Review of Industrial Relations Arrangements for the ACT Community Sector
What is happening?
In December 2008, $500,000 was allocated through the 2008-09 second appropriation budget to review community contracts and to provide an improved industrial relations environment for non-government organisations in the ACT.
It was agreed that the Review would be undertaken in two phases. HBA Consultants were engaged by the Directorate to undertake the first phase; to review existing community service funding arrangements and to assess the adequacy of wages and conditions provided by community sector organisations.
The Review of Industrial Relations Arrangements for the ACT Community Sector report was completed in July 2010. It found that community sector wages and conditions were comparable with those in other jurisdictions, and made a range of recommendations for improvement. A copy of the report is available below.
One recommendation of the report was to establish a central industrial relations (IR) information and advice service for the sector. The second phase of the review is responding to this recommendation, and is identifying a suitable organisation to provide this support to the sector over the near term. The project will also identify options for long-term IR support that will be sustainable beyond the life of the project.
Phase One – the review report
Phase one of the review was undertaken by HBA Consulting, a local firm specialising in industrial relations and human resource management analysis and advice. Further information on HBA Consulting can be found at their website www.hbaconsulting.com.au
On 25 September 2009 Ms Katy Gallagher, Treasurer, Minister for Health, Minister for Community Services and Minister for Women wrote to all community services organisations informing them of the IR Review to be undertaken by independent consultants, HBA.
Letter from Minister Gallagher to the Community Sector [PDF 92KB] [RTF 51KB]
The ACT Government has commissioned the Review of the Industrial Arrangements in the ACT Community Sector report, which was publicly released in July 2010. The objectives of the Review were to:
- Identify the current wages and conditions applying to workers in the ACT community sector;
- Use this information to undertake a comparison of the relevant position of ACT community sector workers with community sectors in other jurisdictions; and
- Use this information to enable the ACT Government to develop policy options to address key findings.
The report found that community sector wages and conditions were comparable with those in other jurisdictions, and made a range of recommendations for improvement. The report is provided here:
Summary of the report
Policy options consultation paper
Review of Industrial Relations Arrangements in the ACT Community Sector – Key Deliverable 1 [PDF 1.5MB]
Review of Industrial Relations Arrangements in the ACT Community Sector – Key Deliverable 2 [PDF 1.2MB]
Review of Industrial Relations Arrangements in the ACT Community Sector – Key Deliverable 3 [PDF 1.7MB]
Review of Industrial Relations Arrangements in the ACT Community Sector – Key Deliverable 4 [PDF 1.4MB]
Review of Industrial Relations Arrangements in the ACT Community Sector – Key Deliverable 5 [PDF 915KB]
Why is it important?
The ACT Government committed to obtaining detailed information in relation to the current industrial environment in the ACT community sector, to enable it to build the sustainability of the sector.
What happens next?
The ACT Government response and future commitments are detailed in the response to the report.
ACT Government Response to the report
