ACOSS Reports & Submissions
Each year ACOSS prepares numerous submissions to the Federal Government. We also undertake research and produce reports on policy areas that impact disadvantaged Australians. The latest ACOSS submissions and topical papers appear below as downloadable links.
Most recent papers
February 2011
In this submission the Councils of Social Service in Australia endorse the Productivity Commission's finding that public health and consumer protection frameworks provide the best basis for coherent and effective gambling policies. We express our support for a universal and mandatory pre-commitment scheme as a key measure of consumer protection. The COSS network is also clear that pre-commitment is only one of a number of interventions in the gambling environment required to minimise harm from gambling. The submission goes on to discuss alternatives for harm minimisation.
December 2010
The development of an e-health system has the potential to improve the quality of healthcare services, patient experiences, and health outcomes through the more efficient management and communication of health information. However, it is important that any system is underpinned by a rigorous governance and regulatory framework to maintain consumer privacy, transparency and public accountability. In this submission, the COSS network has identified a number of key principles to underpin the development of an e-health system, including healthcare identifiers (HIs). We have also made comments on specific sections of the draft legislation and some more general comments about HIs.
November 2010
This submission responds to the Australian Government's paper Medicare Locals: Discussion Paper on Governance and Functions. It does not individually address the questions posed in the papers. Instead, it focuses on the implications of health reform for the non-government health and community services sector and the opportunities for government and the sector to work together to build a better primary health care system.
November 2010
This paper presents a set of principals for a nationally consistent approach by Australian governments to funding equal remuneration for community sector workers.
November 2010
October 2010
This factsheet has the most up-to-date statistics on poverty in Australia, including the on-going effects of the Global Financial Crisis. The five causes of poverty include inequalities in work and income, education, housing, health and services. There are recommendations on how poverty can be reduced.
August 2010
ACOSS has coordinated a submission on behalf of the COSS network to the Productivity Commission's inquiry into a long-term disability care and support scheme. Given the range of disability and carer organisations involved in the inquiry and their expertise on the lived experience of disability and care work, the COSS submission focuses on the details of the scheme. We advocate keeping the scheme separate from existing social security provisions such as payments for people with disability and for carers. We also advocate maintaining the scheme distinctly from other service systems, notably aged care, in order to ensure its sustainability and focus.
August 2010
Better oral health care must be on the national agenda : REPAIR: REvitalise the system, by focusing on Prevention, Access, Improved workforce and Research
August 2010
ACOSS has been leading the campaign for equal pay within the community and social services sector. This statement was given to Fair Work Australia in August 2010 and outlines the secotr position on the importance of equal pay and this test case.
August 2010
This policy analysis describes the job prospects and financial situation of unemployed young people, and raises policy proposals to improve them. The 'Compact with Young People', which guarantees education and training for young unemployed people, is the right approach but there are gaps in the Compact including paid work experience, work-based training, mentoring, and help with relocation. On the other hand, 'get-tough' approaches such as removal of income support or forced relocation would create hardship without improving the job prospects of young Australians.
