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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Updates for Organisations Supporting Multicultural Communities – 20 August 2021
Copy of update emailed to ACT organisations and groups supporting culturally and linguistically diverse communities. If you would like to be added to this contact list, please email [email protected] and let us know the culturally and linguistically diverse communities your organisation serves. Dear Community Leader Would you please share this information with your community? Ways […]
COVID-19 Update, 18 August 2021
To subscribe to our COVID-19 Update mailing list, please email [email protected] and we will subscribe you. If you would like to share any gaps or issues affecting your organisation, or any services that require increased funding to meet an immediate need in the COVID-19 response, please get in touch with ACTCOSS through our general email […]
ACTCOSS welcomes announcement of emergency relief service
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed the establishment of an emergency relief service by the ACT Government to ensure vulnerable Canberrans are able to access essential goods including food and hygiene items during the period of lockdown. Any Canberran who is significantly and adversely impacted by this seven-day lockdown can call […]
Media release: Poverty on the rise amidst ACT housing crisis
The number of Canberrans living below the poverty line has increased to an estimated 38,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic, including approximately 9,000 children. Canberra is the most expensive capital city to rent, and the ACT has Australia’s highest rate of rental stress among low-income households. These are among the key findings of the 2021 ACT […]
Media release: ACTCOSS welcomes tenancy protections consultation
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed the discussion paper on residential tenancy reforms released today by the ACT Government. ACTCOSS has been calling on the ACT Government to strengthen the ACT’s Residential Tenancy Act 1997 to provide increased protections for renters. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell said: “Given the ACT’s acute housing […]
Joint media release: Investment in community housing will pay dividends for ACT
This Homelessness Week, the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS), ACT Shelter and the Community Housing Industry Association ACT Region (CHIA) have welcomed research highlighting the positive economic and social returns from investing in social housing, including community housing. The research by the Australian Housing and Research Institute (AHURI) also showed major shortfalls in funding […]
Media release: Essential community sector workers locked out of ACT rental market
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today highlighted shocking research showing that high rents in the ACT are pushing essential community sector workers into serious financial stress. The research, published by the Everybody’s Home campaign for Homelessness Week 2021, found that essential community sector workers would need to use between one third and two-thirds […]
Media release: ACTCOSS welcomes expansion of ACT Government’s COVID-19 vaccination program
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed the expansion of the ACT’s COVID-19 vaccination program including extended opening hours for the Access and Sensory Clinic and the inclusion of all social and community sector frontline workers as now eligible for vaccination. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell said: “Each week 2000 COVID-19 Pfizer […]