Community Sector
After years of campaigning, ASU members achieved significant gains for community and not-for-profit workers.
Portable long service leave is now a reality for NSW community service and not-for-profit workers. Fee-free TAFE has been launched, and paid placements for social work students were introduced, helping to address placement poverty.
We fought to end unfair rolling contracts, unlocking permanent employment benefits for thousands of not-for-profit workers. We have secured long-term five-year funding contracts as the default position of all NSW grants, along with a 3.5% indexation funding boost – ensuring stable jobs and stable services for the people who rely on them.
Together, these wins have built a stronger, fairer future for community sector workers.
2025 Fran Teirney Award
Jackie Romein, CEO of Flintwood Disability Services in Western Sydney, has been a proud and active ASU member for 30 years across both the CEO and Disability Sector Subdivisions.
A respected leader in her industry, Jackie is a unionist who encourages colleagues to join and supports the ASU in all collective endeavours.
She is a powerful advocate, speaking out against wage theft in the NDIS, championing portable training, and pushing for a stronger Award.
Her advocacy saw her chosen as one of only two CEOs in NSW to help design portable long service leave legislation. Jackie is also an activist, mobilising workers in campaigns from Equal Pay to Skilled, Respected, Equal rallies.
Jackie’s dedication, inclusivity, and tireless activism make her a worthy recipient of the Fran Teirney Award.
Congratulations Jackie Romein on winning our 2025 Fran Teirney Award!
Skilled, Respected, Equal
Campaign Update
In April, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) proposed a new SCHADS Award that threatened to cut wages for workers in the community and disability sector.
The ASU united the sector and gained support from both the NSW and Commonwealth Governments to reject this proposal and instead fix the SCHADS Award, ensuring better recognition and pay for workers. Only the Australian Industry Group (AIG) – a big business lobby group with minimal ties to the community sector supported the FWC’s proposal, demanding disastrous wage cuts for 73% of workers in the sector.
Thousands joined our nationwide demonstrations and revived the flash mob to protest AIG’s push for pay cuts. Last month, the FWC announced they would take more time to consider ASU’s feedback with a decision expected before Christmas.
