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Aged Care Workers deserve better pay and respect at work. Agree? Join us!

Your Union for aged care workers

We work in aged care, home care and disability services. We provide essential support to keep older Australians safe. We give professional care, with dignity. Together we are campaigning to change aged care because we all deserve dignity and respect. 

If you work in Aged Care, Home Care or Disability Support – United Workers Union is your union. 

We fight hard for jobs you can count on, decent pay and conditions, and respect at work. Your union is here to help you – providing a range of quality services, benefits and representation when you need it. Throughout our history, we’ve shown when working people come together, we win.

Is your EMPLOYER playing fair on care minutes?

From October 1 2023, your employer must lift care time to 200 minutes a day for each resident.

Many facilities are making changes to rosters, duties, job roles and the creation of new jobs (e.g. care champions). 

There is a concern that these changes may result in more duties for carers and less jobs for other staff (e.g. kitchen, activities, ENs).

Your union knows of instances where aged care employers have made changes to existing jobs that allow them to push up their care-time minute count. That’s not right or fair!

Your employer SHOULD NOT use tricks like changing job titles or giving you extra duties to lift care minutes. Your employer SHOULD be paying for extra staff to provide more hours for better care.

Help us hold your employer accountable!

aged CARE WORKERS won a pay rise!

United Workers Union aged care members have shown once again that they’re a force to be reckoned with!
 
After campaigning, rallying, and taking action in workplaces, the community, and online, they won the historic 15% wage increase for direct care workers, home care workers, head chefs/cooks, and lifestyle staff in June 2023.
 
But we’re not finished yet – the fight continues to ensure support workers in aged care are also recognised!
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The Fair Work Commission’s final decision this year will include:
  • whether a pay rise will be awarded to support workers
  • whether direct care workers will receive a further increase (in addition to the 15%)
  • the timing of any additional pay rises

union member benefits

Better Pay and Conditions

Union members stand together for better pay and conditions, respect, and job security.

Australian workers who are union members earn on average $250 more every week.

Back up and Support at Work

When you face poor treatment – like unfair dismissal, safety issues or harassment at work it’s important to be union.

At worksites across the country UWU Delegates, leaders and Health and Safety Reps have your back.

Training, Community & Information

Members have access to exclusive training and development designed to support you at work.

Being union also gives you access to a community of workers and expert information when you need it.

Join a Movement that Wins

When you’re union, you’re part of a national movement with a long history for standing up for what is right.

If you want a fairer Australia, joining your union is the best way to make a difference.

Save with Union Shopper

As a United Workers Union member you’re entitled to a wide range of financial discounts and savings as part of the union member benefits program.

Offset your union dues by saving big on groceries, white goods, and travel.

aged care visa & pathway to permanent residency

Direct Care workers who are working in Aged Care are now eligible to be sponsored for a permanent resident visa to address workforce shortages in aged care. 

Only aged care employers who have negotiated with the union and have a Labour Agreement will be able to sponsor workers on to permanent residency.

Let's change aged care together!

TAKE ACTION

There are many ways we are taking action to change aged care! Find out now
ACTION

stay connected

Join our private Facebook Group for aged care workers from across Australia
COMMUNITY

GET IN TOUCH

Request a call from one of our friendly organisers who can help you answer your questions.

Aged Care Watch

Your Tool for Quality Care

Chronic understaffing and unattainable workloads in aged care continue to severely impact residents’ quality of care.

Aged Care Watch is UWU’s crowd-sourced online tracking tool that enables you to anonymously share 3 types of reports:

  • Understaffing – Report understaffing and its impacts
  • Story report – Share your experience of understaffing, workload or lack of care time
  • Nursing – Report nursing availability and ratios  

By adding a report you are increasing transparency and helping deliver a quality aged care system that treats workers and elderly Australians with the dignity they deserve.  

Join thousands of others and report understaffing and care time issues at your facility now. 

resources for workers

change aged care

Learn more about our campaign and plan to win.

FIX Home Care

Our campaign for Home Care workers.

Multilingual

Union information in हिंदी, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ, and Tagalog.

join the union for aged care workers

Standing united as thousands of Aged Care workers we can change our sector for the better! 

