Budget priorities, workforce coordination and our Booris, our way

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

ACOSS 

ACOSS has called on the federal government to prioritise investment into critical services and boosting the incomes and wages of those in the bottom 40 per cent over more tax cuts in the upcoming budget. ACOSS has submitted a Budget Priorities Statement to Federal Treasury ahead of the federal budget which asks the government to take effective action to tackle the pandemic, sustaining employment growth, lifting the incomes and wages of those with the least, boosting essential services with an ageing population, and addressing the catastrophic threat of climate change. 

ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie says the upcoming federal budget presents an opportunity for the Coalition government to address long standing inequalities, achieve full employment and ensure no one is left behind as we continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. Click here to read the media release and the ACOSS Budget Priorities Statement.

NCOSS

In the lead up to International Women’s Day, NCOSS is undertaking research into the barriers and opportunities for women in the NSW social services sector when it comes to building a career, furthering their skills and progressing into more senior or specialised roles. It has a very short (10 mins max) survey out in the field at the moment and is wanting as many employees, from different parts of the sector and at different levels, to participate. Survey closes on 21 February.

SACOSS

SACOSS has banded together with the Anti-Poverty Network SA, Shelter SA and Better Renting to cast a light on issues of rental affordability, the energy efficiency of rental homes, and renters’ rights, in a recent SA forum. They are strongly calling for minimum energy efficiency standards and mandatory disclosure of energy efficiency ratings for rental properties. Find more information here. 

TasCOSS

Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are now open to participate in and help govern an exciting new whole of community services industry Workforce Coordination project. The Workforce Coordination project is the first project to be funded under the Tasmanian Community Services Industry Plan (2021-31). TasCOSS is seeking EOIs from people interested in joining the Workforce Coalition either as a volunteer or part of their current role. There are both chair and general memberships available. Make an EOI to join the Workforce Coalition today!

WACOSS 

WACOSS is currently exploring the establishment of a pooled secondment workforce that can be drawn on by organisations who are at risk of being unable to deliver a critical service due to furloughing of staff as a result of large case numbers of COVID-19. WACOSS has drafted a series of principles to help govern this process on which it’s seeking feedback from community services organisations.

QCOSS 

QCOSS has outlined its budget priorities for the 2022 Queensland budget, with a focus on addressing the housing crisis and investing in the community services sector. Budget asks for the sector include increased funding for community and neighbourhood centres, indexation that reflects the real cost of service delivery, a greater investment into providing energy efficiency measures to low-income households and a gender analysis of the state budget that seeks to address inequality.

ACTCOSS

The Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services has highlighted that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continue to be over-represented in the child protection and youth justice systems across the country, including in the ACT. In response to the report, the ACTCOSS has urged the ACT government to urgently implement all 28 recommendations from the Our Booris, Our Way report. ACTCOSS also wants increased government investment in Aboriginal community organisations. Read more.

VCOSS 

VCOSS and other groups have written to the Essential Services Commission (ESC) calling for Sumo Power’s (Sumo) licence to operate in Victoria to be investigated and monetary compensation for those wrongfully disconnected by the company. The call comes after the ESC announced on 7 February that Sumo had paid a penalty of $500,000 after the alleged wrongful disconnection of 143 Victorian customers in the run up to Christmas 2020. Click here to learn more.

NTCOSS

Last week the Indigenous Affairs Committee heard from NTCOSS, and three other organisations as part of its inquiry into fostering better engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers. This was the inquiry’s final public hearing for this current Parliament. Click here to learn more.

This article was contributed by ACOSS Community Hub.