It’s been three years since HSU aged care members launched our Aged Care Work Value Case, advocating for fairness across the aged care sector and pushing for a major increase to award rates in line with the work aged care workers do, every day.

2023 has been no less momentous. Earlier this year, direct care workers in aged care finally received an interim 15% increase – a step in the right direction, but we knew more needed to be done.

In July 2023, at the HSU annual delegates conference, aged care delegates overwhelmingly voted to continue the fight for a full 25% increase for ALL workers in the sector. This kept our battle strong. Our members, standing in solidarity with others in the sector, pushed for a liveable wage.

Aged care workers prepared yet more evidence and presented it at the Fair Work Commission this December.

Karen Marshall and Virginia Ellis, HSU aged care delegates, bravely shared their stories at the Fair Work Commission in December. They highlighted why ALL aged care workers deserve a 25% pay increase, aligning with the HSU’s Work Value Case.

“Come and do a day working in aged care, see what we do,” urged Ms. Ellis from Uniting Springwood, who is also an HSU councillor. “Then they’d know.”

Our fight isn’t finished. We’re still pushing for the full 25% for ALL aged care members. HSU members have shown that we’re not going to back down.

Together, we ‘re going to finish the job.