We’re calling on the Andrews Government to legislate for a portable long service leave scheme for community service workers this year.
Workers in the social and community services (SACS) sector can work a lifetime and never actually receive long service leave. Due to the character of the community sector – from the way it’s funded to the stresses of work – workers in the sector frequently change jobs. We often stay in the sector, just with a different employer. When we do this we often lose. This is especially the case for our long service leave entitlements.
Social and community services workers need a portable long service leave system. We need to be able to take our accumulated years of service to other employers within the sector as we change jobs, no different to workers in other industries, or even community sector workers in the ACT. Only through a legislated portable long service leave scheme will we ever be able to access our long service leave, which until now has been too far out of reach.
We’ve been asking for ten years.
We’ve been asking for so long that our request is now due for long service.
We’re sick of waiting.
Why is this important?
SACS workers deliver services aimed at helping family violence survivors, providing help to people with alcohol and drug issues, as well as working to help youth in residential care and individuals overcoming mental health problems, among many other services.
It is a sector that is underfunded, where the demand for services is endless and in which we are responsible for the well-being of the most vulnerable Victorians. Despite the importance of our work, the pay is low, there are few promotional opportunities and we deal daily with the stresses contact with clients in personal crisis inevitably brings.
The State Government has commissioned a feasibility study to look into a portable long service leave scheme for social and community service workers. This government has the opportunity to make our lives a little bit easier. Please add your name in support of our campaign that will care for the carers.
