The 2022 WP Survey explored the employment conditions of family violence and sexual assault specialists, including questions about type of employment, hours of work, preference for work hours, annual salary range and responsibilities at work.
Job title
The survey invited respondents to nominate their job title in open text. The responses to this question provided an opportunity to explore the nominated occupation of respondents.
The 5 most common job titles were Counsellor Advocate, Specialist Family Violence Practitioner, Team Leader, Family Violence Case Manager and Child Wellbeing Practitioner (Table 6), noting that the large majority of respondents (77%) reported a job title that was relatively less common or entirely unique amongst survey respondents.
Table 6: What is your job title in your main role? – Top five responses
| Count | Percentage | |
| Counsellor Advocate | 79 | 8% |
| Specialist Family Violence Practitioner | 58 | 6% |
| Team Leader | 49 | 5% |
| Family Violence Case Manager | 32 | 3% |
| Child Wellbeing Practitioner | 22 | 2% |
| Other | 739 | 77% |
| Grand total | 1,033 | |
| Skipped/missing question | 16 |
Source. Question 5, WP Survey 2022 [12]
Primary responsibility
The survey asked about the job responsibilities and kinds of work performed by family violence and sexual assault specialists, including their primary responsibility. From those who responded, the most common primary responsibility was case worker and / or case management which was nominated by 17% (181 persons) (Table 7). In addition, 14% (146 persons) identified their primary job responsibility as TOD practitioner, 12% (122 persons) as team leader / supervisor, 9% (99 persons) as manager, 9% (94 persons) as counsellor advocate and 9% (89 persons) as working in intake and assessment.
Table 7: Which of the following categories best describes your primary responsibility?
| Count | Percentage | |
| Case worker and/or case management | 181 | 17% |
| The Orange Door practititoner | 146 | 14% |
| Team leader/supervisor | 122 | 12% |
| Manager | 99 | 9% |
| Counsellor advocate | 94 | 9% |
| Intake and assessment | 89 | 9% |
| Individual counselling and/or therapeutic support | 74 | 7% |
| Practice leadership and/or capacity building | 65 | 6% |
| Support worker | 44 | 4% |
| Other | 131 | 12% |
| Prefer not to say | <5 | <1% |
| Grand total | 1,047 | |
| Skipped/missing question | 2 |
Source. Question 6, 7 and 8, WP Survey 2022
A higher proportion of people working in regions identified their primary job responsibility as a case worker or an Orange Door practitioner. A total of 43% of workers delivering services to the regions were either a case worker or Orange Door practitioner, compared to 34% of workers delivering services into metropolitan Melbourne.
Larger proportions of young people (under 35) were employed in client-facing roles. 24% of the workforce under 35 identified as case workers, compared to 17% of those 35 and over. 26% of the workforce under 35 identified as an Orange Door practitioner compared to 12% 35 and over.
Secondary responsibilities
Respondents were also invited to nominate a secondary responsibility, including potentially multiple secondary responsibilities. 95% (960 persons) of those who identified a primary responsibility also identified at least one secondary responsibility. The 3 most common secondary responsibilities were intake and assessment (358 mentions), crisis or initial crisis response (265 mentions) and case worker and / or case management (185 mentions) (Table 8).
Table 8: Which of the following categories describes any other responsibilities you might have?
| Count | |
| Intake and assessment | 358 |
| Crisis and initial crisis response | 265 |
| Case worker and/or case management | 185 |
| Individual counselling and/or therapeutic support | 108 |
| The Orange Door practitioner | 102 |
| Practice leadership and/or capacity building | 101 |
| Team leader/supervisor | 96 |
| Support worker | 94 |
| I don't have any other responsibilities | 87 |
| Other | 425 |
| Prefer not to say | 5 |
Source. Question 6A, 7A and 8A, WP Survey 2022
Type of employment
From those who responded to the survey, the vast majority were employed on an ongoing basis with 84% (875 persons) in secure employment (Table 9). Half (517 persons) were employed ongoing and full time and 34% (358 persons) were employed ongoing part time. For those with less secure employment, 14% were employed on a fixed-term basis (144 persons) and only 2% (19 persons) were employed on a casual or sessional basis.
Combining ongoing and fixed term employees, 57% were employed on a full time basis (590 persons) and 41% were employed on a part time basis (429 persons).
Table 9: In relation to your main role, on what basis are you employed?
| Count | Percentage | |
| Ongoing full time | 517 | 50% |
| Ongoing part time | 358 | 34% |
| Fixed-term full time | 73 | 7% |
| Fixed-term part time | 71 | 7% |
| Casual or sessional | 19 | 2% |
| Other (Please specify) | 6 | <1% |
| Grand total | 1,044 | |
| Missing/skipped question | 5 |
Source. Question 9, WP Survey 2022
A greater proportion of people working in the regions were employed on a secure basis. 87% were employed ongoing full time or part time, compared with 82% in metropolitan Melbourne.
Young people (under 35) enjoyed job security at the same level as older workers (35 years and over), with 84% of those under 35 employed ongoing (full time or part time), the same as those 35 and over.
Organisation size also appeared to have little relation to whether respondents were employed on a secure or insecure basis. 81% of those working in other organisations were employed ongoing either full time or part time, the same as those employed in larger organisations.
Hours employed, worked and preferred
46% (474 persons) of those who responded to the survey stated that they were employed full time between 35-38 hours. A further 34% (347 persons) stated they were employed between 20-34 hours and 5% (56 persons) were employed between 1-19 hours (Table 10).
