VCOSS wants cost of living oversight, ACOSS calls for community services funding
12 October 2022 at 9:32 pm
Read this fortnight’s round-up of news from councils of social service around the country.
Workers and employers from around the country have united in an urgent call for the federal government to provide extra funding for community services struggling with significant cost pressures, warning these essential services are on the brink of major cuts. The Australian Services Union and ACOSS have written to the Albanese government urging it to include a 5.5 per cent rate of indexation for Commonwealth-funded community services in this month’s federal budget. Australian Services Union assistant national secretary Emeline Gaske said lack of adequate indexation over the past decade had starved community services of extra funding, pushing many to breaking point amid unprecedented demand for services and a need to pay workers more due to long-overdue increases in the minimum wage. Click to read the full release.
QCOSS is looking forward to taking part in Queensland’s Housing Summit to develop solutions to end the housing crisis. We need at least 5,000 new social homes every year, for the next decade to ensure families are not living in tents or their cars. Read our 7-point plan to end the housing crisis and email the Premier to call for action ahead of next week’s Housing Summit.
VCOSS is calling on the Victorian government to establish an independent cost of living commissioner. This is part of a suite of proposed changes, included in their election platform, to give people relief from rising costs that are compounding existing hardship.
Leaders and colleagues from across the sector, government and beyond – including SA Premier Peter Malinauskas – will be coming together at the Adelaide Convention Centre on 18 November to tackle the big topic of ending poverty, at SACOSS’ upcoming Alternative Futures conference. Member discounts apply – check out the program and register here.
On Friday 28 October, WACOSS will be launching its 2023-24 state budget submission. It sets out recommendations that address gaps in services, identify supports that need to be bolstered, and charts the systemic changes required for WA to be stronger and fairer into the future. WACOSS invites you register for the 2023-24 State Budget Submission event.
TasCOSS are very excited to announce its new website is now live. It features more opportunities for engagement on critical issues relevant to our industry through our newly created Member Policy Networks, as well as a vastly improved layout and the ability to more easily share and promote news and events. If you’re not a TasCOSS Member, now is a great time to join and share in the many benefits.
ACTCOSS is working in preparation for Anti-Poverty Week. The ACT has the highest average weekly earnings in Australia, and yet around one in 10 Canberrans – or 38,000 – live in poverty. Visit our APW22 page to learn about the events we’re holding this year and make sure to raise awareness and participate in Anti-Poverty Week 2022.
News that the JobSeeker Payment would increase by just $1.80 from $46 to $47.80 a day would not make any difference to the lives of thousands of people in the Territory living below the poverty line, NTCOSS CEO Deborah Di Natale told ABC Radio Alice Springs.
An additional 3,700 homeless people in NSW since 2020 is estimated to cost the NSW economy between $524.5 million and $2.5 billion over six years, according to a new report released by NCOSS, Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) NSW, Aboriginal Community Housing Industry Association (ACHIA), Homelessness NSW and other NSW peak organisations. Click here to learn more.
