In the News

MEDIA RELEASE

1 February 2011

Disability service provider Inclusion Melbourne welcomes Equal Pay decision

Inclusion Melbourne Chief Executive Officer Daniel Leighton today welcomed the Fair Work Australia decision to ensure fair pay for workers in the social community and disability sector.

“This decision is an excellent outcome for all employees working in the disability sector, and Inclusion Melbourne is proud to have supported the ASU’s Fair Work campaign,” said Mr Leighton today.

Inclusion Melbourne provides personalised disability support to adults with an intellectual disability from 12 Melbourne municipalities. Most services-users are from Melbourne’s inner south east and all of our clients now take part in personalised recreational, educational or employment activities of their choice based in community locations.

“Inclusion Melbourne was one of just seven employers in the social, community and disability sector to make a submission to Fair Work Australia giving unqualified support,” Mr Leighton said.

“The increases put forward by Fair Work are in line with the ASU and Federal Government’s joint submission, and will represent a real improvement for staff in this sector. The community and health services sector, which includes the disability sector, is the third largest Australian employer, representing over 1.1 million employees.

“Low pay has always been a challenge for service providers seeking to retain and keep the best staff, and Inclusion Melbourne is pleased that the Fair Work Australia decision recognises that disability professionals are entitled to equal pay,” he said.

Mr Leighton concluded: “We look forward to the increased funding for the sector that the Federal Government has committed to providing and we hope the Victorian Government will follow suit.”

For More Information or Comment, Contact:

Daniel Leighton, CEO Inclusion Melbourne, 0413 872 416, daniel.leighton@im.org.au

Alex White, Marketing & Development Manager, 0403 694 397, alexander.white@im.org.au