Neami has been working closely with Australian Psychosocial Alliance (APA) partners including Mind, Wellways and Flourish to make sure our collective voice has been heard during the Fair Work Commission’s review of the Social, Community, Homecare and Disability Services (SCHADS) Award.
When the Commission announced the gender-based undervaluation – priority awards review in July 2024, Neami coordinated a joint response through the APA. This included preparing the APA’s submission lodged in May 2025, which set out the key issues affecting the psychosocial workforce and the potential impact on services and consumers.
Through November and December 2025, Neami took part in the Commission’s conference process alongside the Australian Services Union, the Council of Social Service network, Wellways and others. Working together helped articulate clear and consistent sector priorities.
In December 2025, an alternate classification structure and report were provided to the Commission’s Expert Panel. When the panel invited further feedback, Neami again coordinated a joint APA submission, working with Mind, Wellways and Flourish. That submission, delivered in February 2026, strengthened the case for a classification system that better reflects the skills and responsibilities of psychosocial work.
Our involvement throughout the review reflects our commitment to fair and sustainable conditions for the psychosocial workforce and sector. By bringing organisations together and presenting clear, practical proposals, we’re helping build a stronger foundation for the future of community-based mental health and wellbeing support.