National jobs and skills summit, social reinvestment in focus in WA and SA targets the age of criminal responsibility
21 July 2022 at 5:31 pm
All the latest news from the Councils of Social Service of Australia.
ACOSS
ACOSS welcomes the announcement of the Jobs and Skills Summit for early September, which will bring together civil society, unions, employers and government, and will look at expanding employment opportunities for the most disadvantaged, keeping unemployment low, addressing gender inequities, and maximising jobs and opportunities from the care economy, climate change and renewable energy. This is an important opportunity for the Albanese government to secure full employment so that people seeking a job can get one and those seeking more hours can get them, incomes are increasing, and no-one is left behind. People who have been locked out of the labour market must be front and centre at the summit – people who are long-term unemployed, single parents, older people, people with disabilities, First Nations people, people seeking asylum, and people who’ve left the justice system – as well as the community organisations who work with and support them. Click here to read more.
WACOSS
Social Reinvestment WA joined WACOSS and more than 75 organisations, to implore the WA Government to enact immediate reform to the youth justice system, as it plans to send 20 children and young people from juvenile detention – some as young as 14 – to a maximum security adult prison, after issues at the facility. Children need help not harm, and there are concerns that the move will cause serious and lasting trauma.
TasCOSS
Want to help shape the future of the Tasmanian community services industry workforce? We are seeking Senior Officers to bring the Workforce Coordination Project alive and help to address key challenges facing the fastest growing industry in Tasmania. There are 4.5 FTE positions available. Find out more and apply now!
SACOSS
SACOSS is continuing its call for the South Australian Government to raise the age of criminal responsibility to a minimum of 14 years of age, in line with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the National Raise the Age Alliance, and Change the Record. We are encouraging everyone to sign the Raise the Age Coalition’s petition to help get this done across Australia.
QCOSS
Do you know a frontline worker in Queensland who deserves to celebrated for the extraordinary work they do for their community? There’s just one day left to nominate for the Queensland Community Impact Awards. Outstanding individuals and teams will be recognised across three different categories: Community Impact award, Frontline Hero award and Human Rights award. Nominations close at midnight on Thursday, 21 July: qcoss.org.au/ci-awards. Winners will be announced at the QCOSS Conference dinner in Brisbane on Wednesday, 7 September.
NTCOSS
Anti-discrimination and equal opportunity laws provide important protections for all citizens, particularly those people facing vulnerability and hardship in the NT. NTCOSS is calling for the NT Anti Discrimination laws to be modernised to ensure equality, access to justice and protection from discrimination for Territorians.
NCOSS
After a tumultuous few years NCOSS are excited to bring the 2022 Vision, Voice, Value conference to recognise the vital role the social services sector has played in ‘getting us through’. It will be an opportunity to reflect on successes; and consider how to capitalise on the growing visibility of essential service providers to overcome the challenges that the events of the last few years have presented. Click here for more information and to register.
VCOSS
New COVID sub-variants are buffeting Australia, and the Victorian Government is now urging people and workplaces to take extra measures to protect themselves. It’s even launching a public campaign called ‘Stay Well in Winter’, to encourage mask wearing, booster shots and physical distancing. This is all part of a broader trend to prioritise personal responsibility and voluntary measures over government-imposed rules and mandates. VCOSS have developed a short guide to protecting everybody from COVID this winter, click here to access.
ACTCOSS
ACTCOSS is calling on the Australian Government to continue to provide free Rapid Antigen Tests to concession card holders beyond 31 July when the program is due to expire. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell said: “People are bracing for another COVID-19 wave, and those on low incomes are already going to extreme measures to make ends meet, pay rising energy bills, and keep a roof over their head in an exceptionally cold winter.” Click here to read more.
