The ACT community sector is once again navigating significant change and disruption driven by global events and rising costs.
In recent weeks, ACTCOSS has been in contact with the ACT Government to highlight the impacts the current fuel crisis is having on people experiencing poverty and community organisations, including through their workers and volunteers. I have been heartened by the Government’s willingness to listen to the sector’s concerns and consider practical solutions. I have discussed the issue with Ministers Berry and Orr, and with the new Director General of HCSD, Kareena Arthy.
At a national level, ACOSS, our national peak body, is coordinating input from the state and territory COSS’s and has created opportunities for us to speak directly to the federal Minister for Social Services, Minister Plibersek, about the pressures facing community services across the country.
Many of you have been in touch directly to tell us about the challenges you are experiencing. To strengthen our advocacy, I encourage you to complete our short fuel crisis survey. Your responses will help us build an evidence-based picture of what is happening on the ground. I strongly encourage you or your colleagues to complete it (information in the next section).
ACTCOSS is compiling data, information and direct quotes from services to provide to the ACT Government, ACOSS and the federal government. This information is vital to ensuring decision makers fully understand the role the community sector plays in maintaining the well-being, safety and security of our community, particularly during times of crisis.
We know the community sector is essential to a coordinated and effective response to disruption. This was clearly demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when close cooperation between the sector and government enabled rapid identification of emerging needs and agile responses. The community sector can pivot quickly, and meet people where they are, something often difficult for government systems to do at pace.
Today, the increases in fuel costs are driving up local demand for the community sector’s services as cost of living pressures grow rapidly. Simultaneously, these same pressures are pushing up the cost of delivering services. Volunteers and front-line workers are reporting that fuel costs and daily expenses are affecting their ability to help others. Organisations are reporting that their existing fuel allowances are not keeping pace. Rising food and supply costs are compounding these challenges.
The measures outlined by governments are not enough to offset these pressures for the community sector.
While the situation remains uncertain, what is clear is that the impacts of the current global fuel and cost‑of‑living crisis will be felt for years. It is unknown, however, whether the effects will get worse or better. ACTCOSS is working to position the sector to work with Government to plan ahead for both worst- and best-case scenarios, and ensure services are resourced to continue supporting people who are already under significant financial strain.
ACTCOSS has a couple of other surveys currently open. These are our State of the Sector survey and another about disaster recovery. I appreciate that completing surveys eats into a day when you are already pressed, but input from our members is the lifeblood of our advocacy. I humbly ask and strongly encourage you to complete the relevant surveys and/or pass them to a colleague to complete. | 
