Punitive youth justice, finding ground and embedded networks

All the latest news from the Councils of Social Service of Australia.

ACOSS

A new report by ACOSS and UNSW Sydney shows the gains made on reducing homelessness during the pandemic last year are slipping away.  

Less than a third of those assisted with temporary hotel accommodation during the crisis were later transitioned into longer-term affordable housing, mainly due to a shortage of social housing available. At the same time, tens of thousands of people renting across the country now owe mounting rental debts, after having their payments deferred (but not reduced) while eviction moratoriums were in place. 

The report – COVID-19 Rental Housing and Homelessness Impacts: an initial analysis – is part of the UNSW Sydney and Australian Council of Social Service’s Poverty and Inequality research partnership.

TasCOSS

The Tasplan International Women’s Day Awards for Excellence 2021 are designed to recognise and give visibility to outstanding contributions by women in the Tasmanian State Service, the community services industry and local government. 

Join TasCOSS to hear from keynote speaker Grace Tame, a inspirational Tasmanian advocate for survivors of sexual assault who was recently awarded 2021 Australian of the Year, along with sector leaders. Register here.

VCOSS

Do you pay for energy through your landlord or body corporate? These are called “embedded networks”. They can be a bad deal for some consumers and the Victorian government wants to ban them. VCOSS wants to know your experience. Is this system confusing? Does your bill make sense? Do you reckon you’re being ripped off? Let them know here. 

ACTCOSS

ACTCOSS and CDNet are resuming their face-to-face CD Peer Network meetings in 2021: A forum of learning, supporting and sharing. The first meeting will focus on the sharing of ideas, how to best structure the time together and what should be the priorities for 2021. If you are a community development worker, volunteer, student, or a community sector worker with an interest in learning about and/or applying CD frameworks in your work, they encourage you to come along and be a part of the conversation.

NTCOSS 

NTCOSS CEO Deborah Di Natale spoke to Alex Barwick on ABC Alice Springs about the need to keep youth justice measures and responses to crime focused on what the evidence shows actually delivers for the community. Click here to read the transcript.

QCOSS

Last week, QCOSS collaborated with several of its member organisations to urge the state government to rethink its punitive youth justice reforms. 

Next week, QCOSS is hosting an important Q&A with CHO Dr Jeannette Young on the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine and its implications for the community sector in Queensland. Register here.

NCOSS

NCOSS has been consulting with its members as part of its prep for the pre-budget submission.  They spoke with a wide range of organisations that provide disability, homelessness, mental health, aging, children and youth services on a range of issues that impact the sustainability of the community service sector. Our sector holds a wealth of knowledge, experience and passion that should be heard by decision makers. Stay tuned for a copy of their PBS and consultation report.

WACOSS

Following a five-day lockdown in WA, the Finding Ground: Building a better way back together Conference and the Community Services Excellence Awards will go ahead face-to-face in Walyalup (Fremantle), next week. Featuring a range of speakers, this will be a chance for community services to come together, reflect and celebrate the stars of the sector. Have you got your ticket?

SACOSS

SACOSS together with 31 other organisations has signed an open letter from Fair Agenda and the South Australian Abortion Action Coalition, in support of SA abortion reform. As a peak body that advocates for the wellbeing of all South Australians, SACOSS signed this letter to express concerns caused by keeping abortion in the criminal law. They also register their strong support for the current Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2020.

This article was contributed by ACOSS Community Hub.