As an Individual Supporter
ACOSS welcomes individuals who support our vision and values to become ACOSS Supporters. ACOSS Supporters are kept in the loop with all ACOSS work via our regular supporter e-newsletter, sharing public policy and community sector updates and invitations to take action on our advocacy and campaigns. This category is FREE.
As a Member Organisation
National Members
National or multi-state organisations
Organisations that work at a national level, or in multiple states, and share our commitment to fairness, justice and equity can join ACOSS as a National Member. National Members are full voting members of ACOSS. They can nominate individuals for election to the ACOSS Board and vote in General Meetings and Board elections.
National Members participate in ACOSS policy development and advocacy opportunities including member-only meetings and caucuses on issues of concern.
Associate Members
State-based, regional, local and grassroots community organisations
Organisations that operate in only one state or territory and share our commitment to fairness, justice and equity can join ACOSS as Associate Members. Associate Members contribute to ACOSS policy development, have access to policy analysis, media and advocacy updates, and actively participate in policy forums, advocacy, events, training and more.
For more information contact the ACOSS office on 02 9310 6200 or email [email protected].
Member Benefits
| Associate Members | National Members and Councils of Social Service |
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| Voting rights and governance opportunities | ✔ | |
| Free advertising of jobs and events on ACOSS website | ✔ | ✔ |
| Access to McKinsey leadership development scholarships | ✔ | |
| Member-Only Communication Lists | ||
| ACOSS Daily Bulletin | ✔ | ✔ |
| ACOSS CEO End of Week Update | ✔ | ✔ |
| ACOSS Member Update | ✔ | ✔ |
| ACOSS National and COSS Member Update | ✔ | |
| National Policy and Advocacy Networks | ||
| ACOSS National CEO Network | ✔ | |
| ACOSS Climate and Energy Policy Network | ✔ | |
| ACOSS Community Services Policy Network | ✔ | |
| ACOSS Health Policy Network | ✔ | |
| ACOSS Housing and Homelessness Policy Network | ✔ | |
| ACOSS Income Support and Employment Policy Network | ✔ | |
| ACOSS Media and Communications Network | ✔ | |
| ACOSS Tax Policy Network | ✔ | |
| Events | ||
| National CEO networking lunches | ✔ | |
| National Member strategy days | ✔ | |
| 30% discount on all paid events | ✔ | ✔ |
| Federal Budget advocacy | ||
| Budget literacy training session | ✔ | |
| Pre-Budget caucus | ✔ | |
| Budget night briefing | ✔ | |
| Post-Budget press conference | ✔ | |
| Post-Budget event | ✔ | ✔ |
Voting rights and governance opportunities
National Members can:
- Nominate individuals for election to the ACOSS Board
- Directly elect 3 of 9 ACOSS Board members
- Vote in General Meetings and Board Elections
Councils of Social Service can:
- Nominate individuals for election to the ACOSS Board
- Directly elect 3 of 9 ACOSS Board members
- Vote in General Meetings and Board Elections
Upcoming voting rights and governance opportunities will be communicated to eligible members via the ACOSS National and COSS Member Update list. To confirm or update your organisation’s key contacts, email the ACOSS membership team.
Free advertising of jobs and events on the ACOSS website
Associate Members, National Members and Councils of Social Service can:
- List jobs available on the Jobs Bulletin
- List upcoming events on the Events Bulletin
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Access to McKinsey leadership development scholarships
Over recent years ACOSS has been able to offer organisation staff of National Members and Councils of Social Service access to a number of McKinsey & Company training scholarships for courses through the McKinsey Academy.
These have included both the Executive Leadership Program ($10,000) and the Young Leaders Forum ($4,000).
Key contacts of eligible members will receive an invitation to submit applications via the ACOSS National and COSS Member Update list. To confirm or update your organisation’s key contacts, email the ACOSS membership team.
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Member-only communications
ACOSS has a number of member-only communication lists, in addition to our public communication lists.
ACOSS Daily Bulletin
This list is open to all organisation team members of Associate Members, National Members and Councils of Social Service.
The ACOSS Daily Bulletin is a complete digest of the day’s media articles that are relevant to the community services and civil society sector. It also sets our brief summaries of all current:
- Consultations and inquiries
- Research and reports of relevance to the community services sector
The ACOSS Daily Bulletin is delivered directly to the subscriber’s inbox each morning. Email the ACOSS membership team to subscribe.
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ACOSS CEO End of Week Update
This list is open to all organisation team members of Associate Members, National Members and Councils of Social Service.
The CEO End of Week Update is sent direct from ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie, reflecting on the week just past as well as upcoming challenges and opportunities.
The ACOSS CEO End of Week Update is delivered directly to the subscriber’s inbox each Friday. Email the ACOSS membership team to subscribe.
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ACOSS Member Update
This list is open to key contacts of Associate Members, National Members and Councils of Social Service.
The ACOSS Member Update sends important communications relevant to members.
To confirm or update your organisation’s key contacts, email the ACOSS membership team.
