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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ACT continues to over-incarcerate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at alarming rates
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services and the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) are today noting distressing statistics finding that the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the ACT justice system has worsened. Whilst it is promising to see an overall reduction in the total number of people in prison, […]
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 […]
Review of ACT Prison Reveals Serious Concerns
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has said that the 2022 Healthy Prison Review has highlighted serious issues with Canberra’s prison, including inadequate access to education and activities, major gaps in the provision of basic healthcare, inadequate infrastructure and inappropriate services for women The report, tabled today in the ACT Legislative Assembly by […]
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 […]
Community sector welcomes government commitment to drug law reform
Joint media release by ACTCOSS, CAHMA and ATODA The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS), the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation & Advocacy (CAHMA), and the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT (ATODA) today welcomed the ACT Government’s commitment to progressing legislation decriminalising small amounts of illicit drugs. ACTCOSS, CAHMA and ATODA support today’s […]
ACT voters call for equality, climate action and increased support for vulnerable community members
Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) shares the hope of the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) in welcoming the opportunities for change presented by the incoming Labor Government. The new government has a renewed mandate to address the community’s major concerns and reduce income inequality, solve the housing crisis, take action […]
ACTCOSS welcomes key recommendations on Justice and Community Safety
Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed some key recommendations from the Inquiry into Annual and Financial Reports 2020-21 by the ACT Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety. The Committee’s recommendations reflect ongoing advocacy by ACTCOSS on issues including the protection of human rights, improvements to our […]
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 […]