News and Media
Here you’ll find news, announcements, and media releases from ACTCOSS and the Gulanga Program, along with major community sector news.
News Filters
Community Sector marks the end of Anti-Poverty Weeks 2023
This year, Anti-Poverty Week (APW) was held across Australia from 15 to 27 October 2022. APW was co-chaired in the ACT by the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) and VolunteeringACT and was a time for the community to learn more about the causes and realities of poverty and take collective action against disadvantage. Several […]
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children continue to be overrepresented in child protection and youth justice systems
Today’s release of the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services (RoGS) has shown that Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children continue to be overrepresented in child protection and youth justice systems. The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) calls on the ACT Government to make the recommendations from the Our Booris, Our Way report [pdf](link […]
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 […]
Full range of human rights need to be enacted by ACT Government
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed the ACT Government’s commitment to introduce a right to a healthy environment in the Human Rights Act 2004 but has called on the ACT Government to enact all Economic, Social and Cultural Rights including a right to housing. Minister for Human Rights, Tara Cheyne MLA […]
ACT Government must #RaisetheAge to 14 without carve outs or exceptions
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today cautiously welcomed a commitment to increase to the age of criminal responsibility to 12, and then to 14 within two years, through a staged response to allow for the implementation of service reforms. However, ACTCOSS expressed significant concern at the Government’s decision to include carve outs […]
Robodebt Royal Commission must deliver answers, accountability and protections
The ACT Council Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed the Robodebt Royal Commission as an important step to getting answers, accountability and better social security protections following this appalling abuse of power. Dr Emma Campbell, ACTCOSS CEO said: “ACTCOSS’s peak body, the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) led the campaign to end Robodebt and […]
End of ACT Equity to Access COVID-19 vaccination program
Media Release The ACT Council of Social service (ACTCOSS) has commended the ACT Government for its work and partnership with the community sector to deliver the ACT Equity to Access COVID-19 vaccination program. The ACT Equity to Access program, which ends on 30 June, helped people get vaccinated who faced high COVID-19 health risks and/or […]
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 […]