Funding Update Queensland Working Women's Service (QWWS)
- QWWS and four other National Working Women’s Centres were funded under the Keating Government in 1994 to address women’s relative disadvantage in the workplace. The Queensland State Government has also funded QWWS since 1995.
- QWWS provides information, advice and support to vulnerable women and focus service provision on the most vulnerable women such as Indigenous, CALD and young women. QWWS provides information to women on the benefits of union membership and refers women to their relevant union.
- QWWS provides assistance to women who are not able to gain support from any other source i.e. non-union members, low income women, women with language barriers. The centre has provided assistance to thousands of women to resolve their issues at work diplomatically and amicably so that they can get on with their job and support their families. QWWS has also assisted women in accessing formal complaints processes in forums such as Anti Discrimination Commissions and the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
- The centre provides community education on a range of topics such as basic rights, discrimination, workplace bullying and family friendly workplace practices. It also has a sound track record of contributing to research and projects that enhance women's status in their workplaces – eg paid maternity leave, workplace bullying, outwork, the impact of legislative changes on women, and has given a voice to vulnerable women at high policy levels, where their voices are not always heard.
- QWWS received annual funding of approx $198,000 from the federal Office of Workplace Services (DEWR) from1994, but in mid 2006, the Howard Government refused to fund QWWS (and the National WWC’s) to continue their previous and vital functions and offered funding only to operate as a Workchoices information outlets. Queensland, and Tasmania refused to accept this funding and the Tasmanian Centre closed while Queensland remained state funded.
- The 3 remaining Working Women’s Centres campaigned during early 2008 to have previous (pre-2006) federal funding arrangements reinstated. However only South Australia and Northern Territory (who accepted previous Howard Workchoices funding) have been funded.
- QWWS has a current contract with the Qld Government but has a $50,000 funding deficit for the coming financial year and is seeking supplementary funding from DEEWR.
We the undersigned are aware of the work of the Queensland Working Women’s Service and believe the service should be supported by the Rudd Government in 2008 to continue it’s work assisting working women and promoting their status in the workplace.
Total Signatures to Date = 200