Research by a University of Queensland academic has played a critical role in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission’s recent decision to award Queensland community services workers a 19.25 percent pay increase.
Professor Karen Healy, from UQ's School of Social Work and Human Services provided research and evidence for a case put forward by the Australian Services Union to the Commission that low salaries of Queensland community services were a result of gender inequity in the workplace.
The case drew heavily on Professor Healy’s findings. In her judgment, Commissioner Fisher acknowledged Professor Healy's research on the community services industry which had shown that community services workers had, historically, been excluded from industrial coverage and this had contributed to poor salaries and conditions today.
Further, the Commissioner acknowledged Professor Healy's research which had demonstrated that gender stereotypes about community services work including that it deployed "supposedly inherent caring skills of women" and was considered as "vocation rather than an occupation" had contributed to startling pay inequities in this field of work.
The Commissioner acknowledged that current salaries and conditions in the community services workforce did not adequately recognise the qualifications, skill and substantial responsibilities held by community services workers.
Professor Healy is delighted at this outcome. "The improved salary and conditions arising from this judgment not only recognises the knowledge and skill of community service workers, but also will enhance workforce stability and quality by providing a career pathway in front-line service work," she said.
"This is great news for workers and for service users."
Professor Healy is continuing to conduct research into the industrial and professional recognition of community services occupations.
“The community services sector is one of the fastest growing fields of employment in Australia," she said.
"As a result of a range of social trends, such as population ageing and increased recognition of social problems, the demand for, and complexity of this work is escalating.
"Research in this field can contribute to an evidence base for creating policies that work for creating an effective and sustainable community services workforce for the future."
Media: Professor Karen Healy – k.healy@social.uq.edu.au (School of Social Work and Human Services) or Helen Battle, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences marketing and communications officer, telephone 07 3346 9279
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