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ACOSS National and COSS Member Update
This list is open to key contacts of National Members and Councils of Social Service.
The ACOSS National and COSS Member Update sends important communications relevant to National Members and Councils of Social Service.
To confirm or update your organisation’s key contacts, email the ACOSS membership team.
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National policy and advocacy networks
ACOSS national policy and advocacy networks are the key mechanism for eligible members to feed valuable insight into our policy development processes. The networks provide a forum for sharing information, developing evidence and experience-based policy as well as discussing collective advocacy strategy.
ACOSS National CEO Network
This network is open to the CEO or equivalent of National Members and Councils of Social Service, or a substitute if the CEO is unable to attend. Only one person from each National Member should attend these network meetings.
The National CEO Network is convened by ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie, and has proven to be a crucial and trusted space for rapid development and coordination of collective advocacy strategy among National Member CEOs. The network meets via Zoom. See the Events Bulletin for upcoming ACOSS events as they are scheduled.
For the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic the network is meeting fortnightly at 11am AEDT on a Thursday.
To confirm or update your organisation’s National CEO Network representatives, email the ACOSS membership team.
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ACOSS Climate and Energy Policy Network
This network is open to National Members and Councils of Social Service.
The ACOSS Climate and Energy Policy Network is the key forum for sharing information about climate and energy policy, and developing positions, advocacy strategies and campaigns to ensure that climate and energy mitigation and adaptation policies and measures take into account the needs of people experiencing poverty and disadvantage.
The network is convened by ACOSS Senior Advisor (Climate and Energy) Kellie Caught and meets at least 3 times per year. The network meets via Zoom. See the Events Bulletin for upcoming ACOSS events as they are scheduled.
Eligible members are welcome to appoint one or more representatives to this network. To confirm or update your organisation’s Climate and Energy Policy Network representatives, email the ACOSS membership team.
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ACOSS Community Services Policy Network
This network is open to National Members and Councils of Social Service.
The ACOSS Community Services Policy Network is the key forum for sharing information, developing evidence and experience-based policy and discussing advocacy strategy in the interests of effective community-based services and a strong and independent civil society.
The network is convened by ACOSS Senior Advisor (Community Services & Health) Dr John Mikelsons and meets at least 3 times per year. The network meets via Zoom. See the Events Bulletin for upcoming ACOSS events as they are scheduled.
Eligible members are welcome to appoint one or more representatives to this network. To confirm or update your organisation’s Community Services Policy Network representatives, email the ACOSS membership team.
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ACOSS Health Policy Network
This network is open to National Members and Councils of Social Service.
The ACOSS Health Policy Network is the key forum for sharing information, developing evidence and experience-based policy and discussing advocacy strategy in the interests of effective community-based health services; and the policy and funding settings necessary to address the social determinants of health.
The network is convened by ACOSS Senior Advisor (Community Services & Health) Dr John Mikelsons and meets at least 3 times per year. The network meets via Zoom. See the Events Bulletin for upcoming ACOSS events as they are scheduled.
Eligible members are welcome to appoint one or more representatives to this network. To confirm or update your organisation’s Health Policy Network representatives, email the ACOSS membership team.
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ACOSS Housing and Homelessness Policy Network
This network is open to National Members and Councils of Social Service.
The ACOSS Housing and Homelessness Policy Network is the key forum for sharing information, developing evidence and experience-based policy and discussing advocacy strategy to improve access to affordable, safe and secure housing for people on low incomes.
The network is convened by ACOSS Deputy CEO & Director of Policy and Advocacy Edwina MacDonald and ACOSS Senior Advisor Dr Peter Davidson. The network meets at least 3 times per year. The network meets via Zoom. See the Events Bulletin for upcoming ACOSS events as they are scheduled.
Eligible members are welcome to appoint one or more representatives to this network. To confirm or update your organisation’s Housing and Homelessness Policy Network representatives, email the ACOSS membership team.
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ACOSS Income Support and Employment Policy Network
This network is open to National Members and Councils of Social Service.
The ACOSS Income Support and Employment Policy Network is the key forum for sharing information about income support and employment policy and developing positions, advocacy strategies and campaigns for a strong social safety net, poverty alleviation and measures that support employment participation.
The network is convened by ACOSS Senior Advisor (Social Security) Charmaine Crowe and ACOSS Principal Advisor Dr Peter Davidson. The network meets at least 3 times per year. The network meets via Zoom. See the Events Bulletin for upcoming ACOSS events as they are scheduled.
Eligible members are welcome to appoint one or more representatives to this network. To confirm or update your organisation’s Income Support and Employment Policy Network representatives, email the ACOSS membership team.
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ACOSS Media and Communications Network
This network is open to National Members and Councils of Social Service.
The ACOSS Media and Communications Network shares information and advice on upcoming events and advocacy work undertaken by ACOSS and our members, from a media and communications perspective.
The network is convened by ACOSS Director of Media and Communications Monique Vandeleur and meets at least 3 times per year. The network meets via Zoom. See the Events Bulletin for upcoming ACOSS events as they are scheduled.
