News

The Health and Community Services Union (HACSU), Health Services Union (HSU), Queensland Council of Unions (QCU), and Aware Super have jointly commissioned new research on the costs and benefits of paid reproductive health and wellbeing leave for Australian workers.

This week, the Fair Work Commission formally approved the VMCH Disability Services Agreement 2024 — a big win for every worker at Villa Maria Catholic Homes!

Member update about an issue concerning unpaid superannuation, that has now been resolved.

At the State Conference of the Victorian Labor Party, HACSU members’ demands for critical changes have been heard loud and clear. HACSU delegates attended the State Conference over the weekend in Moonee Ponds, raising a number of resolutions to be voted on by the Victorian Labor Party membership.

On May 2, HACSU members in disability came together to talk about the major changes taking place in our sector and the future of Victoria’s disability workforce.

Are you passionate about advocating for mental health professionals and shaping policies that enhance their working conditions? Join us at HACSU (Health and Community Services Union) as our Mental Health Allied Health Policy Officer.

We have changed the provider who is processing membership fees to achieve cost effectiveness and efficiency.

The 2024–25 Victorian state budget introduces unexpected and unsustainable cuts to mental health services, ignoring the growing need for the government to deliver a coherent workforce strategy and clarify its future role in providing foundational disability supports

This multifaceted position combines membership administration tasks with proactive engagement initiatives and database management, allowing you to make an impact across the membership lifecycle.

Working alongside HSU National, HACSU have prepared a submission to the Senate Inquiry into Issues Related to Menopause and Perimenopause, outlining five practical recommendations to help achieve workplace equality for women experiencing menopause and perimenopause.

On March 21, HACSU members across the whole span of the mental health workforce came together to talk about the upcoming Public Mental Health EBA campaign.

HACSU is taking a bold stand against gendered violence in healthcare. Our "Breaking the Silence" project is a transformative initiative addressing the root causes, to create specialised workplace policy, procedures, training and resources for our industries.

A message from Paul Healey, HACSU State Secretary, as we wrap up 2023 — a year packed with bargaining, reforms, and activism.

The NDIS Review’s final report makes 26 recommendations to be implemented in a five-year transition. Many HACSU members’ longstanding concerns, from registration to pricing…

Get ready for another empowering year as HACSU proudly presents the 2024 HACSU Women's Forum, happening on International Women's Day (Friday March 8th)!

The HACSU office will be closed from December 22, reopening January 2nd 2024. An on-call service will be available for emergencies, with a staff member triaging messages…

To help answer members' questions—or go get answers where we don't already have them—we're holding a Town Hall to discuss the NDIS Review next week.

Informed by the firsthand experiences of our members, this plan aims for a worker-led transformation in how Victoria addresses alcohol, drugs, and addiction.

Our members spend their working lives looking after others, so we're looking after our members. All HACSU members and their families can now access free counselling and mental…

A psychosocial hazard in the workplace is anything that could cause psychological or mental harm in the course of employment, which will often be factors in the management…

Victoria’s proud union history is a history of proud union women. Learn about the history and mission of The Anna Stewart Memorial Project, and meet HACSU’s 2023 Annas.

Meet Elisa, HACSU's Senior Industrial Officer! We chat about her journey from the Aboriginal Legal Service, challenges facing women workers in disability & mental health, and what unionism means to her.

Meet Tanae, a registered disability worker making a difference. As a registered worker, she's contributing to the professionalisation of disability work, ensuring quality care for Victorians.

Who qualifies for benefits through super if you can't work due to injury or illness? Most super funds provide insurance that covers you regardless of how the injury or illness occurred. From income protection to disability benefits, explore your options and get the support you need.

VMCH has said they want to bargain a new agreement. That means it's time for workers to decide what we want a new agreement to look like.

