Australian Council of Social Service

ACOSS 2006-07 Annual Report

November 2007

Towards new indicators of disadvantage

November 2007

ACOSS, in conjunction with Mission Australia, Brotherhood of St Laurence and Anglicare NSW were partners with the Social Policy Research Centre at University of NSW in this ground breaking study that directly measures deprivation and social exclusion in Australia for the first time. The general community, and clients of the three agencies above, were surveyed on their views on what is essential for a decent life in Australia today, and then asked if they had those items. They were also asked about exclusion from employment, services and social support. The survey reveals who is missing out on the essentials of life, and who is socially excluded.

Towards a fairer Australia

October 2007

As Australians prepare to vote in 2007, they face important choices over the future fairness of their country. Australia's headline figures of economic growth and low official unemployment stand in stark contrast to the daily reality of two million Australians who live in poverty. Despite economic prosperity, one in ten Australians struggle to pay for the bare basics such as housing, food, utilities and health care and often cannot access other essentials such as work, education, aged care, child care, counselling and legal services. The social and economic cost of this disadvantage can be seen in ‘poverty postcodes', typically on the outer edges of metropolitan cities and in rural areas, where many people are unemployed, have minimal levels of education, live on low incomes and often have disabilities and illness.

ACOSS Paper 151.

Poverty in Australia: Sensitivity Analysis and Recent Trends

October 2007

This report was commissioned by Jobs Australia through ACOSS to examine trends in poverty in Australia from 1995 to 2006. The research was conducted by Peter Saunders, Trish Hill and Bruce Bradbury from the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales.

Combined Aboriginal Organisations : Emergency Response and Development Plan

August 2007

The following proposals to protect children in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities have been developed by the Combined Aboriginal Organisations (representing Aboriginal organisations in Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine) and community sector organisations from across the country.

Submission to Senate Committee Inquiry into NTER Bills 2007

August 2007

This submission addresses the NTER measures including the proposed system of income management. It also addresses the proposed system of child protection and school attendence income management trials across Australia.

10 Essentials to Make Australia Fair

July 2007

This report details the results of community consultations in all States and Territories and telephone polling on what Australians think are the essentials to make Australia fair.

Federal Budget Briefing 2007

May 2007

ACOSS has prepared this briefing on the 2007-08 Federal Budget. This paper explains the funding announcements made in the Budget in relevant areas of interest to ACOSS members. It does not offer extensive comment on the merit of these measures. It is intended to assist member organisations in their work.

A Fairer Australia: Recommendations for the Federal Budget 2007-08

April 2007

In this submission to the Australian Treasury, ACOSS outlines policy recommendations for consideration by the Australian Government in its 2007-08 Budget. 

ACOSS Paper 147. Includes: Community services. Home and Community Care. Child care. Unemployment. Dental care. Medicare. Health care. Housing. Rent Assistance. Public housing. Indigenous communities. Legal services. Rural and remote communities. Social security. Poverty. Tax.

ACOSS Submission to Fair Pay Commission 2007

April 2007

Includes: Minimum wage, household income inequality in Australia and overseas, living standards, employment, income support, work incentives, entry level and 'regional' wages.