Eligible members are welcome to appoint one or more representatives to this network. To confirm or update your organisation’s Media and Communications Network representatives, email the ACOSS membership team.
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ACOSS Tax Policy Network
This network is open to National Members and Councils of Social Service.
The ACOSS Tax Policy Network is the key forum for sharing information, developing evidence and experience-based policy and discussing advocacy strategy for reforming the taxation system to raise public revenue for the benefits and services people need.
The network is convened by ACOSS Principal Advisor Dr Peter Davidson and meets at least 3 times per year. The network meets via Zoom. See the Events Bulletin for upcoming ACOSS events as they are scheduled.
Eligible members are welcome to appoint one or more representatives to this network. To confirm or update your organisation’s Tax Policy Network representatives, email the ACOSS membership team.
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Events
See the Events Bulletin for upcoming ACOSS events as they are scheduled.
National CEO networking lunches
National CEO networking lunches are convened for CEOs of National Members in different states throughout the year on an ad hoc basis. The CEO lunches provide opportunity for both networking and planning at the CEO level. National CEO networking lunches are currently being held virtually.
Key contacts of eligible National Members will receive invitations for upcoming networking lunches. To confirm or update your organisation’s key contacts, email the ACOSS membership team.
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National Member strategy days
ACOSS aims to convene at least 2 National Member strategy days per year for National Members and Councils of Social Service. These strategy days serve as a high-trust space for the CEOs and senior staff of eligible members to come together to share learnings and discuss advocacy strategy.
See the Events Bulletin for upcoming ACOSS events as they are scheduled.
Key contacts of eligible members will receive invitations for upcoming strategy days via the ACOSS National and COSS Member Update list. To confirm or update your organisation’s key contacts, email the ACOSS membership team.
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30% discount on all paid events
Associate Members, National Members and Councils of Social Service organisation team members receive a 30% discount on tickets to paid ACOSS events.
See the Events Bulletin for upcoming ACOSS events as they are scheduled.
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Federal Budget advocacy
ACOSS runs a detailed program of events and engagement opportunities in the lead up to and during the Federal Budget.
Budget literacy training session
This free event is open to organisation staff of National Members and Councils of Social Service.
Whether you’re participating in the Federal Budget process for the first time or just need a refresher on how to read the Budget Papers, take part in this training session.
The session will be held via Zoom, and cover how to read and analyse the Budget Papers, how the Budget is likely to run on the day and how we can best connect and advocate together.
The session generally occurs in the fortnight leading up to the handing down of the Federal Budget. See the Events Bulletin for upcoming ACOSS events as they are scheduled.
Key contacts of eligible members will receive an invitation to the Budget literacy training session via the ACOSS National and COSS Member Update list. To confirm or update your organisation’s key contacts, email the ACOSS membership team.
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Pre-Budget caucus
This free event is open to organisation staff of National Members and Councils of Social Service planning to be in Canberra (for lock up and budget advocacy) to gather together, share knowledge, and meet those new to the Budget process.
The caucus generally occurs in the afternoon of the day the Federal Budget is handed down. See the Events Bulletin for upcoming ACOSS events as they are scheduled.
Key contacts of eligible members will receive an invitation to the Pre-Budget caucus via the ACOSS National and COSS Member Update list. To confirm or update your organisation’s key contacts, email the ACOSS membership team.
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Budget night briefing
This free event is open to organisation staff of National Members and Councils of Social Service.
ACOSS staff and members come together via Zoom to share notes and initial impressions post-Budget.
The briefing generally occurs on the night of the Federal Budget being handed down. See the Events Bulletin for upcoming ACOSS events as they are scheduled.
Key contacts of eligible members will receive an invitation to the Budget night briefing via the ACOSS National and COSS Member Update list. To confirm or update your organisation’s key contacts, email the ACOSS membership team.
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Post-Budget press conference
This free event is open to spokespeople of National Members to take part in a joint press conference, generally occurring the day following the hand down of the Federal Budget.
Key contacts of eligible members will receive an invitation to the Post-Budget press conference via the ACOSS National and COSS Member Update list. To confirm or update your organisation’s key contacts, email the ACOSS membership team.
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Post-Budget event
This event is open to the public, with organisation staff of Associate Members, National Members and Councils of Social Service receiving a 30% discount on tickets.
The Post-Budget event is a key annual event for civil society and the community services sector, providing a critical opportunity for attendees to receive briefings on key budget measures and their likely impacts on people experiencing poverty and inequality. The event provides an opportunity for the Treasurer to address the community services sector directly and for the community sector to engage in conversation following the release of the Federal Budget.
Bursaries and scholarships for members to attend are available.
See the Events Bulletin for upcoming ACOSS events as they are scheduled.
Key contacts of eligible members will receive an invitation to the Post-Budget event via the ACOSS National and COSS Member Update list. To confirm or update your organisation’s key contacts, email the ACOSS membership team.