From tomorrow, the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act (the Act) will be in force in Victoria. Every step of the way, HACSU and our members have offered feedback, provided…

At HACSU, we’re dedicated to ensuring your rights as Victorian workers are respected and protected. That’s why we’ve taken a big step forward by winning an independent resolution panel designed to make things easier for workers at public mental health services.

Recent changes to the Fair Work Act mean that agreements made before 2010 (‘zombie agreements’) will automatically sunset (terminate) on 7 December 2023. Before these changes, agreements would continue to operate until they were terminated or replaced…

List of links to Mental Health and Wellbeing Act help and resources

This week, Headspace National (eHeadspace) members voted on a new EBA. Voting closed last night, with 90% of staff voting to approve the new agreement. Members have won sector-leading entitlements…

HACSU are demanding that Monash pay super each fortnight for ALL STAFF, and we need your help to win this — all you need to do is sign this petition!

Being injured at work can be a stressful and expensive experience. Slater and Gordon have put together an article for HACSU outlining how workers' compensation works and exactly what you should do…

At HACSU we are always looking at benefits that will help our members. We want to canvas our members as to whether you may be interested in taking up an INCOME PROTECTION...

It is widely assumed that pregnancy discrimination is a thing of the past. But do pregnant workers really face no discrimination at work?

Dear Ministers, The COVID-19 pandemic has now moved from an emergency/acute response phase into a period of rolling waves of hopefully lower peaks but with a baseline of significant ongoing burden…

We need you to ensure your colleagues are using the NDIS tracker to report unfunded time and unfilled shifts! Download posters for your worksite.

HACSU's Kate Marshall speaks to the On The Job podcast about reproductive health and wellbeing leave

After bargaining since September 2021, HACSU is getting close to getting a full draft agreement with Home@Scope for your next EBA.

The MEA is a multi-employer agreement between HACSU and over 20 employers across Victoria. After working on your new EBA since August 2022, HACSU has reached an in-principle agreement on your new EBA.

Last week the Fair Work Commission formally approved the Aruma Victoria Enterprise Agreement 2023 — open to learn more.

The union movement welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement today that superannuation is to be paid on the same day as wages.

Every year on April 28, the trade union movement unites around the world to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day. We mourn those who have died at work or because of their work, and we fight like hell for the living.

A casual vacancy has arisen for one (1) position of Ordinary Member on the HACSU Branch Committee of Management (BCOM).

Racial justice and first-nations justice is indivisible from economic justice, and not just because some of our members are first nations people.

After being approved by members, the Fair Work Commission has approved the Life Without Barriers Disability Services Enterprise Agreement 2022-2025.

As a member, you have the right to be informed about the roster review process and your entitlements — get our factsheet.

After 30 great years at HACSU our comrade, colleague and friend, John Creamer, is retiring.

The ACTU announced today it will seek a 7% increase for Australia’s minimum and award wages as part of its submission to the Annual Wage Review.

We've put together a quick reference guide for penalty rates and other conditions for our largest agreements including Public Mental Health & the DSEAV.

HACSU members are often required to report incidents — get our factsheet on incident reporting.

We've put together a quick reference guide for penalty rates and other conditions for our largest agreements including Public Mental Health & the DSEAV.

Union members have won significant changes to improve the lives of women at work since last International Women’s Day.

The Centre for Mental Health Learning is running free online training for the public clinical mental health and wellbeing workforce.

HACSU Delegate's training sessions & regional training for HSRs (Ballarat & Wodonga).

Our submission sheds light on the critical steps that need to be taken to prevent harmful incidents and keep both workers and participants safe.

Australia Asia Worker Links (AAWL), Victorian Trades Hall Council, and other unions in Australia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the UK have been campaigning for several years to improve labour standards…

Find out our opening hours and how to access urgent support Dec 23 – Jan 3.

Mental health workers should not be left worse off for moving between public mental health services during bargaining.

