Wednesday, 12 August 2020
Community Contributions

Released on World Indigenous People’s Day, 9 August, Career Pathways Project Report provides insight and guidance to enhance the capacity of the health system to retain and support the development and careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the health workforce. Read the report here.

The Young Carer Bursary helps young carers under the age of 25 who are currently studying or training, or will be in 2021 - the program offers 1,000 bursaries to the value of $3000 each year.

#ThanksforCaring was the theme for Aged Care Employee Day this year, celebrating more than 360,000 aged care staff around Australia. Read more about the celebrations here.

The widespread social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly affected the health and well being of Australia's 2.65 million carers, according to a new report from Carers NSW.

The theme for this year's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day was 'We are the Elders of tomorrow, hear our voice', honoring Elders as custodians of traditional knowledge, passed down to children through stories and cultural practice. See overview of Children's Day here.

The Racism and Social Cohesion issue of FECCA's magazine comes at a time of heightened tensions as a result of COVID-19 and global Black Lives Matter protests. Read it here.

Community Conversations
Signing of new National Agreement on Closing the Gap marks historic
turning point in relations between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people and governments

The National Cabinet, the Australian Local Government Association and the Coalition of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peak organisations have agreed the historic National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Pat Turner AM, Lead Convener of the Coalition of Peaks; CEO of NACCHO and Co-Chair of the Joint Council said, "The National Agreement has been hard fought between the Coalition of Peaks and governments. It was always going to be tough. This is the first time a National Agreement designed to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has been developed and negotiated with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We have also had the voices of the more than 4000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who participated in our engagements on what should be included in the new National Agreement guiding us in our negotiations, and we needed to show that they had been heard.”

The Priority Reforms commit governments to new partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
communities across the country; strengthen community-controlled organisations to deliver closing the gap
services; address structural racism within government agencies and organisations; and improve sharing and
information with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to support shared decision making.

Learn more about the New National Agreement on Closing the Gap
AYCC and Seed launch the Speak Up for Climate Justice campaign

AYCC and Seed have launched their online campaign, Speak Up for Climate Justice. The campaign invites people to come together and participate in 50,000 conversations in communities all across the country – imploring people to reach out to friends, family, colleagues, and neighbours to bring them into the fight for climate justice. 

The Speak Up for Climate Justice challenge involves: Taking the conversation challenge by speaking to as many people as you can about the need for strong climate action; Promoting your challenge to your friends and family and ask them to support your efforts by chipping in to power youth-led campaigns for climate justice.

Participate in the challenge and learn more
Be a part of #GetOnlineWeek

Good Things Foundation are inviting community organisations to get involved and participate in its digital inclusion campaign #GetOnlineWeek.

This year's theme is 'Now's the time to get online', encouraging people to host either online or COVID-safe face-to-face events, depending on the restrictions and public gathering advice in your part of the country. Grant funding is now available to support them to be involved.

Get involved here
YWCA launch the We Speak survey

The Young Women's Council Australia (YWCA) are inviting women and non-binary people in all their diversity over the age of 18 to participate in YWCA’s first We Speak survey.

We Speak explores women’s lived experiences of leadership, civic engagement, housing and economic security and health, to inform postgraduate research, policy and advocacy, and programs and services for women. 

The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. When you fill in the survey you will also have the chance to share in a $1000 total prize pool (10 x $100 vouchers) by opting in and providing contact details prior to 5 September 2020.

Learn more and take the survey
HESTA Impact Awards

Creating a better world doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the small but relentless steps taken by many over time that makes all the difference.

Take the time to recognise those working in Australia’s health and community sector - the one’s dedicated to creating a better world to live in - by nominating someone you know who is making a difference in the HESTA Awards.

Read more about the Impact Awards
 
Community Sector Events
  • If you'd like to deepen your knowledge when it comes to organising social change, register for Changemakers Organising School Season 2 – starting 13 August 2020 - Click here for more information
  • The Energy Efficiency Council, in partnership with the NSW Government, will host a new training program, Energy management system advisor training - Monday 24 to Wednesday 26 August 2020 - Click here for more information
  • Homelessness Week launched on Monday 3 August with an insightful webinar dedicated to highlighting the newly launched mapping around homelessness in our country - Watch the recording here
  • WHO and UNESCO are celebrating International Youth Day through a joint webinar, recognising young people around the world demonstrating collective action and creativity in their COVID-19 response - 12 August 2020 12:30 – 14:00 CET - Click here for more information and to register
Community Sector Resources
  • Sortli is a free App designed by young people for young people to help navigate their transition from out-of-home care to independence. It help guides them and provide support in areas such as housing, employment, health, and finances. Click here for more information

