ACOSS calls for participants in survey, WACOSS recruiting, new research from VCOSS and NCOSS

ACOSS is calling on the sector to take part in the 2022 Australian Community Sector Survey to help us advocate for the future of the sector, the people it supports, and its staff. It is more important than ever before for the community sector to provide rich and accurate data about how our vital organisations, and the people with whom we work, are coping. A new government presents us with an exciting opportunity to come together and call for permanent change. We need to hear from workers and leaders across the sector so we can take your stories and experiences straight to Government. The Australian Community Sector Survey insights will assist us to advocate for the sector. Click here to take part today.

WACOSS is currently recruiting for a Training Specialist for the WA Digital Inclusion Project who will coordinate the development and delivery of the ‘train the trainer’ program to 1,500 frontline community service workers and provide ongoing support with ability-focused initiatives on the project. The project is a three-year Lotterywest-funded collaboration of 26 partners, including community service organisations and digital partner NBN Co.

SACOSS’ upcoming conference Alternative Futures: Ending Poverty will address the big topic of what we can do to achieve a future without poverty. To be held at the Adelaide Convention centre on 18 November, it will bring together a range of speakers for informative and inspiring sessions. Topics include housing affordability, privatisation, digital inclusion, and the Uluru Statement, as well as public attitudes about poverty, and busting myths about government support.

Joint VCOSS-ECCV research paper is drawn from the insights and experiences of the Multicultural Emergency Management Partnership (MEMP). It highlights the critical importance of strong connections and engagement between multicultural communities, government and the emergency management sector, and makes recommendations to enhance how this occurs. Click here to learn more.

This past fortnight, ACTCOSS provided a submission to the Inquiry into the Period Products and Facilities (Access) Bill 2022 – saying it is supportive of the introduction of this Bill as a means to address period poverty and the stigma associated with periods in the ACT. ACTCOSS also supported a proposal to introduce the Right to a Healthy Environment under the ACT’s suite of human rights protections but called on the ACT Government to enact all Economic, Social and Cultural Rights including a Right to Housing.

As NSW recovered from the 2019-20 Summer Bushfires and the first case of COVID-19 was detected in Australia in February 2020, there was no indication of the upheaval and sacrifices that lay ahead. This NCOSS report series, Aftershock: Addressing the Economic and Social Costs of the Pandemic and Natural Disasters, explores the impacts of the pandemic and natural disasters across four key domains of wellbeing – mental health, domestic violence, housing security and child welfare and development – drawing together research and latest data to highlight the devastating impacts of the past two and half years.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will host a roundtable this Friday, 16 September, ahead of a Housing Summit in October. This week’s roundtable will bring together the Premier, Deputy Premier as well as the Public Works, Communities and Housing Ministers with the Brisbane Lord Mayor and the LGAQ. It will also involve key non-government stakeholders including QShelter, QCOSS, the REIQ, Property Council of Australia, Master Builders and the Planning Institute of Australia.

TasCOSS and Families and Children Tasmania have joined calls by Tasmania’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Leanne McLean, for a rapid response crisis team to immediately be established and sent into the Ashley Youth Detention Centre (AYDC) to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children and young people currently detained, as well as ensure the staff are supported to do their jobs.

NTCOSS CEO Deborah Di Natale has responded to the news of an increase in the JobSeeker payment by $1.80 to less than $48 a day by explaining, “It is completely inaccurate to be talking about this as a massive win and some ambitious policy position. We’re talking about $1.80 a day, that’s a drop in the ocean.” Click here to listen to the full statement.