Hundreds of protesters have demanded the Victorian government end what it says is a privatisation of disability services.
The disability workers say Victoria is moving to privatise services as part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme roll out.
"The government does not want to admit that it wants to cut costs, cut workers wages and potentially risk people's lives," Health and Community Services Union spokeswoman Elizabeth Doidge said on Wednesday.
But Health Minister Martin Foley says Victoria isn't privatising disability services, and the NDIS is expanding to cover more people.
"What we want to do is roll out the national disability insurance scheme to Victoria to the 27,000 people who are going to come into the scheme over the next two years," Mr Foley told reporters.
More than 200 protesters marched to Victorian Parliament on Wednesday chanting "disability is not for sale", as Ms Doidge said 5000 jobs would be lost and 3000 disability clients affected.
"(Clients) won't be able to fight. These people have severe intellectual disabilities," Ms Doidge said.
"Only 10 per cent of these people have active families who can support them.
"Many of them came out of the institutions and just have no one to support them or advocate for them."
Mr Foley said the federal government's commitment to the NDIS funding meant disability services could expand.
"We will set a very high benchmark, a higher benchmark than we do now," he said.
"We'll work through those industrial issues with our own employees and unions like we always do."
Me Foley said there were both agency and other staff to make sure there is no disruption during today's strike.
The union has also been fighting for a new pay deal for the past six months.
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