Expressions of Interest are now open for membership of the National NAIDOC Committee for the period of September 2020 – August 2023.

Anti-Poverty Week and the National Council for Single Mothers and their Children are calling on the Federal government to ensure more than a million children don’t fall into poverty at the end of September. Read the release here.

Victorian Homelessness Media Awards are now open for applications, with journos across Australia eligible to enter. Click here for info and link to share with those who you believe have done great work to support community causes.

Anglicare Australia has launched a landmark survey on how cutting the current increased rate of JobSeeker would create a national crisis. Read the findings here.

AOD Knowledge Centre Community Portal is for Elders and community members who may be concerned about alcohol and drug use in their community. Click here for more information and direct resources.

Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia help raise awareness by sharing fictional stories that are created from elements of the many calls their counsellors take each day. Read some of them here.

550 Reasons to Smile began with the happiness of a mother finally able to afford a new pair of pyjamas and sparked the desire to share stories of simple joys while temporarily raised out of poverty during the COVID-19 crisis. Those existing on JobSeeker Payments before COVID-19 struggled to survive on just $40 a day and went without many basic necessities, such as adequate heating, food, and access to essential medical services. The COVID-19 supplement has essentially doubled this amount, easing intense financial stress and poor sleep, while giving people the opportunity to smile with full bellies and warm clothes.

Unfortunately, these necessities are temporary and come September those currently experiencing temporary financial relief could be plunged back into poverty.

Volunteering Australia is currently conducting its annual Stakeholder Survey and your feedback is important. Your feedback will help gauge what, moving forward, the sector needs from Volunteering Australia as the national peak body for volunteering. Volunteering Australia is seeking your feedback on representation, communications, as well as research, development and promotion of policy solutions. Please be assured your response will remain anonymous.

The survey will close at 5pm AEST on Friday 31 July 2020

2.5 million people in Australia are not online, and now more than ever we have seen the importance of people having the confidence and skills to connect with friends and family, access government services and find information online. Skilled digital mentors are critical to supporting people to improve their digital literacy so they can better participate in the digital world. Good Things Foundation have opened applications for $50,000 Capacity Building grants for community organisations to train staff and volunteers as digital mentors through the Be Connected program. Each Capacity Builder will support 80 digital mentors (40 in outer regional, remote and very remote areas) using a supplied training package. Organisations must be a member of the Be Connected Network to be eligible for this funding and grant applications close 31 July.

You and your colleagues are invited to participate in the Australian Community Sector Survey, COVID-19 edition. The survey, presented by Community Sector Banking, UNSW, and the COSS Network, will provide an invaluable picture of the effects of the unprecedented current COVID-19 situation on the community sector, as it allows a longitudinal comparison between the sector in late 2019 and now. Your response is vital to give a full picture of the impacts of these events on the sector.  Further information, and the link to the survey, can be found here. The survey will close on 21 July 2020. 

The data being collected is critical to advocacy at the stated and federal level about a range of critical issues for our sector, in particular the adequacy and gaps in social services emerging during the COVID-19 early recovery period. 

• Relationships Australia VIctoria are hosting Online Workshop: Vicarious Trauma to help individuals working in the sector, including strategies that can be used to maintain your wellbeing at work - 21 July 2020 - Click here to register 
  
  
• The Social connection: A community of practice webinar will broadly cover social connection in the context of COVID-19 - 16 July 2020 - See more info and register here

• NFP Bootcamp: Creating a Social Media Strategy is a 4 part workshop series that will have you walk away with a clearly defined social media and content strategy that achieves NFP-focused outcomes - 29 July 2020 - Register here

• Adult Learning Australia is hosting an online event, Adult learning, crises and the ‘new’ normal - 29 July 2020 - Click here to register

• Down Syndrome Australia has a new guide on how to start conversation between people with Down Syndrome and their families about relationships, sexuality, staying healthy, rights and consent

• WellMob is a new website that focuses on culturally relevant online resources to support social & emotional well being for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Click here to see the 200+ videos, apps, podcasts and other websites available

• Raise the Rate for Good Promotional Kit
  includes great resources to help those who would like to spread the word about raising the rate of JobSeeker, for good. Click here to see all assets

• Settlement Council of Australia have listed COVID-19 Information: Workforce Retention Issues for Settlement Services. Click here for resources
  

El Gibbs from People with Disability Australia said the pandemic has been an "extremely difficult and stressful time" for many people with disabilities.

Foodbank chief executive Brianna Casey told the Senate's coronavirus committee there had been a 78 per cent jump in people needing food relief since the advent of the pandemic. 

The Red Cross revealed that this time last year it was looking after about 620 temporary visa holders. It is now supporting more than 14,000..

St Vincent de Paul chief executive officer Toby O'Connor said his organisation's client base had changed during the recession.

A new Anglicare survey has revealed people were forced to turn to charity just to get by under the old JobSeeker rate.

We hear first hand, everyday, how poverty stops people getting what they need to stay healthy - things like dental care, specialist treatments, medications, secure housing, fresh food and what's required stay connected with family and friends. #RaisetheRateforGood @ACOSS pic.twitter.com/CUMPf1SFq8

— cohealth (@cohealth_au) July 14, 2020