There is mixed but mainly positive news on the Price Indexation negotiations currently taking place between the Combined State Peaks Network and the Department of Human Services. Allen’s Consulting Group had been engaged to undertake research and analysis that would ultimately support a claim for a higher rate of indexation to apply for the next three year funding agreement.

Thank you to the many members who completed the survey being conducted by Allen Consulting Group regarding the scope for making efficiency gains in our business.  The results of the survey which is being administerd across the whole of the community services sector is expected to become available by mid-December.

Minister Lisa Neville committed some funding to resource this work with Allen Consulting Gorup and other research to support our case to the Department and then ultimately Treasury and Finance.

In other news, while it appears that the exceptional events clause will activate to fund increases recently handed down by the Fair Pay Commission, our application to the Department to fund the difference between current CPI and agreed indexation in the current three year agreement has been unsuccessful. We will be examining further options with regard to this request.