Wednesday, 31 March 2021
Community Contributions

The From the Heart campaign is renewing the call for all Australians to make a submission to the Federal Government’s Co-Design Process for a Voice to Parliament. From the Heart encourages all Australians to make a submission to reflect the strength of support for meaningful constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Deadline for submissions have now been extended to 30 April. Make your submission here

Mission Australia’s Youth Survey 2021 is now open. Now in its 20th year, the Mission Australia Youth Survey is the largest online survey of its kind in Australia and provides an important annual snapshot into the experiences and views of young people aged 15-19. Click here for more information

First Nations households are suffering a yawning "Digital Divide" with the rest of Australia, World Vision finds with their new report showing one in four First Nations households has no internet access, limiting learning opportunities for Indigenous students. Click here to read the Connecting on Country report

A new report by the Center for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare detailing the results of a November 2020 survey finds that the Coronavirus Supplement (the Supplement) and suspension of mutual obligations improved respondents’ engagement in the labour market as well as their physical and mental health. Click here to read the report and learn more



SBS Media is raising awareness of the benefits of greater investment by agencies and brands in Australia’s Indigenous media platforms with the launch of Beyond 3%, an initiative designed to inspire, engage and encourage a long-term shift in the sector. Learn more here

The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) released its March 2021 Your Voice newsletter. Click here for more information and to download a copy

Australians at the forefront of tackling domestic violence, supporting people seeking asylum and changing the narrative around alcohol are among those voted as the sector’s most inspiring and influential leaders for 2021. From 400 nominations, to a shortlist of 150, this year’s Pro Bono Impact 25 winners have been picked for their innovation, influence, and collaboration following one of the toughest years of our times. Click here to meet the winners

Community Conversations
Transgender Visibility Day 2021

International Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual event occurring on 31 March dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society.

Click here to access resources and events
NT Government's 'youth justice reforms' will see Aboriginal kids behind bars skyrocket

Australia’s only national First Nations-led justice coalition has today warned that the Gunner Government’s proposed youth justice reforms will see the number of Aboriginal children behind bars skyrocket. The reforms are highly punitive and will disproportionately drive Aboriginal kids into police and prison cells.

Change the Record has highlighted that the proposed law changes fly in the face of the Royal Commission recommendations to invest in supporting children outside of the criminal justice system and move away from the ‘tough on crime’ policies that have been proven to fail.

Read more here
National Reconciliation Week 2021

The 2021 National Reconciliation Week theme, More than a word. Reconciliation takes action, urges the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action. The Reconciliation movement is at a tipping point. In the past year, with Black Lives Matter protests and huge numbers at Invasion Day rallies across the country, we’re seeing people understanding the truth and speaking up on issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

More than a word. Reconciliation takes action asks people to take this awareness and knowledge, and use it as a springboard to more substantive, brave action. For reconciliation to be effective, it must involve truth-telling, and actively address issues of inequality, systemic racism and instances where the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are ignored, denied or reduced. While we see greater support for reconciliation from the Australian people than ever before, we must be more determined than ever if we are to achieve the goals of the movement — a just, equitable, reconciled Australia.

The #NRW2021 theme calls on us to reflect on our own contributions and strive to do more. #MoreThanAWord.

Learn more here
Close the Gap Campaign Report 2021: Policy Brief

Since 2010, the Close the Gap Campaign Steering Committee has developed an annual report on action that needs to be taken to achieve health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Leadership and Legacy Through Crises: Keeping our Mob safe report presents solutions and showcases the leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, youth and organisations throughout critical health crises in 2020. The report features strengths-based examples in addressing the most complex of challenges. These include climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increasing need for social and emotional well-being services in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities as a result of these events, and pre-existing effects of colonisation and inter-generational trauma.

The recording of last week's Close the Gap Report launch can be found here.

Read the Close the Gap policy brief
 
Community Sector Events
  • Join Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O'Shea, Guardian Australia Managing Director Dan Stinton, and Centre for Responsible Technology Director Peter Lewis in an interactive discussion on the big issues in technology, politics and society, and what the future should be - 9 April 2021 - Click here for more information at to register
  • April 2021 marks 30 years since the Final Report was released following the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. This report outlined fundamental changes necessary to stop the epidemic of deaths in custody. Central principles were the need for Aboriginal self-determination, an end to racist control by the state, and stopping the obscene numbers of Aboriginal people from being taken into custody. These core recommendations have not been implemented. 30 years on and the situation is worse than ever.
    There have been more than 440 Aboriginal deaths in custody since the report was released. In 1991, an average of 2140 Indigenous people were in prison on any given night. In 2020, these numbers had exploded to more than 13,000 people - the highest rate of incarceration of any group of people on the planet. Head to the streets on April 10 to demand justice and self-determination - 10 April 2021 - Click here for more information

  • The other week, Noel Pearson gave a landmark keynote address on how, together, the smallest of voices will fix our greatest challenges. This event brought together Australians from all backgrounds, including young people, members of regional communities, non-Indigenous Australians and respected Indigenous elders – all for true constitutional recognition - Watch the event here

