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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ACTCOSS welcomes funding for alcohol and other drug treatment services
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today welcomed the announcement by the ACT Government that the 2022-23 Budget will include more than $13 million in additional supports for alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services in the Territory. Significant investments will go toward the continued development of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residential […]
Inquiry into Community Corrections Report ‘Missed Opportunity’
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today welcomed the release of the ACT Legislative Assembly Inquiry into Community Corrections report but called it a ‘missed opportunity’ to bring meaningful change to the ACT’s justice system. In June 2021, the ACT Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety initiated an inquiry into the […]
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. […]
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 […]
Pandemic support for vulnerable citizens must continue ahead of winter COVID wave
Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today called on the Australian Government to continue to provide free Rapid Antigen Tests to concession card holders beyond 31 July when the program is due to expire. This follows the Australian Council of Social Service’s statement that a cut to free RATs for concession […]
Consumer trust in energy providers declines
Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today said that more needs to be done to protect vulnerable utilities consumers and to rebuild trust between providers and customers. This follows data released today by Energy Consumers Australia (ECA) showing that in the ACT there is deteriorating household satisfaction with gas and electricity services […]
Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! Join the Community sector NAIDOC Week event – 5 July
Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has been working with ACT’s Community Sector in bringing the Canberra Community Sector NAIDOC Week Event for 2022, celebrating the history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The event will take place on Tuesday 5th of July between 10:45am – 2pm, in the […]
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 […]