Our coverage

Western Australia
Personal Care Worker, Domestic Care Worker, Home Care Worker, Multi-Skill Carer, Care Partner, Assistant in Nursing (AIN), Enrolled Nurse (EN), Cleaner, Cook, Hospitality Worker, Laundry Worker, Gardener/Maintenance Worker, Disability Worker
South Australia
Personal Care Giver, Cleaner, Kitchen Worker, Maintenance Worker, Lifestyle Worker, Disability Worker, Home Care Worker
Queensland
Personal Carer, Domestic Care Worker, Home Care Worker, Assistant in Nursing (AIN), Activities Worker (Lifestyle, Exercise), Cook, Hospitality Worker, Cleaner, Laundry Worker, Gardener/Maintenance Worker, Scheduler
Northern Territory
Personal Care Worker (PCA, PCW), Lifestyle Coordinator, Lifestyle Assistance, Laundry Worker, Gardener, Kitchen Worker, Cook, Chef, Cleaner, Maintenance Worker, Disability Worker
New South Wales
Home Care Worker, Disability Worker (attached to home care providers)
Australian Capital Territory
Home Care Workers
Victoria, Tasmania
No Coverage
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Western Australia
Personal Care Worker, Domestic Care Worker, Home Care Worker, Multi-Skill Carer, Care Partner, Assistant in Nursing (AIN), Enrolled Nurse (EN), Cleaner, Cook, Hospitality Worker, Laundry Worker, Gardener/Maintenance Worker, Disability Worker
South Australia
Personal Care Giver, Cleaner, Kitchen Worker, Maintenance Worker, Lifestyle Worker, Disability Worker, Home Care Worker
Queensland
Personal Carer, Domestic Care Worker, Home Care Worker, Assistant in Nursing (AIN), Activities Worker (Lifestyle, Exercise), Cook, Hospitality Worker, Cleaner, Laundry Worker, Gardener/Maintenance Worker, Scheduler
Northern Territory
Personal Care Worker (PCA, PCW), Lifestyle Coordinator, Lifestyle Assistance, Laundry Worker, Gardener, Kitchen Worker, Cook, Chef, Cleaner, Maintenance Worker, Disability Worker
New South Wales
Home Care Worker, Disability Worker (attached to home care providers)
Australian Capital Territory
Home Care Workers
Victoria, Tasmania
No Coverage
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union faq's

Unions were started for workers, by workers to give them a stronger voice at work and in the community. Unions collectively bargain for better pay and conditions, provide representation at work, and engage in community and political campaigns that impact members’ lives. Joining the union is joining a collective, standing together for a better future.

 

United Workers Union (UWU) is the union for workers in Aged Care across a variety of roles including:

  • Care workers
  • Hospitality staff and cooks
  • Nursing Assistants
  • Laundry workers
  • Maintenance workers
  • Managers

Our coverage extends across:

  • Queensland
  • Western Australia
  • South Australia
  • Northern Territory

UWU is also the union for Home Care workers in NSW, Qld, WA, SA, NT and ACT.

If you’re unsure or have any questions, get in touch with us here.

If you used to be represented by United Voice – that’s us! United Voice merged with NUW to form UWU in 2019.

If you work in Aged Care in another state, you may be represented by another union like the HSU – find your union through the ACTU here

No. The Fair Work Act 2009 states that in Australia, everyone has the right to be a member of a union. Your employer cannot discriminate against you or prevent you from being a member, or from seeking help from your organiser or local union office.

In fact if your employer or manager is discouraging you from joining your union – that is the strongest indication that you need union protection. 

If you’re particularly worried about your situation, call our friendly Membership Services Team to discuss. 

Union membership fees change slightly based on where you work and what you’re paid – most membership fees are $13.75 a week. The join form will display the right fee grade once you enter your occupation information, before you submit your details.

 

Yes, union membership is 100% tax deductible!

 

When joining online you can select to pay either by credit/debit card, or via direct debit.

You can also select your payment frequency: weekly, fortnightly, or monthly, so you can align it with your pay cycle.

Unions are run to benefit their members, not for profit. Membership fees are used to provide services and advocate on behalf of members, like representation and legal support,  training and development opportunities, expert information, collectively bargain on behalf of workers, and run community/political campaigns to further our members interests (like our Change Aged Care campaign!).