A Significant Hike in Casual Disability Support Workers Being Employed in Australia

According to the recent Australian Disability Workforce Report, there has been a significant increase in the number of casual employments to the industry. Today, a casual disability support worker in Australia is sure to outstrip the others in terms of figures. While this has been a very swiftly thriving workforce, are there sordid implications of the increasingly casualised outlook?

The Increasing Proportion of Casual Workers 

According to the report, the proportion of casual workers is around forty per cent higher than permanent employees. The growth rate of the workforce has been pegged at twelve per cent per year. Apart from that, there has been a discrepancy between the turnover rates of the two sectors. 

The report states that the turnover rates are double than those for permanent workers. The survey has covered a broad swathe of industrial platforms, from disability to senior home care in Australia.

The Raging Issue of Working Hours 

Low average working hours have been a burning issue of late. 

Today, an average disability support worker works for around 22 hours per week. Apart from that, concerns have been flagged as regards the slack utilisation of disability support workers. The consequences are only made more malignant for the other side – the patients. 

The increasing reliance on casualisation has left experts wondering whether a complete overhaul is the ulterior goal of the NDIS. However, a handful of observers maintain that complete casualisation of the disability support worker in Australia is a far-fetched outcome as of now. 

The Positive Scenario of Gender Balance 

An intriguingly affirmative finding has debunked earlier theories of female subordination in the industry. Today, only about thirty per cent of the workforce is male, which is phenomenal. 

Ongoing diversification has been another positive trend doing the rounds in the industry. In consequence, from disability to senior home care in Australia, the industry has been doing well.

Indeed, there have been hiccups and glitches here and there, which still persist. However, if the report is anything to go by, the overall picture is affirmative.