Tautika utu me te tahua tōkeke | Pay equity and fair funding

Community and Iwi Social Workers Pay Equity Settlement

Updated April 2024- this information here is sourced from Te Kawa Mataaho - Public Service Commission and Te Pai Ora Social Service Providers Aotearoa (SSPA) websites

In November 2022 Cabinet approved funding to extend pay equity to all social workers and employees undertaking social work in community and iwi organisations.

ANZASW is not a party to pay equity settlements, however, we strongly support efforts by our partners at SSPA and PSA who are closely involved and congratulate them on this momentous achievement.

This webpage is intended to provide some answers to some of the common questions we routinely receive about pay equity.

For more detailed information about the settlement extension, pay gaps and pay equity, head to the links below:

Guidance on the new pay spine for social work in community and iwi organisations

Who is covered by the social work pay equity extension?

Te utu ōrite me ngā āputa | Pay gaps and pay equity

Where is the community and iwi pay equity settlement at?

As of early 2024, government funding agencies are still varying contracts with providers/employers to deliver this additional funding. This process takes considerable time and negotiation. New pay rates came into effect from 1 July 2023, and rates of pay will be backdated.

Alongside increased pay rates, the extension also provides some funding for professional support which includes:

Professional development
Professional cultural supervision
Professional supervision
Professional membership fees
Practicing certificates

Any provider who received funding for professional support is required to pass this on to employees and will be audited on this.

We are aware that several providers did not include professional supports as part of their assessment responses and have consequently not received this funding to pass to employees. This funding shortfall will need to be worked out between a provider and their funder going forward. SSPA is actively working with funders around this.

Why has my role not been included?

The pay equity settlement applies only to those who are undertaking social work.

The ‘litmus test’ is: if your position became vacant, would it be advertised as a role which requires a registered social worker?

This means that some job roles which can be filled by a number of different professions, or whose main task is not exclusively social work, may fall outside the scope of this settlement.

I’m concerned I’m not getting a fair deal - can ANZASW help advocate for me or my organisation?

ANZASW is not a party to this pay equity claim, and we do not provide legal employment support. Therefore, we are very limited as to what assistance we can provide members during negotiations around eligibility, pay scale or professional support funding.

For organisations who need support with funders, we suggest you contact your relevant contract manager in the first instance, then Te Pai Ora Social Service Providers Aotearoa

For individuals who need advice about pay scale and professional support funding disputes, contact the PSA.

Information about the new pay scales and how they work have been published by Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission and are available above.

I’m not included, what can I do?

Although a huge achievement for many social workers, the process has uncovered some remaining gaps for social workers who have yet to achieve pay equity. Examples are social work educators, and social workers within high-school guidance departments.

We will continue to advocate generally for pay parity for these groups consistent with the existing settlements.

Some social workers are employed by organisations which are funded through non-government streams and are subsequently not covered by this settlement. It is our hope that this settlement works towards setting an industry standard for pay rates, which non-government-funded employers may need to offer to recruit and retain social workers in their organisations.

If you are part of a union, you can request a pay equity claim under the Equal Pay Act 1972 to be raised to your employer on behalf of a group of employees.

Equally, an individual employee can raise and settle a claim with an employer on their own.

The processes involved are lengthy and legal, claims must meet certain conditions before they are raised. Therefore, we would recommend anyone considering raising a pay equity claim to consult their union or seek legal counsel.

Te Whatu Ora Social Workers - Allied Health Pay Equity Claim

Te Whatu Ora Social Workers had their pay equity claim settled in October 2023. New salary scales and associated terms and conditions of employment will now be included in the Allied, Public Health, Scientific and Technical MECA.

The PSA has been leading this process, which only applies to social workers employed directly by Te Whatu Ora.

Information, including the settlement document itself for Allied, Scientific and Technical staff (the category which includes social work) can be found on the Te Whatu Ora Pay Equity website.

If you are a Te Whatu Ora Social Worker and need advice around this claim, contact the PSA or APEX.