In comparison, 28% (272 persons) stated they worked between 35-38 hours, 21% (198 persons) stated they worked 39-44 hours and 9% (91 persons) stated they worked between 45-59 hours. Almost half (445 persons) stating they would prefer to work part time, between 20-34 hours, with 34% stating they would prefer to work 35-38 hours.
Table 10: In your main role, in an ordinary working week, how many hours: were you employed; did you work; and would you prefer to work (including unpaid)?
| Hours | Employed | Percentage | Worked | Percentage | Preferred | Percentage |
| 0 | <5 | <1% | 17 | 2% | 8 | <1% |
| 1 to 19 | 56 | 5% | 74 | 8% | 49 | 5% |
| 20 to 34 | 361 | 35% | 261 | 27% | 452 | 48% |
| 35 to 38 | 460 | 45% | 268 | 28% | 313 | 33% |
| 39 to 44 | 89 | 9% | 198 | 21% | 69 | 7% |
| 45 to 59 | <5 | <1% | 91 | 9% | 7 | <1% |
| 60+ | 54 | 5% | 50 | 5% | 52 | 5% |
| Other | <5 | <1% | 6 | <1% | <5 | <1% |
| Grand total | 1,031 | 965 | 951 | |||
| Missing/skipped question | 18 | 84 | 98 |
Source. Question 10, WP Survey 2022
For respondents who worked full time (ongoing or fixed-term), nearly half worked 39 hours or more per week (49%), with 29% working 39-44 hours per week and more than 1 in 5 (21%) working more than 45 hours per week (Table 11). In comparison, 74% of respondents indicated they would prefer to work 38 hours or less per week, with almost one quarter (24%) indicating they would prefer to work between 20 and 34 hours.
Table 11: In your main role, in an ordinary working week, how many hours: were you employed; did you work; and would you prefer to work (including unpaid)? (full time only)
| Hours | Employed | Percentage | Worked | Percentage | Preferred | Percentage |
| 0 | <5 | <1% | 10 | 2% | <5 | <1% |
| 1 to 19 | 9 | 2% | 20 | 3% | 10 | 2% |
| 20 to 34 | 14 | 2% | 12 | 2% | 143 | 24% |
| 35 to 38 | 433 | 73% | 206 | 35% | 280 | 47% |
| 39 to 44 | 84 | 14% | 172 | 29% | 60 | 10% |
| 45 to 59 | <5 | <1% | 81 | 14% | <5 | <1% |
| 60+ | 36 | 6% | 38 | 6% | 37 | 6% |
| Other | <5 | <1% | 5 | <1% | <5 | <1% |
| Total | 590 | 590 | 590 | |||
| Missing/skipped question | 11 | 46 | 53 |
Source. Question 10, WP Survey 2022
Salary range
The annual (individual) salary income band with the largest number of responses was $81,000-90,000 with 23% (238 persons), followed by 20% (204 persons) stating $91,000-100,000 and 13% stating $71,000-80,000 (Table 12). The median total annual (individual) salary was $81,000-90,000 with the majority (61%) of respondents having a total annual (individual) salary (before tax) above $81,000.
Table 12: In your main role, what is your total annual (individual) salary (before tax)?
| Count | Percentage | |
| Less than $30k | 17 | 2% |
| $30k to $40k | 25 | 2% |
| $41k to $50k | 44 | 4% |
| $51k to $60k | 60 | 6% |
| $61k to $70k | 86 | 8% |
| $71k to $80k | 139 | 13% |
| $81k to $90k | 238 | 23% |
| $91k to $100k | 204 | 20% |
| $101k to $110k | 116 | 11% |
| $111k to $120k | 31 | 3% |
| $121k to $130k | 19 | 2% |
| $131k to $140k | 12 | 1% |
| $141k to $150k | 8 | <1% |
| More than $150k | <5 | <1% |
| Prefer not to say | 40 | 4% |
| Grand total | 1,042 | |
| Missing/skipped question | 7 |
Source. Question 11, WP Survey 2022
The median income band was $81,000-$90,000. This was irrespective of whether survey respondents delivered services into metropolitan Melbourne or regional Victoria, were young or old, or were employed on a secure or insecure basis.
When focussing only on those working full time (ongoing or fixed term), the largest number of responses was $81,000-90,000 with 28% (163 persons) (Table 13). However, the median total annual (individual) salary (before tax) was higher at $91,000-100,000 for those working full time.
Table 13: In your main role, what is your total annual (individual) salary (before tax)? (full time only)
| Count | Percentage | |
| Less than $30k | <5 | <1% |
| $30k to $40k | <5 | <1% |
| $41k to $50k | <5 | <1% |
| $51k to $60k | 6 | <1% |
| $61k to $70k | 26 | 4% |
| $71k to $80k | 48 | 8% |
| $81k to $90k | 163 | 28% |
| $91k to $100k | 160 | 27% |
| $101k to $110k | 102 | 17% |
| $111k to $120k | 26 | 4% |
| $121k to $130k | 15 | 3% |
| $131k to $140k | 10 | 2% |
| $141k to $150k | 8 | <1% |
| More than $160k | <5 | <1% |
| Prefer not to say | 13 | 2% |
| Total | 587 |
Source. Question 11, WP Survey 2022
Notes
[12] Inside the ‘other’ category, many job titles were reported a small number of times, including 333 unique job titles reported only once each. This suggests the sector adopts a wide range of job titles across different organisations. This also indicates that the primary responsibilities of staff may not always match their formal job title.
Updated