About the pay equity settlement for mental health and addiction workers
The settlement delivers a new pay scale that reflects workers’ qualifications and experience.
Pātiki and Waharua Kōpito patterns
On this page
Summary
In June 2018 the Government announced the extension of the Care and Support Workers Pay Equity Settlement to New Zealand’s estimated 5,000 mental health and addiction support workers.
In an agreement with unions and employers, the Government has agreed to extend the Care and Support Workers (Pay Equity) Settlement Act to include mental health and addiction support workers. This Settlement Agreement was signed by all parties to the settlement at Parliament on 25 July 2018.
The settlement delivers a new pay scale that reflects workers’ qualifications and experience.
Nearly half will get an increase of more than $3 per hour which means that full-time workers will be paid approximately an extra $120 a week before tax.
A further 20 percent will get an increase of more than $5 per hour or around an extra $200 for a 40-hour week.
The $173.5 million settlement extension will be implemented over a five-year term and funded through an increase to Vote Health.
As well as increasing the wages of workers, making a real difference to their lives, the settlement improves access to training and supports reduced turnover in the sector, meaning better care for some of the most vulnerable New Zealanders.
Pay Equity Assessed Qualifications
For information about Pay Equity Assessed Qualifications, contact Te Whatu Ora on 0800 855 066 or email customerservice@health.govt.nz.
For further information
If you're an employee:
- contact your employer in the first instance.
- if your issue remains unresolved you can contact your union or someone who can give you advice and represent you if needed.
- PSA: phone 0508 367 722 or email enquiries@psa.org.nz
- E tū: phone 0800 186 466 or email support@etu.nz
- you can also contact:
- your local Citizens Advice Bureau
- Employment New Zealand: phone 0800 209 020
If you're a provider
- you can call Platform Trust (whether or not you are a member) for advice:
- phone 04 385 0385
- email support@platform.org.nz
- find out about Pay equity and qualifications.
Documents
-
Citizen's Advice Bureau (goes to another website)
We provide free, confidential, independent information and advice to anyone. We help people know what their rights are and how to access services they need. -
Employment New Zealand (goes to another website)
-
Etū (goes to another website)
Empowering working people and our communities for a better life -
Platform (goes to another website)
We champion the mental health and addiction community sector in Aotearoa New Zealand -
PSA (goes to another website)
Our purpose is to build a union able to influence the political, economic, industrial and social environments in the interests of the membership of the PSA.