Care and support work through digital labour platforms is precarious work which represents a step backwards from progress towards ensuring this essential work is recognised as skilled, work is secure, and workers are paid fairly. Gig work in public care and support systems is undermining efforts to advance economic equality for women by distancing workers from employment standards, decent pay, training and progression opportunities and access to collective representation.

This report describes the unacceptable risks facing care and support workers engaged as independent contractors by gig platforms operating in Australia’s publicly-funded aged care and disability support systems. It also describes how the presence of gig care platforms threatens the viability of service providers that directly employ workers and undermines system quality and safety.