World Vision Australia signs Enforceable Undertaking

16 JULY 2024

On 6 December 2019, World Vision Australia (World Vision) notified the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) of its belief that the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (Award) applied to a number of its current and past employees, and that it had potentially not complied with all aspects of the Award in respect of those persons. 

World Vision undertook a review of its payroll systems and processes and determined that it contravened the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (Act) by failing to identify that the Award applied to some of its employees, and thereby underpaid those employees by failing to comply with its obligations under the Award.

World Vision has now entered into an Enforceable Undertaking with the FWO to ensure its ongoing compliance with the Award and Act.World Vision will, as a result of the Enforceable Undertaking, commit to undertake a number of activities to ensure its ongoing compliance, including an additional independent audit.

World Vision expresses its sincerest regret and apologises for these contraventions. 

If you worked for World Vision during the period 1 January 2013 and 1 January 2020 and have queries or questions relating to your employment, please contact World Vision directly through their non-confidential enquiry line on 03 8797 2710 or awardqueries@worldvision.com.au.

Alternatively, anyone can contact the FWO via www.fairwork.gov.au or on 13 13 94.

An update from Nathan Callaghan, Chief People and Culture, World Vision Australia

28 FEBRUARY 2020

In December we let you know that World Vision Australia had engaged with the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) about the application of the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS) to the organisation’s workforce. I am writing to update you on how this remediation plan is tracking.

Since December the team has been working to implement SCHADS at World Vision Australia and ensure all affected employees receive what they are due.

I am pleased to report that we have now reached the first of three major milestones in this process and, coinciding with the implementation of the new time and attendance system on 22 February, the SCHADS pay rules are now being applied to our casual workforce. For some, this may mean an increase in pay, for others who are already paid at least the SCHADS rate there will not be any change.

The casual cohort was the most likely to be affected by the SCHADS Award and has, accordingly, been our first priority. Attention will now move to confirming compliance with SCHADS across the rest of the organisation. We are aiming to assess and confirm compliance with all full time and part time employees in March.  

The team will then focus on addressing any backpay for current and former impacted staff. I anticipate this process will start in April and is something we will continue to engage with the FWO about. 

I again thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to apply SCHADS to World Vision Australia’s incredible workforce as quickly as possible.

People are at the heart of World Vision and it is my priority, and that of Claire and the leadership group, to ensure that all members of the World Vision team are supported and appropriately rewarded in their roles.  

Please see below for some FAQs to help you understand how this may affect you or your colleagues, as well as former employees of World Vision Australia. I encourage you to take the time to read these.

Additionally, please direct any enquiries directly to the People & Culture team at peoplesupport@worldvision.com.au

Thank you again for your support.

Regards

Nathan Callaghan
Chief People and Culture
World Vision Australia

World Vision Australia people update

11 DECEMBER 2019

World Vision Australia has voluntarily disclosed inconsistencies in its application of appropriate Awards applying to some of our employees and is working with the Fair Work Ombudsman on developing a remediation plan.

As a result of a review of World Vision Australia’s current arrangements, it became apparent our employees are covered under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award and the terms and conditions contained within it.

We believe that a limited number of roles have been affected, resulting in the underpayment of some employees. While World Vision Australia cannot confirm an exact number at this stage, it is estimated to date to be about 45 current full-time and part-time employees. The issue also affects most of our casual employees. We are also calculating what this means for some past employees.

While the error was inadvertent, we apologise unreservedly to the employees affected and are acting quickly to resolve the issue.

“Our people are at the heart of World Vision and are critical to our mission of helping the world’s most vulnerable children,” said World Vision Australia CEO, Claire Rogers. “It is our priority to ensure our employees are respected, supported and appropriately rewarded in their roles.”

Until the Fair Work Ombudsman has assessed this issue, World Vision Australia is unable to determine either the exact number of employees affected, or the amount of any underpayment.

Our focus is now on working with the Fair Work Ombudsman to achieve a thorough and swift resolution to ensure affected employees receive what they are due.

We anticipate a resolution of the issue within the next few months.