Wednesday 17 August 2022 

Community Contributions

Economic Justice Australia would like your support to ensure that the social security system is helping, not harming, those escaping family and domestic violence. To leave violence and find safety an independent source of income is essential, so social security reform is key. Click here for more information and to sign the letter.

Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) is excited to host a series of focus groups on how organisations around Australia can create safe environments for children and young people with disability. Click here for more information and to sign up.

Forcibly Displaced People Network has launched the first Australia-wide survey to capture the experiences of displacement and settlement for LGBTIQA+ forcibly displaced people. The aim is to collect comprehensive data and information about the experiences and barriers of LGBTIQA+ people seeking asylum, refugees, and migrants (including international students) from non-Western countries. The findings will be used to advocate for more welcoming and inclusive support. The survey is linked here.


A new strategy that aims to increase opportunities for ACCOs to deliver culturally appropriate services for Aboriginal children, families and communities has been launched in Fremantle. The 10-year strategy was developed by representatives from 11 ACCOs across the State, Department of Communities and the Department of Finance. Click here to learn more.

SBS Emerging Writers Competition is an initiative from SBS Voices, aiming to uncover bold new voices that reflect the diversity of contemporary Australia by inviting aspiring writers to share their stories and have their voices heard. Click here to learn more.

Ukrainian refugee Yurii Chuchenko and his heavily pregnant wife Inna arrived in Australia from Thailand after Russia invaded their homeland earlier this year. They have started new lives here with support from Settlement Services International and the local community. Click here to read more.

Community Conversations

Cold and costly: Renter Researchers' experiences of Winter 22

Today Better Renting launched the ‘Winter Renter Researchers’ report, Cold and Costly.

The report shares the experiences of more than 70 renters from across Australia over winter, with some startling findings: people are spending about 18 hours a day in Winter below the WHO recommended minimum indoor temperature of 18°C. With one chilly renter in Tasmania recording an upsetting 0.2°C inside their home.

This report highlights what the Healthy Homes for Renters campaign is fighting for, an end to frozen winters, with renters forced to choose between heating or eating.

Click here to learn more

Commonwealth Government receives petition of two hundred thousand Australians calling for the minimum age of criminal responsibility to be lifted to at least 14 years old

On 4 August, in a national first, the Commonwealth Government received the #RaiseTheAge petition of over two hundred thousand Australians and reiterated its commitment to working with states and territories to keep very young children out of the criminal legal system. 

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney met with representatives from Change the Record, human rights, legal and First Nations-led organisations who handed over 200,000 thousand signatures of Australians who want to see the age raised to at least 14 years old. 

Click here to learn more

The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge

On 9 August, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (IDWIP) was celebrated globally. This year’s theme: The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge.

On IDWIP it is important to note that according to the Law Council of Australia (LCA) despite announcing support for the UN Declaration of Rights on Indigenous People (UNDRIP) in 2009, Australian governments and parliaments are yet to recognise and implement its standards in a formal and comprehensive way.

In June this year NACCHO provided a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs into the application of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) in Australia. In their submission, NACCHO’s made nine recommendations. 

Click here to learn more
 

Community Sector Events

  • Join the Climate Council as CEO Amanda McKenzie sits down for a live, one-on-one conversation with the Hon. Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy. The discussion will include the positive climate action already taken by the Albanese Government, as well as the policies and solutions that must be put in place for Australia to achieve deep emissions cuts by 2030, and avoid the worst impacts of climate change - Tonight 17 August 2022 - Click here to learn more and to register
  • The Settlement Council of Australia (SCoA) is hosting 'Facilitating Digital Literacy and Inclusion in Communities', as part of SCoA's Settlement in Practice series which discusses best practice employment programs that support refugees and migrants across the country - 24 August 2022 - Click here to register
  • Economic Justice Australia's Annual Conference is around the corner, with this year's theme ‘System Integrity for Economic Security’ - 30 August 2022 - Click here for program information and to register

Community Sector Resources

  • Last month, COVID-19 hit the island of Nauru hard, leaving refugees who have been confined to the off-shore detention centres in an even more vulnerable state, abandoned by the Government. Refugees trapped there have struggled to access necessities like food, medicine and clean water. Asylum Seeker Resource Centre have developed this resource to email your local MP now and demand that new Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil evacuate PNG and Nauru. Click here to access and learn more.

COSS Corner

The latest news from State and Territory Councils of Social Service

This past fortnight, ACTCOSS welcomed funding in the recent ACT Budget for housing, health and the ACT community sector but said more is needed to support Canberrans struggling as the cost of living skyrockets. ACTCOSS’s Gulanga Program similarly welcomed funding but called for more community-controlled organisations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander communities, saying much more is needed to improve outcomes for First Nations peoples in the ACT. Read the ACT Budget Bulletin 2022-23.

NTCOSS has objected to the applications made by the Iris Capital Group to increase the number of electronic gaming machines in Alice Springs by an additional 60 machines. With the current number of machines available across Alice Springs, the demonstrated harm caused by gaming machines to individual gamblers and their networks, and the impact on people from lower socio-economic backgrounds and other populations experiencing disadvantage, any addition of machines to the community is unwarranted. Click here to learn more.

Queenslanders need social housing to be built, not just “commenced” by the Queensland Government. They need a comprehensive plan for the more than 50,000 Queenslanders waiting for a home. QCOSS CEO Aimee McVeigh says it is excellent that the Queensland Government “commenced” 832 social housing dwellings last financial year, about 100 commencements above its target. “But what people need is houses built, not commenced,” McVeigh said. Read more.

New research released by the Make Renting Fair campaign alliance, of which WACOSS is a member, shows that 74% of surveyed participants – including landlords - support changes to state tenancy laws, to ban evictions without a valid reason. Louise Giolitto, CEO, WACOSS said that the responses show that there is support for increased security and stability for tenants in the rental market.

NCOSS has made a submission to the Independent review of Australia’s COVID-19 response established by Paul Ramsay Foundation, Minderoo Foundation and the John and Myriam Wylie Foundation and chaired by Professor Peter Shergold AC. Click here to read more.

SACOSS’ upcoming conference Alternative Futures: Ending Poverty will address the big topic of what we can do to achieve a future without poverty. To be held at the Adelaide Convention centre on 18 November, it will bring together a range of speakers for informative and inspiring panel sessions. Sign up for updates here.

TasCOSS welcomes the Tasmanian Government’s $5 million cost of living package, which acknowledges the significant cost of living pressures Tasmanians are currently facing. It is also pleasing to see the stopgap increase to indexation for community service organisations to 3% (compared to the current rate of 2.25%), along with the commitment to a full review of funding allocations. Read TasCOSS's full response.

VCOSS welcomes it's two new members, Neighbourhood Houses Gippsland, and Wonthaggi Neighbourhood Centre. Two orgainsations working tirelessly to serve and strengthen their local communities.

Members in the Media

Queensland's biggest food charity hit with rising costs and rising demand

Foodbank featured

Read here

Ending child poverty in Australia

Toni Wren, Executive Director, Anti-Poverty Week featured

Listen here

Youth Survey 2022 closes soon

Mission Australia featured

Read here
 

Feature Tweet

We’re excited to share that @AYAC_ has received funding from the Minister for Youth Dr Anne Aly MP and the Australian Government which will ensure we can continue our work as the national voice and advocate for young people! pic.twitter.com/YlgVpcgfls

— AYAC (@AYAC_) August 11, 2022
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