United Voice News
Disability carers take their experiences to Parliament
Around 30 paid disability carers from the Non Government Organisation (NGO) sector took a strong message to the WA Parliament on Thursday, presenting the Premier with 800 signed letters.
They called for the state government to:
• Include the paid workforce in the Partnership Forum;
• Seriously address the wages disparity between the government and NGO sector;
• Improve accountability for funding to the NGO sector and quarantine funding to address wages and condition;
• Improve the career paths and study opportunities for professional carers.
Ray Partington from Activ who presented the letters to the Premier, described the day as “really positive”.
“We had some great meetings with Labor and Greens MPs who agreed to support all of our requests,” he said.
“Colin Barnett didn’t really seem to warm to us.
”Disappointingly, the Premier claimed in Parliament that it was inappropriate for the carers to Lobby MPs while they were in the Parliament.
“Considering Parliament is the people’s house, it was insulting and rude and immediately devalued us as workers. Business people are there all the time lobbying MPs, why can’t we?” Said Ray.
"Also a disappointment was the fact that only one government MP agreed to meet with us, and the two others who agreed, simply didn’t show up.
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Wendy Voaks, from Activ said: “The day went really well but it was very rude of those MPs not to turn up or let us know that they couldn’t make it. Those that did show up were really promising and I hope they do pursue our issues in the Parliament not just for us, but for the people we care for.”
Kelly Shay, Assistant Secretary LHMU, said: “This was the first opportunity many MPs have had to hear from the people who do this important work. It is the paid workforce who will deliver the government’s disability services agenda and yet they are locking them out of any involvement in the process.
“This is a sector in crisis and the government needs to wake up and listen. We have an ageing workforce and clientele, the low wages are preventing people from entering the sector and forcing many experienced carers to leave as they cannot support a family on their wages.
“These are the cold realities for the sector and government needs to know that addressing these issues will involve much more than just talking to CEOs.”
