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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CASP Wellbeing Newsletter – Issue 2 out now
Welcome to the second issue of our wellbeing newsletter! This newsletter is designed for frontline workers of the ACT Community Assistance and Support Program (CASP) – which includes volunteers and staff of subcontracted organisations. We wanted to provide additional wellbeing support in recognition of the unique challenges faced by frontline workers during the pandemic. In […]
Lack of funding to leave Canberrans with mental health conditions without support
Joint Media Release, Wednesday 11 May 2022 ACTCOSS, MHCC ACT With half of the ACT’s community sector organisations expecting worsening financial situations and no federal funding for psychosocial support programs past June 2023, Canberra’s community-managed mental health sector is facing a funding cliff. “Community sector organisations in the ACT have deep concerns about their funding […]
ACTCOSS 2022 Federal Election Forum
On 28 April 2022, ACTCOSS hosted a community sector forum with a range of candidates for the 2022 federal election. The forum was an opportunity for local dialogue with a local focus. Members heard from party/independent candidates present: Tim Hollo and Dr Tjanara Goreng Goreng (Australian Greens), Andrew Leigh (Australian Labor Party), David Pocock (Independent […]
Open Letter – Calls for the ACT Government to end forced relocations
Dear Ministers Berry and Vassarotti, Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness and Housing Services We represent a breadth of community sector organisations working with vulnerable Canberrans living in ACT public housing. Collectively, we are responsible for advocating for the interests of Canberrans living on low incomes, with disabilities, mental illness, who are elderly, experiencing […]
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 […]
ACTCOSS welcomes new moves to reduce harm from gambling
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed a significant step by the ACT Government towards reducing gambling harm by in the Canberra community. This follows today’s release by ACT Greens Leader and Attorney General Shane Rattenbury MLA of a discussion paper outlining the proposed changes to reduce harm from gambling for community consultation. […]
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 […]
Survey shows community sector underfunded, overworked and underpaid
The report ‘Carrying the Costs of the Crisis‘, undertaken by the Social Policy Research Centre at UNSW Sydney for the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and the State and Territory Councils of Social Service, including the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS), explores the experiences of thousands of community sector workers, service leaders (CEOs […]