Communiqué No. 9 Project Next Steps – We aim to have the data analysed by the end of Salary Census 2012 Closed August, providing us with a clearer The Community Sector Salary Census 2012 is understanding of the financial impact on each now closed. We have received 178 responses, organisation. which is 85 per cent of organisations we The Steering Committee will be presented with anticipated the Equal Remuneration Order will a summary of the analysis in September, so affect. This is fantastic result. recommendations can be made to the Minister Thank you to all of the organisations who for Human Services and the Treasurer submitted a census response. We know that it regarding the increased funding for the 2012-13 was a lot of work for organisations to respond financial year. in such a short timeframe, and your efforts are During September, the DHHS project staff will greatly appreciated. also be using the analysis to develop a briefing Data analysis phase paper about the anticipated financial impact of the Equal Remuneration Order over the Now that the responses are in we are onto the remaining eight years. This will be a parallel analysis phase of the project. A small team of activity with the Grants Management Unit DHHS staff has started analysing the data finalising the mechanism that will be used to received and benchmarking services to work distribute the funding increases. out if any organisations require their responses to be audited. Ongoing communications If your organisation’s response is completely The project team will continue to provide outside the standard response or do not make updates on the process throughout August and sense, there are two courses of action we may September. They will not be as frequent as they take. The first would be simply asking the have been for the Salary Census, but organisation to explain or clarify the response communications will continue as required. in question. The aim is to provide organisations that Where more than a simple clarification completed a Salary Census, and employ SACS required we will audit the organisation involved. staff under the SCHADS Modern Award, with This will involve going through the census advice on their 2012-13 funding increase by late response with the organisation, to allow us to October. understand why they fall outside the Lastly, on behalf of the Steering Committee and benchmark. We do not see this as being an DHHS project staff, I would like to take this onerous or lengthy process. opportunity to express my gratitude for the Developing the allocation process positive way that the community sector has approached the Salary Census task.
Communiqué No. 9 – Project Next Steps Salary Census 2012 Closed The Community Sector Salary Census 2012 is now closed. We have received 178 responses, which is 85 per cent of organisations we anticipated the Equal Remuneration Order will affect. This is fantastic result. Thank you to all of the organisations who submitted a census response. We know that it was a lot of work for organisations to respond in such a short timeframe, and your efforts are greatly appreciated. Data analysis phase Now that the responses are in we are onto the analysis phase of the project. A small team of DHHS staff has started analysing the data received and benchmarking services to work out if any organisations require their responses to be audited. If your organisation’s response is completely outside the standard response or do not make sense, there are two courses of action we may take. The first would be simply asking the organisation to explain or clarify the response in question. Where more than a simple clarification required we will audit the organisation involved. This will involve going through the census response with the organisation, to allow us to understand why they fall outside the benchmark. We do not see this as being an onerous or lengthy process. Developing the allocation process We aim to have the data analysed by the end of August, providing us with a clearer understanding of the financial impact on each organisation. The Steering Committee will be presented with a summary of the analysis in September, so recommendations can be made to the Minister for Human Services and the Treasurer regarding the increased funding for the 2012-13 financial year. During September, the DHHS project staff will also be using the analysis to develop a briefing paper about the anticipated financial impact of the Equal Remuneration Order over the remaining eight years. This will be a parallel activity with the Grants Management Unit finalising the mechanism that will be used to distribute the funding increases. Ongoing communications The project team will continue to provide updates on the process throughout August and September. They will not be as frequent as they have been for the Salary Census, but communications will continue as required. The aim is to provide organisations that completed a Salary Census, and employ SACS staff under the SCHADS Modern Award, with advice on their 2012-13 funding increase by late October. Lastly, on behalf of the Steering Committee and DHHS project staff, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the positive way that the community sector has approached the Salary Census task.
Communique_9_to_the_Sector_-_v1_-_20120815.docx