“Privatisation of DHHS disability services will see less choices and less services for Victoria’s most vulnerable citizens, especially those living in residential accommodation.” HACSU State Secretary, Lloyd Williams, said. “It will also undermine the job security, wages and conditions of the disability staff.”
Over 5,000 DHHS staff and 3,000 Victorians with a disability are affected. Lloyd Williams said the government was using the NDIS implementation as an excuse to cost cut, and to outsource.
“This privatization process is about one thing. That’s cost cutting support services to people who need it most, and the Victorian Treasurer and his department is the driving force behind the move.”
This policy could well see DHHS services contracted out to the likes of Yooralla, which has recently been at the centre of several state and national inquiries into abuse and poor governance.
"The people of Victoria would be shocked to see DHHS services handed over to the likes of Yooralla after the series of scandals, terrible governance and instances of abuse," Lloyd Williams said.
“Privatisation will also destroy a the desperately needed staff recruitment and retention strategy across the whole disability sector. Just when the NDIS reform is demanding a doubling of the workforce, we are implementing public policy driving away the most experienced and skilled staff. It makes no sense.”
“Staff job security has been thrown into question, and if people keep their jobs, they face either long pay freezes or up to a 30% cut in wages and conditions. Many workers will just walk away and find other jobs.”
Lloyd Williams said the loss of staff would also result in a loss of continuity of care – a core measure of service quality in the sector.
“People with disabilities living in residential accommodation include people with complex behavioral and health support needs, and quality services require qualified carers that know residents individually. The government’s privitsation policy will mean residents will now often be looked after by unqualified casual workers who don’t know residents’ needs,” Lloyd Williams said.
“Whichever way you look at it, this is heartless, very foolish and extremely poor public policy.”
