key info for uwu members at
AUSTRALIAN UNITY
Your enterprise bargaining agreement
Your Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) is your key to understanding your workplace entitlements.
It outlines the terms that protect you at work, including pay rates, leave entitlements, hours of work, and more.
By reading and knowing your EBA, you empower yourself to ensure you’re receiving everything you’re entitled to.
Whether it’s understanding overtime, penalty rates, or workplace conditions, your EBA is your guide to fairness on the job.
Your united workers union delegates
At Australian Unity, you have many member leaders by your side, who have a strong voice in negotiations.
Teresa Crouch Hetherington
I’m Teresa Hetherington, an aged care delegate and digital organiser based in Newcastle (with my trusty sidekick, Tigger).
As one of the last remaining Power Rangers, I joined our union nearly 22 years ago, right at the start of my career. In my first week on the job, I witnessed a devastating incident when my trainer was injured at work. I watched her struggle through workers’ compensation, only to be discarded without any support. That experience ignited a fire in me to stand up for others.
At my first opportunity, I became a delegate, driven by a passion for educating others to advocate for themselves. Thanks to the United Workers Union, I was given the tools and the platform to grow in this role.
Today, I serve as part of the admin team for our online spaces—especially my passion project, “It’s Time to Care”—and helped create and run UnionSmart. I’ve had the privilege of being part of many campaigns, working alongside incredible union members across the country.
Being a care worker is my calling. Every day, I support my clients as they navigate their lives, and I also get to support my fellow care workers across Australia as they do the same. It’s both humbling and inspiring, and I am so proud to be Union.
Margaret Hunt
My name is Margaret, I became a care worker years ago to make a difference—not just in the lives of my clients, but also in the lives of my fellow carers in the industry.
From the start, I knew that being part of a union was essential to achieving this, so I joined United Voice soon after beginning my role, as I’ve always been a union member throughout my working life.
The natural next step for me was to become a delegate, taking a more active role in fighting for fair treatment across the aged care sector. I’ve now been a delegate for around 5 years, working alongside a dedicated team to push for improvements at Australian Unity and in the broader aged care industry. My journey as a delegate began in the midst of COVID-19, when I was thrust into the media spotlight, participating in interviews with ABC and Channel 9.
As frontline workers, we faced the challenge of continuing to provide care for our clients during lockdowns while ensuring our own health and safety were prioritized.
Home care workers often work in isolation, making it difficult to connect, raise concerns, or simply check in. In my role as a Care Worker Coach, I’ve taken it upon myself to engage with more staff, educating them about the union and our campaigns, and encouraging them to join the United Workers Union. I also provide a safe space for them to talk and share their experiences.
Michael Gilray
Hi I am Michael, my involvement with the union movement began in my childhood. I attended strikes with my father for better pay and conditions, and I stood alongside him in marches against the Vietnam War, holding placards at a young age.
At 14, I joined my first union, the Shop, Distribution and Allied Employees Association. After completing my HSC, I became a delegate aboard ships with what is now the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA). Following my time at sea, I earned a degree in Early Childhood and joined the Independent Education Union (IEU), where I was a member for 25 years and served as a state council member for 15.
This journey eventually led me to the mighty United Workers Union (UWU).
My connection to the aged care union began about 12 years ago when I met Teresa, who was working as a Member Organiser with United Voice (now UWU), and together we participated in rallies advocating for better pay and conditions.
Since that meeting, I have remained a dedicated union member, serving as a delegate, member organiser, digital leader, and activist. I became a delegate and digital leader around 7 years ago. As a home care worker, it can be challenging to connect with colleagues, as we are spread across the country and internationally.
This is why the digital space has become so vital. We’ve found innovative ways to bring members together online through forums like Facebook, ensuring that workers remain connected and our collective voice is strong.
faq's FOR NEW STARTERS
A copy (digital or paper) of your contract, availability (once agreed) and your Award/EBA should be provided to you upon employment. Keep this for your records
casual workers: 1hr.
Employed under 1 year: 1 week.
Employed 2 years: 2 weeks.
Between 3-6 months, depending on your qualifications and experience.
Make your request in writing, extra training and supports are available if needed at any time .
No, once agreed your availability stays in place until you agree to change it. You cannot be forced to work outside of it.
Yes. Make your request (provide a reason) in writing and ask for a written response within 3 working days. If ignored or refused escalate it.
You can only refuse work under specific circumstances (outside availability, contract hrs are met, etc). A ‘Work Refused’ order may be placed on you otherwise, which prevents you accessing top-up pay if you are under your contract hrs for the pay period.
You can check the availability clause 5.2 in the EBA which outlines how much availability is required for your contracted hours. Your EBA can be found at the top of the page for easy download.
How does australian unity compare to other employers?
Did you know that home care workers at Australian Unity receive the most above award entitlements and higher rates of pay in the sector?
That didn’t happen by chance.
That’s a direct result of the high union membership density at Australian Unity!
You get to enjoy a range of entitlements workers at other Home Care employers like Baptistcare and St. Lukes with lower union membership miss out on.
Union members have stuck together over decades to win better working conditions in home care. And where union membership is stronger, there are better results!
By being a union member you’re helping to protect and win things like travel time, penalty rates, km allowances and more.
See how Australian Unity compares to other workplaces, take a look at Australian Unity’s comparison document.