Read HACSU’s Disability Support Plan

Read HACSU’s Better Mental Health Plan

In July 2020 VicSuper and Aware Super merged – two like-minded brands stronger together. As part of this, VicSuper will be changing its name to Aware…

HSRs are invited to join online design workshops for a new WorkSafe education program — learn more and register for workshops in Oct/Nov here.

HACSU has partnered with the ACU and other organisations to study the impact of a resilience-building program, with mental health nurses at NorthWestern…

For all HACSU members impacted by floods, and for those whose loved ones and community are affected, Victorian Trades Hall has put together this set of…

A new public holiday has been declared for September 22nd, additional to the existing public holiday on September 23rd — and as with every public holiday…

Are you an excellent communicator with a passion for supporting working people? Apply today to join the team at HACSU!

The decision by the Albanese Government to axe the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment will mean a return to the earliest and most costly mistakes of the pandemic…

The decision to stop the payments will hurt essential and low paid health, aged care and disability workers.

The new Victorian Public Mental Health Services. Enterprise Agreement is now in effect — meaning members have two pay rises coming their way…

Updated info on the winter retention payment for public health workers in Victoria.

HACSU is holding a virtual statewide meeting for admin staff in public mental health on Thursday 19 May, 7pm. We'll be discussing a number of key topics, including staffing profiles…

Last year HACSU ran our biggest ever safety audit across disability. A follow up to our first safety audit in 2020, it was our biggest survey ever. We found worrying trends across the sector — but we've also found…

Like with any other OHS issue, union members can eliminate the risk of gendered violence. That’s why HACSU is offering Safe and Respectful Workplaces training in June for HACSU members. HACSU has secured this training…

Urgent meeting regarding CIS released to members at MCM regarding transfer of services to Able Australia

HACSU is holding a virtual statewide meeting for lived experience staff in public mental health on Wednesday 29 June, 1pm. We'll be discussing a number of…

Are you looking to step up and get more actively involved with your union? Do you want to skill up on how to be the best union activist you can…

The Health Services Union (HSU) welcomes the announcement today that an Albanese Labor Government will strengthen the Fair Work Commission’s…

As announced earlier this year, postgrad scholarship funding has been secured for allied health and AOD practitioners working in state-funded…

From last week's ballot, Victorian public sector mental health workers have voted to approve the Victorian Public Mental Health Services. Enterprise Agreement 2020-2024. Of workers who voted…

Join other HACSU women for our first online meeting after launching our Women's Plan last month…

HACSU members pass motion at today's statewide stop work, setting a deadline for…

The Health and Community Services Union welcomes the Andrews Government’s announcement of a trial of five days' sick pay for people in casual and insecure work — with disability care being selected…

The Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) is today announcing major industrial action across Victoria’s public mental health services.

HACSU mental health members were given an EBA offer last year, but we’re still waiting for a full agreement. After weeks of being told we’d have a draft “soon”, HACSU advised the VHIA that we…

HACSU has long campaigned for gender equality to improve women’s working lives. As a union of workers in women-dominated industries, we are uniquely placed to lead the way in achieving progressive change. Over 65 per cent of our membership is women, and 72 per cent are under 35. Union women have…

Almost one-third (31%) of nearly 2500 disability support workers surveyed said they wanted to be in a different job in twelve months’ time. Nearly a third (31%) wanted to leave their jobs because of negative…

HACSU has joined a number of other unions, disability advocacy groups, and employers in calling for desperately needd financial support, asking Prime Minister Scott Morrison to meet with stakeholders to discuss an action plan for the sector.

The Federal Government has finally passed legislation to remove the $450 threshold to receive Superannuation contributions.

Are you a committed unionist with experience in finance and administrative support? If so – an exciting opportunity has opened at the Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) for a full-time…

A new survey from the Health and Community Services Union has confirmed that the disability sector has yet again been let down, with workers and NDIS participants bearing the brunt of the burden.

The Health and Community Services Union has received reports that a major disability provider has COVID-positive workers supporting COVID-positive group home residents in regional Victoria. This…