News and Media
Here you’ll find news, announcements, and media releases from ACTCOSS and the Gulanga Program, along with major community sector news.
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Urgent action needed to address ACT’s worsening housing and homelessness crisis
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today joined with ACT Shelter in calling on the ACT and Federal Governments to take urgent action to address the worsening housing crisis in the Territory, following today’s release of a national report showing that Canberra remains the most expensive Australian city for people on low incomes […]
ACT least affordable jurisdiction for renters on low incomes
A report released today has shown that the ACT’s rental affordability is the worst in the country for people on low incomes – and continues to worsen. The Rental Affordability Index report issued jointly by National Shelter, SGS Economics & Planning, Beyond Bank and the Brotherhood of St Laurence highlighted that low-income households in […]
Gulanga Media Release: National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day – “My Dreaming, My Future”
Yesterday, the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) and the Gulanga Program observed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, an initiative of SNAICC, first held in 1988. The Gulanga Program acknowledges the significance of this day, and the strength, resilience and endurance of our babies, children and young people. Rachelle Kelly-Church, Head of the […]
ACT Budget – treading water
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed funding in today’s 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. The Budget, described by Chief Minister and Treasurer Andrew Barr MLA as “delivering for Canberrans now and into […]
Gulanga Media Release: ACT Budget – more community control needed
The ACT Council of Social Service’s Gulanga Program said that today’s ACT Budget responded to some of the calls from the ACT’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, but much more is needed to be done to improve outcomes for First Nations peoples in the ACT. The 2022-23 ACT Budget, delivered by the Chief […]
ACTCOSS calls for significant investment in community services, cost of living, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) is calling for significant investment in community services, cost of living relief and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations ahead of the release of the 2022-23 ACT Budget tomorrow. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell said: “Cost of living pressures are continuing to increase in the ACT and more people are […]
‘Desperately needed’ housing investment welcomed
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed a $30 million investment to deliver promised public housing and $57.3 million to undertake public housing repairs. These investments are part of a package announced by the ACT Government in the lead up to the ACT budget on 2 August, comprising: $30 million investment to […]
Housing ACT must be held to the same standard as private landlords
ACTCOSS today expressed its concern over proposed legislation that will weaken protections against eviction for Housing ACT tenants. The ACT Attorney General, Shane Rattenbury MLA, today released the draft Residential Tenancies Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 aimed at increasing protections for tenants living in privately owned rental properties by removing the ‘without cause’ tenancy termination provision. […]