Employers covered by the Victorian Disability Services (NGO) Agreement 2023 will be making a joint application, with the Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) and the Australian Education Union (AEU), to the Fair Work Commission for a supported bargaining authorisation. 

Victorian disability providers are invited to an online forum on Tuesday 16 July that will discuss the application and what it means for the sector.  

The new Supported Bargaining Stream  began in June 2023, as part of the federal Secure Jobs Better Pay Act. One of its components encourages sector-wide bargaining of multi-enterprise agreements. 

A supported bargaining authorisation also gives the Fair Work Commission (FWC) the power to direct a person who is not an employer specified in the authorisation to attend a conference if the FWC is satisfied that the person “exercises such a degree of control over the terms and conditions of the employees who will be covered by the agreement that the participation of the person in bargaining is necessary for the agreement to be made”. 

The applicants, which include 22 Victorian for- profit and not-for-profit disability providers, will ask the FWC to use this power to direct the NDIA to the bargaining table. 

The new supported bargaining stream may allow the applicants to put forward a joint position to the federal government about the funding of wages and conditions agreed by employers and unions. This is essential to attract and retain a quality workforce for quality service and continuity of supports. 

With the sector concerned about the latest NDIS pricing, this is a chance for the government and NDIA to hear from the sector and unions about what needs to be included in a multi-enterprise agreement. This is crucial, because employers cannot bargain if they know some costs will be unfunded. 

All Victorian disability services providers are invited to attend an online forum to hear more and ask questions. It will be hosted by former FWC Commissioner Julius Roe, with employment bargaining representative Nick Church and representatives from HACSU and the AEU.  

Supported Bargaining Authorisation forum 

Date: Tuesday 16 July 
Time: 9:30 to 10.30am 
Location: Online

To register and receive the online link, contact Nick Church before 12:00pm on Monday 15 July: nchurchconsultant@gmail.com; or 0400 073 741.  

Note that this is not an NDS event, but it is a chance for providers to learn more about the supported bargaining authorisation application. While we have agreed to pass the information on to our Victorian members, we do not yet advocate a position.