the safety and reassurance of residential care.

Although we are glad these workers are finally being recognised for their hard work through a federally funded wage lift of 15%, pay rises for 250,000 aged care workers have been delayed until next year. The Fair Work Commission rejected the government’s proposal to stagger the pay rise of 2% to 13.5% over 18 months to 2026. Instead, it agreed to phase in the increase in two stages: half on January 1, 2025, and the rest on October 1, 2025.

“Inability to attract an adequate workforce directly impacts providers' ability to deliver vital services for older people,” said Nicky Sloan, Community Industry Group CEO. “Pay rises are part of the puzzle for attracting and retaining workers amid critical shortages.”

The government has budgeted the wage rise from a $60 billion contingency reserve, estimated to cost $4.8 billion over the next four years. However, the Commission was unwilling to fast-track the increase without guaranteed funding changes.

The delay means aged care centres will face minimum staffing requirements in October 2025 before the full increases are implemented.

“The attraction and retention crisis in aged care is upon us, and delaying wage justice for this all-important sector makes no sense,” said Nicky Sloan, Community Industry Group CEO.

It is clear that delaying wage justice undermines efforts to support and value aged care workers in this crucial sector.

NSW bans no-grounds evictions: a win for renters in our region

The recent decision by NSW to ban no-grounds evictions marks a significant victory for renters across the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, South Coast, and Southern Highlands. This landmark policy change ensures greater security and stability for tenants, protecting them from sudden, unjustified evictions and fostering more equitable housing conditions.

Community Industry Group members have been advocating for this change for decades, and we congratulate the community organisations who campaigned so hard for so many years. CI Group presented the experiences of our members and the regions' renters and housing organisations at the NSW Senate Committee hearing into no-grounds evictions - and it is our members advocacy that has ensured that our community's voices were heard and considered in the decision-making process.

This ban not only alleviates the stress and uncertainty faced by many renters but also promotes fairer landlord-tenant relationships. It is a step forward in addressing housing insecurity and supporting the well-being of our residents. The benefits of this decision will be felt widely, enhancing the quality of life and stability for countless families and individuals in our community.

NEW Playgroups for children with disabilities and the benefits for their families.

Socialisation is a crucial aspect of childhood development, fostering essential skills that shape how children interact with the world. For children with disabilities, the opportunity to socialize with their peers is even more significant. It promotes inclusion, builds self-esteem, and cultivates a sense of belonging.

Children with disabilities who engage in social activities experience enhanced emotional and psychological development. Interaction with other children helps them develop communication skills, empathy, and cooperation. These social interactions can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness, leading to better mental health outcomes. Inclusive environments where children of all abilities play and learn together foster a sense of community and understanding, breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes.

For parents, the benefits of their children socialising are manifold. Seeing their children thrive in social settings brings immense joy and reassurance. Additionally, when children participate in group activities, parents often connect with other parents, creating a support network where they can share experiences, advice, and resources. This sense of community can be invaluable, providing emotional support and practical help.

Big Fat Smile in Wollongong hosts a dedicated playgroup for children with disabilities, providing a safe and inclusive environment for them to interact and play. This initiative not only supports the children's social development but also gives parents a chance to connect with each other, share resources, and find mutual support. Such programs are essential in fostering a sense of belonging and community for both the children and their families. For more information, visit here or call Big Fat Smile on 1300 002 237.

Issue - affordable transport
for closer communities.

Transport disadvantage is a major issue throughout much of the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, and Southern NSW, particularly in suburbs with low socio-economic indicators. The diversity of settlements across the region has resulted in many people experiencing geographic or social isolation. The distribution of public transport options in Southern NSW is highly inequitable, with some areas offering only a single bus service with travel fares, making transport difficult.

Transport inequality creates a multitude of different issues for residents in NSW. Barriers to employment are created; for example, workers wishing to access industrial zones in Nowra via public transport are severely limited, as are trainees and apprentices looking to upskill. It is likewise challenging to take advantage of educational opportunities such as pre-school for children, vocational TAFE courses, or university.

Community Industry Group Recommendations:

1. FREE shuttle services as part of the Hub and Spoke Network, similar to the existing free ‘Gong Shuttle’, for regions across South East NSW. For example, linking Bomaderry Train Station with Nowra CBD, TAFE campuses, the University of Wollongong Shoalhaven Campus, and Shoalhaven Hospital (enabling patients and families from outside the region to take advantage of services at the Cancer Care Centre at Shoalhaven Hospital).

2. Extend the South Coast Rail Line to Ulladulla.

3. Broaden the Regional Excursion Daily (RED) Ticket program to include those on JobSeeker and Youth Allowance.

4. Public transport workers to receive disability inclusion training to better support people with mobility issues.

5. Discount penalty fines on NSW Transport from $200 to $50 for concession card holders on their first offence.

Join the Homelessness Week 2024 Launch!

Homelessness Australia hosts Homelessness Week annually to build community support and government commitment to end homelessness. During the week homelessness services and community groups raise awareness of the impact of homelessness, and the solutions needed to end homelessness, and advocate for change via national and local community events, media and social media activities.

In 2024, Homelessness Week 2024 will be held from Monday August 5 to Sunday August 11. The theme for Homelessness Week 2024 is “Homelessness Action Now”.

