Skilled Respected Equal Alliance

The Skilled Respected Equal Alliance is a coalition of sector organisations committed to working together to:

  1. Modernise the SCHADS Award to provide better pay and career pathways for workers

  2. Secure the government funding needed to implement these crucial reforms.

For 30 years, the classification system in the social, community, and disability services sector has remained outdated, despite the growing complexity and value of this essential work. The Australian Services Union (ASU) has launched a major case in the Fair Work Commission to fix this. But real change will require government backing. That’s why we are bringing workers and employers together to support the ASU application in the Fair Work Commission and also advocate jointly to governments to properly fund and implement any new classification structure.

By joining the Skilled Respected Equal Alliance, organisations are committing to working collaboratively with the ASU and its members to:

  • Support a fit-for-purpose classification system that provides better pay and career pathways for workers in the sector

  • Advocate together for governments to properly fund and implement any new classification structure

  • Albion Park Rail Neighbourhood Centre

  • Alliance 20

  • Aruma

  • Asian Women at Work

  • Association of Child Welfare Agencies

  • Australian Council of Social Service

  • Bankstown Women's and Girls Centre

  • Bankstown Women's Health

  • Barnardos

  • Basic Rights Queensland

  • Blue Mountains Women's Health Resource Centre

  • Bonnie Support Services

  • CAFS

  • Caretakers Cottage

  • Centre for Non-Violence

  • CEWA

  • Community Industry Group Illawarra

  • Community Legal Centres Australia

  • Community Legal Centres NSW

  • Community Legal Centres QLD

  • Community Legal WA

  • Diamond House: Clubhouse Inc

  • Domestic Violence NSW

  • Drummond Street Services

  • Endeavour Foundation

  • Ethnic Communities Co-op Services

  • Eurella Disability Services

  • FAMS

  • Financial Counselling Victoria Inc.

  • First Nations Women’s Legal Services QLD Inc.

  • Flat Out

  • Flintwood Disability Services

  • FVREE

Who’s Already Joined?

The following organisations have joined the Skilled Respected Equal Alliance:

  • Gateway Family Services

  • GenWest

  • Gold Coast Youth Services

  • Greenacre Community Centre

  • Guthrie House

  • Homelessness NSW

  • Housing for the Aged Action Group

  • Includa Disability Support

  • Islamic Women's Association of Australia

  • Jannawi Family Centre

  • Justice and Equity Centre

  • Justice Connect

  • Knowmore

  • Launch Housing 

  • Laverton Community Centre

  • Life Without Barriers

  • Lillian Howell Project

  • Lives Lived Well

  • Mackay Advocacy Inc

  • Mackillop Family Services

  • Manning Support Services

  • Marist 180

  • Melbourne Community Legal 

  • Mental Health Coordinating Council of NSW

  • Micah Projects

  • New England Support Services

  • Northern Rivers Community Gateway

  • NSW Council of Social Services

  • Palmerston

  • People With Disabilities (WA) Inc

  • People with Disability Australia

  • Queensland Council of Social Service

  • Richmond Community Services

  • Safe & Equal

  • Samaritans

  • SCALES Community Legal Centre

  • Shelter Housing Action Cairns

  • Shine SA

  • Skylight Mental Health 

  • South East Women & Children's Services

  • Southern Youth and Family Services

  • Speak Out Advocacy

  • St John’s Youth Service

  • St Vincent De Paul Society QLD

  • Sydney Women's Counselling Services

  • Synapse

  • Tandem Carers

  • Tasmanian Council of Social Service

  • Tenants Queensland Ltd

  • The Disability Trust

  • The Junction Works

  • Thorne Harbour Health

  • Uniting SA

  • Uniting Vic Tas

  • Valmar

  • Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association

  • Victorian Council of Social Service

  • Villamanta

  • WAMINDA

  • Western Australian Council of Social Service

  • Wombat Housing & Support Services

  • Women's Health NSW

  • Women's Safety Services South Australia

  • Working Women's Centre SA

  • Yeti

  • Youth Affairs Network Qld

Join the Alliance

Let’s work together to ensure the Award reflects the skills, experience and value of community and disability sector work. A united sector voice can have a greater impact.

If your organisation supports the work of the ASU in updating the SCHADS Award and wants to support the work of the Skilled Respected Equal Campaign, join our Alliance for a better Award. To join the Skilled, Respected, Equal Alliance, contact your local ASU branch here.