    Community Sector Resources
    • TransHub is ACON’s digital information and resource platform for all trans and gender diverse (TGD) people. The platform offers information about social, medical and legal affirmation, as well as health and support resources among many other things. For more information and to access the platform click here

    • National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) have released factsheets on migration and disability. The factsheets are available in Arabic, Hindi, Simplified Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and English. With those factsheets, NEDA are hoping to: Explain the discrimination people with disability experience when navigating the complex Australian migration system; Break down the different processes a person with disability must go through when applying for a visa in Australia; and Provide information to people with disability on where to find professional migration assistance and support. For more information on the factsheets, please click here

    • Access to appropriate and affordable housing is a key driver to enable people with disability to be full and equal participants in society. Yet while the stock of specialist disability housing has grown over the last few years, the sector’s understanding of how these homes facilitate better outcomes once tenants have moved in has remained limited. SVA Consulting has teamed up with the disability sector to develop a common outcomes framework to help better understand the impact of housing and in-home supports on the lives of people with disability. Click here to explore why the sector needs an aligned approach to measurement, how the Disability Housing Outcomes Framework (the Framework) was developed, and how it will be piloted while ensuring that data collected is meaningful, practical, and will guide better decision making

    COSS Corner
    The latest news from State and Territory Councils of Social Service

    SACOSS is highlighting digital inclusion as a key area for the SA State Government to address, taking the opportunity of the 11th Australian Space Forum in Adelaide on 31 March to highlight the other end of the technology spectrum, describing digital exclusion is the new frontier of inequality and a growing driver of poverty. Read more.

    The Tasmanian State Election has been called for Saturday 1 May 2021. We need a government that is committed to reduce poverty and inequality in our society so that everyone can live a good life. Throughout this election campaign, TasCOSS will continue to give voice and agency to the Tasmanians living on inadequate incomes, their hopes and aspirations for the future. Find out more.

    ACTCOSS joined with Advocacy for Inclusion to slam proposed changes to the NDIS detailed in leaked draft legislation, and called on the Government to strengthen the choice and control of people with disabilities; welcomed the extension of COVID-19 energy consumer protections by the Australian Energy Regulator; and celebrated the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, with CEO Dr Emma Campbell urging Canberrans to call out racism.

    With the latest snap lockdown in Greater Brisbane, COVID-19 continues to have significant impacts on Queensland’s social service workforce. QCOSS will be hosting a webinar on 12 April to explore how we manage the impacts of lockdowns. It will also examine the vaccine roll-out strategy and challenges ahead for both our paid and unpaid workers. Register here: https://www.qcoss.org.au/events/covid-19-and-the-social-service-workforce/

    New research The Social Sector in NSW: Capitalising on the Potential for Growth commissioned by NCOSS along with other NSW peak bodies, outlines the significant contribution that social services in NSW make to our state’s economic and social wellbeing; and the potential for the sector to contribute further through new jobs and increased economic activity across metropolitan and regional areas in response to population demand.

    NTCOSS have launched NTCommunity - It is the first ever one-stop-shop for NT support services which, when coupled with the app, works on and offline. Whether you need disability services, financial advice, health care, or more, NTcommunity will let you know who can help. Visit the NTCOSS website for more information: https://ntcoss.org.au/

    Stay up-to-date on all COVID-19 matters via the WA Government Department of Communities Coronavirus webpage. Community service organisations can visit the WACOSS Community Services COVID-19 resources page on the website for resources and information relevant to the sector.

    Members in the Media
    WHO report finds every second person holds ageist attitudes

    The Council on the Ageing Australia chief executive Ian Yates described ageism as the last "ism".

    "It's actually something that is endemic in our society, is dangerous in our society and needs our core institutions to address it," he said.

    Read here
    'This festering crisis': Aboriginal people have the solutions to ending deaths in custody

    NATSILS Executive Officer Dr. Hannah McGlade shared thoughts on the devastating recent news of four Aboriginal death in custody in three weeks.

    Read here
    ‘Work on that gap’: Indigenous, culturally diverse women struggle for family violence support

    Antoinette Braybrook, the chief executive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island family violence prevention and legal service Djirra, said Aboriginal children were still being taken away from families because “mothers are not supported to escape the violence”.

    Read here
     
    Feature Tweet

    Waiver of the newly arrived residents waiting period for #Centrelink payments ENDS 31/3. People with a remaining NARWP at 1/4 will have their payment cancelled. If in hardship CLAIM SPECIAL BENEFIT - see https://t.co/3PHxErDKKG and https://t.co/fgTypj6GIE. @ACOSS @ACOSS @iFECCA pic.twitter.com/vlI1DNyvg0

    — Economic Justice Australia (@ej_australia) March 23, 2021
    Click here to see full tweet
     
    We respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of the country on which we work, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.

    We recognise the right of all First Peoples around the country to self-determination.

    Please consider the environment before printing this email.

     Facebook  Twitter  Web
     

    If you would like further information on the ACOSS Community Hub, or if you're interested in contributing to future editions, please click here to get in touch

    Unsubscribe /  Forward this email