Drawing on member feedback, this submission focuses on ensuring classification and progression arrangements accurately reflect the nature of work in community-based mental health and psychosocial services.
QAMH emphasises that classification should be determined by the capability, complexity and responsibility of roles, not solely by formal qualifications. Members strongly supported recognising equivalency of skills, knowledge, and experience, including lived and living experience. This reflects the relational, practice-based and context-specific nature of community mental health work.
Members also highlighted the importance of progression frameworks that accommodate non-linear and part-time career pathways. While views differed on some unresolved matters, there was consistent caution against rigid qualification or progression requirements that may disadvantage capable workers or misrepresent the work performed.
QAMH further emphasised that no worker should be worse off because of the reforms, and that any Award changes must be supported by increased government funding to ensure fair outcomes and the ongoing viability of community-based mental health services delivered by non-government organisations.
