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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Commitment to continue funding for key community services welcomed
Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed today’s announcement to continue funding for key community sector services, but calls on the ACT Government to deliver major investments in supports for vulnerable Canberrans in the forthcoming ACT Budget. Today’s announcement of support for the ACT community sector includes: Funding to continue specialist […]
ACTCOSS welcomes ACT Government’s 2022/23 increase in funding for the ACT’s community sector
Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed the ACT Government’s announcement of a 4.43% increase in funding for the ACT’s community sector for the year 2022/23. The increase is slightly behind the increased wage costs of 4.6% and the additional 0.5% superannuation contribution that the community sector must cover next financial […]
Census population data highlights the need for major investment in the ACT community sector
Media Release The ACT Council of Social service (ACTCOSS) has called for major investment from the ACT Government and Federal Government in community services and infrastructure in light of a 20,000 person undercount of the ACT’s population. The new population figure, revealed in the release of the 2021 census results, has significant implications for the […]
ACT Government must maintain adequate utilities assistance for low-income households as costs rise
Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has called on the ACT Government to permanently increase the Utilities Concession in 2022-23 as Canberrans face a higher combined utilities bill alongside further increases in the cost of housing, food and fuel. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell said: “In recent weeks we have heard much […]
Small but welcome price relief for ACT electricity consumers as gas price rise looms
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed modest price relief for ACT electricity consumers announced by the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC). Today’s announcement will see a 1.25% reduction in ActewAGL’s regulated retail electricity standing offers for small customers in 2022-23 beginning 1 July 2022. This will translate to an annual […]
Community, business and housing leaders call on ACT Government to address housing crisis in next Budget
Joint media release, ACTCOSS, Canberra Business Chamber, Property Council ACT, ACT Shelter and the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA). Leaders of Canberra’s community, housing and business sectors have today called on the ACT Government to address the ACT’s housing crisis and commit to further action in the 2022-23 ACT Budget. In recent weeks, the ACT […]
Canberrans on low incomes hit hardest by cost of living rises as income supports removed
Canberrans living on low incomes are being hit hardest by the biggest increase in cost of living in over 20 years. Far from sharing in an economic and community recovery, more people are seeking support from ACT community sector organisations due to the rising cost of living and declining income support. These are among the […]
Social housing boost needed under ACT Government’s land supply and release program
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) will today give evidence to the ACT Legislative Assembly Committee inquiring into the ACT Government’s land supply and release program saying that more needs to be done to tackle the ACT’s housing crisis. In its testimony, ACTCOSS will call for more investment and an increased release of land […]