Events

ACOSS Events & Appearances

Challenges in providing equitable access to health in Australia

2:30PM – 3:30PM AEST | 24 August

Free webinar | REGISTER

As the COVID-19 Pandemic has powerfully demonstrated, there is a direct link between people’s income and their health, with people on lower incomes typically having poorer health outcomes than people with higher incomes. Health inequity is a prevalent issue in Australia, with many challenges due to low incomes and socio-economic disadvantage and barriers to access to health services.

Building on the findings from the ACOSS and UNSW joint report, Work, income and health inequity: A snapshot of the evidence, this webinar will explore:

What exactly does the data show about the relationship between health and socio-economic circumstance?
How could we improve the data in order to increase equitable access to health?
How can the policy choices we make now help improve the health outcomes for the most disadvantaged in Australia?
Importantly, how are the choices we are making now about COVID-19 impacting health outcomes for those with the least during this pandemic?

Our guest speakers:

Nicole Bartholomeusz, CEO of cohealth
Professor Evelyne de Leeuw, Director, Centre for Health Equity Training, Research & Evaluation (CHETRE)
Erin Miller, Manager Priority Populations and Places, Sydney Local Health District, NSW Health
Nicole Kilby, Policy Officer, National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners
Host: Dr Norman Swan, Host of RN’s Health Report, co-host of Coronacast & commentator on ABC TV’s 7.30

Living in Lockdown – Virtual Event

12:30 PM – 2:30 PM AEST | 1 September 2021

Free webinar | REGISTER

Since the beginning of the lockdown in the Greater Sydney area, community service organisations have reported a huge surge in demand and financial distress among people desperate for support. And while the Federal Government has extended support to some through the Covid Disaster Payment, most people struggling to get by on income support have been excluded. This is despite all of them being restricted from trying to find paid work due to the lockdown.

Community organisations are doing all they can to help, but we urgently need to fix income support arrangements so people on the lowest incomes are not trapped in poverty.

Join the ACOSS, NCOSS and City of Sydney to discuss the impact of lockdowns on people on the lowest incomes. The discussion will feature speakers from local community service organisations, as well as people excluded from the Federal Government’s Covid Disaster Payments, and struggling to get by on the $44 a day JobSeeker rate.

Conveners:

Dr Cassandra Goldie, CEO, Australian Council of Social Service (Co-Convenor) MC
Ms Joanna Quilty, CEO, NSW Council of Social Service
Ms Monica Barone, CEO, City of Sydney

Speakers:

Uncle Allan Murray, Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council – Welcome to Country
Ms Katherine McKernan, CEO, Homelessness NSW
Ms Ashlee Donohue, Mudgin-Gal Aboriginal Women’s Centre
Ms Frances Rush OAM, CEO, Asylum Seekers’ Centre
Michael Shreenan, Executive Officer, Counterpoint Community Services

We are committed to providing accessible and inclusive events. Live captioning services will be provided for this event. If you have any access or communication needs, please contact 0418 479 243 and we will be happy to discuss your needs.

ACOSS Policy Webinar Series

ACOSS together with Settlement Services International (SSI) present:

Insights on Newly Arrived Refugees: Women and Digital Inclusion

12:30PM – 2PM AEST | 9 September

Free | REGISTER

Join ACOSS and Settlement Services International (SSI) for this important discussion exploring insights on newly arrived refugees, focusing on women and digital inclusion. The webinar event will feature an expert panel discussion moderated by Omar Dehen, award-winning journalist for SBS World News.

Hear the perspectives of refugees themselves and their everyday experiences of welcome, participation and belonging.

Hear about the research findings on refugee women and digital inclusion among new arrivals.

Hear new data that was collected as the COVID-19 pandemic impacted communities in Australia and around the world, when digital technologies became even more important in daily life, work and study.

Learn of actions that governments, policymakers, service providers and civil society can pursue to strengthen their contribution to settlement and integration.

You will also have an opportunity to ask our panelists questions during the Q&A.

The discussion will be preceded by a presentation of the research findings from the Foundations for Belonging 2021 report, which aims to deepen understanding of the social and civic dimensions of integration in the early stages of settlement. We will be joined by two of the research co-authors Tadgh McMahon, SSI Research and Policy Manager, and Shanthi Robertson, Western Sydney University Senior Research Fellow.

Our guest speakers:

Shanthi Robertson, Western Sydney University Senior Research Fellow (research co-author)
Alison Larkins, Department of Home Affairs, Commonwealth Coordinator-General for Migrant Services
Shabnam Safa, Chair, National Refugee-led Advisory and Advocacy Group (NRAAG)
Host: Omar Dehen, award-winning journalist for SBS World News

14 October: ACOSS Policy Webinar – subscribe to the What’s On mailing list to keep up to date with event announcements

9 December: ACOSS Policy Webinar – subscribe to the What’s On mailing list to keep up to date with event announcements

Policy and Advocacy Network Events

4 November: ACOSS Community Services Policy Network (ACOSS National Members and Councils of Social Service Only). To find out more and register email [email protected]

8 November: ACOSS Housing and Homelessness Policy Network (ACOSS National Members and Councils of Social Service Only). To find out more and register email [email protected]

9 November: ACOSS Income Support and Employment Policy Network (ACOSS National Members and Councils of Social Service Only). To find out more and register email [email protected]

11 November: ACOSS Health Policy Network (ACOSS National Members and Councils of Social Service Only). To find out more and register email [email protected]

15 November: ACOSS Tax Policy Network (ACOSS National Members and Councils of Social Service Only). To find out more and register email [email protected]

16 November: ACOSS Media and Communications Network (ACOSS National Members and Councils of Social Service Only). To find out more and register email [email protected]

18 November: ACOSS Climate and Energy Policy Network (ACOSS National Members and Councils of Social Service Only). To find out more and register email [email protected]