February 8th, 2023Sick pay, carer pay help for casual and contract workers

Local casual and contract workers are expected to benefit from a new Victorian Government partnership with Neighbourhood Houses Victoria, affording them access to sick and carer’s pay.
Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas, last week announced that the Woodend
Neighbourhood House will provide free assistance to help community members sign up for
the Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee.

The Woodend Neighbourhood House is one of up to 100 neighbourhood houses around the
state ready to help eligible casual and contract workers sign up for sick and carer’s pay.
Participating neighbourhood houses and community centres can provide access to in-
language support, computers and the internet, and help workers understand and sign up to
the scheme.
Eligible casual and contract workers can sign up for 38 hours a year of sick and carer’s pay
with direct support from a participating neighbourhood house. This community-based
approach will make the Sick Pay Guarantee more accessible for local workers who may
face technology or language barriers.
More than 55,000 workers have already signed up to the nation-leading initiative.

The $245.7 million two-year pilot is fully funded by the Victorian Government until March next year.

Eligible workers include casual and contract retail assistants, hospitality workers, aged and
disability care workers, supermarket workers, supermarket supply chain workers, cleaners,
laundry workers, security guards, food trades workers and food preparation assistants such
as cooks, bakers, fast food workers, and kitchen hands.

Casual and self-employed contract workers who want to check their eligibility and sign up are
encouraged to contact the Woodend Neighbourhood House, visit www.nhvic.org.au or sign
up at vic.gov.au/sickpayguarantee.

Eligible workers can apply for sick and carer’s pay from the day they sign up.

Information is available in 19 languages on the Sick Pay Guarantee website. To speak to an
interpreter, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask for the Victorian
Sick Pay Guarantee hotline.

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas MP: “We’re making it easier for casual and contract workers to access sick and carer’s pay. I encourage all eligible workers to sign up today, whether it’s online or through our local Woodend Neighbourhood House”