Two workplace relations systems operate in WA: the Western Australian State workplace relations system and the national workplace relations system. The Social and Community Services (Western Australia) Interim Award 2011 came into effect in 2011 to provide award coverage for organisations in WA in the Social and Community Services Industry that were no longer covered by the awards under the national workplace relations system.

The separate systems meant not all WA service providers were eligible to receive the wage increases handed down by Fair Work Commission, and had not previously been offered Commonwealth SACS supplementation to assist them in meeting the higher wage costs. Therefore, the WA Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC) decision on 29 August 2013 to increase wages for workers employed under the Social and Community Services (Western Australia) Interim Award 2011 and Crisis Assistance and Supported Housing Industry – WA Interim Award 2010 mirrors the wage increases of employees in the national workplace relations system.

Hence, like the SCHCADS award, there are two increases each year for these awards, the State Wage increase in July and the ERO in December.