Up Where We Belong: Raising the Status of Disability Support Work In my brother’s interests Gary Bennett is right behind the union campaign to improve pay and conditions for disability support workers. “You can’t pay them too much as far as I’m concerned,” he says. “I have a twofold interest in supporting them as it’s also supporting my brother. It goes without question that a well-paid, well-trained workforce is in my brother’s interest.”
Gary Bennett, centre, with brother Ken and daughter Britley
Gary’s older brother, Ken, has multiple disabilities and has been in a residential home since his parents were no longer well enough to care for him at home. “My parents kept Ken at home as long as they could. The most difficult thing for them was letting him go when they could no longer cope.“ Gary sees a lot of his brother and they have regular trips out. But providing the full-time care and support Ken needs, as well as holding down a full-time job, would not be possible. “We would be lost without the support services.” But it’s a concern when staff leave and Ken has to get used to someone new. So far, they’ve been lucky. “We have a stable staff at the moment but I hate to see people leave because it has a definite impact on my brother and his wellbeing,” says Gary. “He can’t talk for himself but he does get attached to the staff, there’s no question about that, and he talks to them in his own way. It’s why I support the campaign: good pay and conditions will retain staff for longer.”
Gary says the general public doesn’t appreciate the job that disability support workers do – not until a family member goes into care. “It’s only at that point that they appreciate the work these people do.” “It gets me so wild when I hear about people on huge salaries getting huge bonuses that would keep the residents and staff at my brother’s place happy for years.”
Politicians shadow workers About a dozen MPs and some local government politicians accepted an invitation from the PSA and SFWU to “shadow” a disability support worker and gain some insights about this demanding job. This is what two of them said.
The Labour MP “There are not enough workers because we are not paid enough”. This is a quote from a very bright but underpaid woman [that] just about sums up my morning which I spent with people who work with disabled people, both with intellectual and physical disabilities. They work very hard and over long hours often because, despite the unemployment situation, lots of people can’t or won’t do their work. They administer medicines, toilet people, bathe them, care for their money, act as counsellors, and are regularly assaulted.” Trevor Mallard
The National MP “One of the situations that remained very clear in my mind is the worker earning close to minimum wage who drives an hour each way to work one-to-one with a disabled person. There is no doubt that many people find this work rewarding, but it is not without its risks. Instances occur where carers are attacked physically and without warning. I could never work in this field. I believe the overwhelming majority of us wouldn’t do it, especially for the lower levels of remuneration. The people working in this area are saints and often feel undervalued. There was no secret that the reason I was asked along was to enable me to witness first-hand the world of the carers and their current claim for better conditions and rates of pay. I have to say the point was well made.” Chester Borrows
Low status, low pay This is a low-status job, with low pay rates that do not reflect the difficulty or responsibility of the work. . . Many support workers work long hours to the detriment of their wellbeing. Support workers are not often trained and few opportunities for . . . training are available. We recommend to the government that it establish a strategy for improving training, pay rates, and working conditions for the caring and support workforce in the disability sector.
Chester Borrows MP gains an insight into disability support work
Inquiry into the quality of care and service provisions for people with disabilities. Parliament, September 2008
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PSA Journal September 2009
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