  • The Aboriginal Health Council of WA (AHCWA) ear health team has developed a new and innovative health promotion resource for children and youth called Simon Says. The first issue of Simon Says is an ear health brochure designed to support, teach and empower Aboriginal children with chronic ear conditions. Read the brochure here
  • Mind Australia provide an overview of information about mental health disorders on their resource page, Understanding mental health conditions - see here.
  • National LGBTI Health Alliance provides a central COVID-19 resource space for the LGBTI community. Click here to read more.
COSS Corner
The latest news from State and Territory Councils of Social Service

The WACOSS Pilbara Manager has been facilitating a regional FDV Network, supported by Creating Communities Australia, to plan and collaborate on sustainable, place-based solutions alongside smaller local working groups focused on three priority areas. Local interviews provided context for the Network, which has been consolidated into a report that outlines innovative ideas for systematic change.

TasCOSS is continuing to work as a partner on Working Together (WT) — supporting early learning, an initiative of the Department of Education which aims to open opportunity for eligible three year old children to participate in free, quality early learning. Our role in this project is to ensure the voices and experiences of families, parents and carers inform the program design. Read TasCOSS’s latest report on Key Findings from Conversations with Families: School Transition.

NCOSS Survey | Impact of COVID-19 on Community and Social Services in NSW: NCOSS and a coalition of peak bodies are working with Equity Economics to model the economic impacts of rising unemployment and the flow-on effects for services provided by the sector. Refer to the list of service categories here. Closing Date: 21 Aug 2020

Vale Joy Noble, honorary life member of SACOSS, an outstanding woman and champion of volunteering. On behalf of the sector in SA, SACOSS pays tribute to Joy for her significant contribution over decades. Joy championed many causes, too numerous to mention here, including her role in founding the organisation that later became Volunteering SA&NT. 

ACT Shelter, ACTCOSS and Community Housing Industry Association (ACT Region) welcomed Homelessness Week Housing Stimulus announced by the Chief Minister but question the opportunity cost, and warn that without substantial and sustained ongoing investment social and affordable housing there will be fewer housing options available for Canberrans most in need when the Housing Strategy expires in 2028. 

VCOSS and Victorians back significant social housing push. More than three quarters of Victorians want the State Government to “build significantly more public and community housing” as part of its response to COVID-19. According to a new Essential Poll conducted exclusively on the eve of National Homelessness Week, support for more social housing was rock solid in all demographics, regions and age groups, and right across the political divide. 

In her latest video update, QCOSS CEO Aimee McVeigh talks about our Living Affordability in Queensland report for 2020, and how your contribution can shape our Queensland state election priorities statement. See Aimee’s video here.

Did you catch the NTCOSS 2020 NT Election Leaders Debate?  For more information on what the social and community sector are asking for this election – and what is being promised, take a look at our election asks here.

Members in the Media
Cash-strapped Australians should urgently seek free financial help

Financial Counselling Australia’s chief executive officer, Fiona Guthrie, urged anyone struggling to pay their bills or making ends meet to contact their creditors immediately.

Read more
Young Australia mostly agree on their hopes and fears for the future. Are leaders ready to listen?

Young people affected by the economic shock have been almost completely ignored by the government’s response to date, explains Nick Moraitis, CEO of the Foundation for Young Australians

Read more
Fewer than one in 10 renters given satisfactory rent reduction amid coronavirus pandemic, survey finds

A survey by Better Renting has found the majority of renters felt they’d had little luck negotiating rental reductions during the pandemic. “What really struck me is the sheer number of tenants who are still paying their original rent despite losing their income,” said Better Renting director Joel Dignam.

Read more
 
Member Tweets

We have updated our fact sheet on managing the return of volunteers to the workplace. We’ve covered everything from medical clearances to insurance and liabilities. For information on these topics and answers to the most common volunteer FAQs, go to https://t.co/ZnQ4Y4X1nF pic.twitter.com/yaDaDu9vpf

— Justice Connect - Not-for-profit Law (@nfp_law) August 7, 2020
Click here to see full tweet
 
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We recognise the right of all First Peoples around the country to self-determination.

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