Join the Homelessness Week 2024 Launch!

Join Homelessness Australia at the official launch of Homelessness Week 2024 for an event focused on ending homelessness for families and children Hear from the Minister for Housing and Homelessness, The Hon Julie Collins MP, followed by Children’s Commissioner, Anne Hollonds and an expert panel . The free, online event will take place on Monday 5 August from 12.15pm. If you're in Sydney you can join in person.

Organise or participate in a Homelessness Week event

Looking to participate in a Homelessness Week event? Or perhaps you're hosting your own? You can browse and submit your own events below.

Homelessness Week 2023 Action Kit

You'll find everything you need to build community support to end homelessness this Homelessness Week, including ideas for actions, facts and messages about ending homelessness, and digital assets.

A history of community

The word "community" originates from the Latin communitas, which comes from communis, meaning "common" or "shared by all." The root com- means "together," and munis means "gift" or "duty," By the 16th and 17th centuries, "community" expanded to include political and social entities, describing groups with common interests or characteristics. Today, it encompasses a wide range of groups, from local neighborhoods and online forums to professional networks and social movements. The concept has evolved to emphasize shared interests, mutual support, and a sense of belonging among members.

Community Industry Group (formerly the Illawarra Forum) has been operating for over 30 years and we’re extremely proud of the work we do.

We are the voice of community services in Southern New South Wales. We empower the community service industry by representing to policy makers the views of our members and the communities they serve. We connect industry sectors to achieve mutual goals and keep services up to date with the latest issues and best practice.

We provide leadership by supporting community services to deliver high quality innovative services in an ever-changing market place with high level demands from consumers and policy makers.

Our staff are experts in their fields and are always available to assist members with advice and advocacy issues. We are honoured to provide a voice, influence and leadership for our members and the community services industry.

‘It Left No Marks’ - Are you a frontline service that supports women?

Sadly, more broadly across NSW, it’s being reported that there is an increase in cases of non-fatal strangulation and sexual choking against women. The project It Left No Marks aims to support and educate the community on the risks of strangulation and sexual choking. 

We encourage any community services and healthcare providers to access up-to-date information on this increasing issue through the project website www.itleftnomarks.com.au. This website has useful resources for women, service providers and healthcare providers to inform about what it is, the health risks, and issues around the subject of strangulation and sexual choking. 

If you are a service that provides support to women, training and printed resources are also available to educate, as well as increase and facilitate screening for this issue, to help reduce the increase in non-fatal strangulation acquired brain injury.  As a part of this larger campaign, Shoalhaven Women’s Health Centre is offering training for the Shoalhaven and Illawarra area on: Non-fatal Strangulation and Acquired Brain Injury. For more information, email Leanne at [email protected] or call 4421 0730.

Supporting Spontaneous Volunteers Program - closing date extended to 30 August 2024!

The NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) has extended the closing date for the Supporting Spontaneous Volunteers Program (SSVP) to 12:00 pm AEST 30 August 2024. Grants are available to help your organisation strengthen and empower your volunteers to be better resourced before, during and after a natural disaster. 

Eligible Applicants include:

• Not-for-Profit Entities registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) or the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC).

• Social Enterprises with certification through Social Traders.

• NSW Local Councils

Unincorporated entities may also be eligible to apply. To check your eligibility, contact us at: [email protected].

How to apply. All applications must be submitted through a SmartyGrants webform, comprising 10 merit based questions. If you have started an application please contact us via email to discuss reopening your form, and at the same time discuss any probity concerns there may be with your application. If you have any technical issues, a user guide is provided in the Frequently Asked Questions. SmartyGrants Technical Assistance can be contacted on: (03) 9320 6888 or email ([email protected]).

Information briefings. Information sessions on the Program were held in June 2024, if you were unable to attend, and would like to learn more, visit RA’s website. Support is available. For enquiries and support related to the program please contact the RA at: [email protected]..

Food For Thought

A book that aims to confront the fact that homelessness is a relatively predictable phenomenon.

MUST READ - WRITTEN BY AUSTRALIAN AUTHOR & PROFESSOR: Cameron Parsell. ‘Homelessness, A Critical Introduction’.

Homelessness is a punishing condition that inflicts unquestionable harm on those who experience it. It is also a social problem that starkly lays bare deep societal failure.

As Cameron Parsell shows, society – along with the public policy measures intended to address it – treats being homeless as an identity, casting those who experience homelessness as fundamentally different from “us.” To be homeless is to face daily victimization, to be a recipient of someone else’s care, and to have autonomy taken away. Parsell argues that we have at our disposal the knowledge and momentum to demonstrably reduce and even end homelessness. Our first task is to confront the fact that homelessness is a relatively predictable phenomenon that disproportionately impacts people who are failed by society in myriad ways. We must respond to the problem in ways that understand and thus do not recreate the dehumanizing conditions experienced by those who are homeless. Homelessness is a choice: of how we organize society.

Sketching the defining features of homelessness, this critical introduction will be a valuable resource for students studying homelessness, housing, marginality, and poverty across the social sciences and social work.

Grant Opportunities

Members News

What’s on for our Members This Week?

Guidelines: If you are a member and want to add something to our Newsletter email your flyer to [email protected].

Member Jobs / Positions Vacant