The IEU met with Aspect representatives on 4 March to discuss serious safety issues and unfair pay raised by IEU members employed as teacher aides.
Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia) is a large autism-specific services provider. It operates schools across NSW as well as employing staff to work in satellite classes attached to government and non-government schools.
The union’s survey of IEU members employed by Aspect revealed serious safety issues and concerns about unfair pay. More than 60 per cent of members who responded to the survey said they had been injured at work. Sixty-four per cent reported they had not been provided with paid time to write an incident report but had to complete it in their own time. Worryingly, 84 per cent said reporting an incident felt pointless because the employer fails to act.
The survey also found many members undertake higher duties without additional pay.
Aspect staff deserve fair pay
The survey was conducted in 2025 as part of the union’s campaign for fair pay and conditions, following an earlier survey of members in 2024.
Under the Independent Schools NSW (Professional and Operational Staff) Multi-Enterprise Agreement (MEA), Aspect teacher aides are paid about 14% less than their counterparts employed in NSW government schools and Catholic systemic schools. The annual full-time MEA rate for an Aspect teacher aide is more than $10,000 less than the full-time rate for their counterparts in Catholic systemic and government schools.
IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Carol Matthews in December outlined the union’s concerns about this pay disparity in a letter to Aspect.
Matthews said members had told the union it was “demoralising not to be paid fairly” and “Aspect do not value their staff or the work we do”.
“This pay disparity is particularly concerning considering Aspect teacher aides work in environments which are more demanding and require greater skill,” Matthews said.
Financial documents lodged with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission show Aspect recorded a surplus of $28 million in 2024 – and received $130 million in revenue from taxpayers.
Union calls for a pay rise
Matthews and IEU officers met with Aspect representatives on 4 March to discuss members’ concerns, including low pay rates. The union asked the employer for an interim pay rise before the new MEA begins in 2028. Matthews said staff should be paid for performing higher duties even when the period is less than a full day.
She also raised concerns that members are not paid for additional hours worked when covering higher duties during teacher absences, due to an Aspect policy requiring prior approval for extra hours.
“Teacher aides should be paid for all additional hours worked when they perform higher duties,” she said. “Additional hours required at short notice when a teacher aide is not acting up should also be paid.”
The union sought further information on measures to address work health and safety issues and underreporting of incidents. These matters will be pursued at a follow-up meeting in Term 2.
Membership means strength
Strong union membership means the union has greater bargaining power. The union urges staff in Aspect schools to join the union.
“It all starts with a solid membership base,” Matthews said.
“We aim to drive meaningful change through a strong grassroots campaign. We encourage everyone to join the union and get involved.”
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This article is from the IEU’s Newsmonth 2 publication.
Read about the union’s campaign to enforce new workforce transparency requirements in independent schools, which was a crucial win in the IEU’s 2024 ‘Now’s the Time’ campaign.
Celebrate the union’s win in the Fair Work Commission, which recommended the NSW government provide fair funding for pay rises in community preschools. Our preschool teacher members are taking their Start Strong Pay Fair campaign to the media, NSW MPs and the streets, with a rally and Day of Action in Sydney on 6 May.
The union is fighting for better pay and conditions for staff employed by Aspect, as a survey of IEU members reveals serious safety issues and low morale.
This edition is packed with great reads, including the NSW Anti-Bullying Framework and a well-deserved honour for union Elder Aunty Mary Atkinson.
You can read the full edition here or download a PDF to browse stories.