A new salary census for Tasmania's community sector workers will help gauge the implications of Fair Work Australia's landmark Equal Remuneration Order.

 

The Minister for Human Services, Cassy O'Connor, said the census, which is now underway, would be a crucial part of planning how the Government supports the historic pay increases for community sector workers within Tasmanian Government funded services.

 

"Achieving a fair pay level is not only the right thing for workers, but will strengthen the sustainability of our community sector and provide greater long-term certainty for people with disability," she said.

"And the Tasmanian Government is fully supportive of the implementation of fair pay for community sector workers," she said.

 

"A total of $3 million has been allocated in the 2012-2013 Budget and the next step is to understand how this can flow to community sector organisations to fund their workers' pay increases.

 

"A further $3 million per annum has been allocated up to 2015-16, taking the State's total extra   contribution to $12 million in that year," Ms O'Connor said.

 

Ms O'Connor said the census has been developed in consultation with the community sector, and would be sent to all organisations that receive Tasmanian Government funding to deliver services in the community sector.

 

"The collaboration of the community sector through this process has been exceptional, and now it is very important that organisations take the time to complete the census as accurately as possible," she said.

 

The CEO of the Tasmanian Council of Social Service, Tony Reidy, said today that the community sector was an enthusiastic participant in the Salary Census project, and through its Sector Peaks' Network had been working closely with the State Government to develop the Census instrument so that accurate information could be obtained on the need for funding supplements.

 

"Organisations in the sector provide essential support to some of the most disadvantaged people in our community, and it is vital that the work of their dedicated employees is properly recognised through this wage decision and the additional support that must be provided to meet the costs of the Equal Remuneration Order.

 

Mr Reidy said that TasCOSS welcomed the State Government's commitment to the sector through the allocation of additional funds for the years during which the wage increases will be phased in.

 

"It is only through the detailed information gained in the Salary Census that the actual cost of Fair Work Australia's decision will be known, allowing the Government and the community sector to continue to collaborate in determining the quantum of funding required in order to support the salary increase that sector organisations are required to provide to workers," he said.

 

The census will run for two weeks from 23 July - 8 August 2012, with community sector organisations encouraged to attend local information sessions.

 

More information is available from the Department of Health and Human Services website at www.dhhs.tas.gov.au