Scope disability homes in Victoria face strikes over funding and pay disputes

Workers at Scope, the largest disability housing provider in Victoria, walked off the job at 35 homes on Friday, escalating protected industrial action and prompting a Health and Community Services Union rally at the company's Hawthorn headquarters. The dispute arises from the termination of a $2.1 billion state subsidy on Jan. 1, creating a funding gap that has already led to the shutdown of over 80 of the 549 SIL homes transferred to private operators.

While rivals Aruma, Melba and Life Without Barriers have negotiated new enterprise agreements to keep their homes open, Scope remains without a deal and has begun selling specialist vehicles and shifting taxi costs onto its 1,300 disabled residents. Union Victorian branch secretary Paul Healey accused Scope of endangering both workers and residents, urging federal and state governments to intervene. CEOs Melissa Webster of Melba and Dr Martin Laverty of Aruma said revised pay arrangements and potential SIL commissioning could help sustain services, but the sector faces broader challenges under the changing NDIS funding environment.