QIDAN has lodged a submission to the Fair Work Commission in response to the proposed changes to the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services (SCHADS) Award as part of the Gender-Based Undervaluation Priority Awards Review.

While we support efforts to address gender-based undervaluation and improve pay equity across the sector, we are deeply concerned that the proposed classification structure could unintentionally reduce pay rates for future employees working in independent disability advocacy. This would undermine workforce attraction and retention, create inequitable two-tier employment conditions, and threaten the sustainability of essential advocacy services.

Our submission calls on the Commission to protect existing equal remuneration outcomes, properly recognise the complexity and professional skill of disability advocacy work, and ensure governments provide adequate funding to support any new wage structure. A strong, fairly paid advocacy workforce is essential to protecting the rights of people with disability and delivering the reforms recommended by the Disability Royal Commission.

To learn more about the issues raised and QIDAN’s recommendations, read the full submission here.

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