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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Media release: ACTCOSS supports call for inquiry into systemic racism in Canberra’s prison
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today called on all members of the ACT Legislative Assembly to support today’s motion by Elizabeth Kikkert MLA calling for an independent inquiry into systemic and/or institutional racism at Canberra’s prison, the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC). ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell, said: “In the wake of historic allegations […]
Media release: ACT Budget falls short on investment for struggling Canberrans
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) said that today’s ACT Budget fell short on the investments and vision required to ensure Canberrans facing disadvantage were protected as the ACT emerges from the COVID-19 crisis. The Budget includes pre-announced measures of $15.8 million to extend funding introduced during COVID-19 for mental health services, $2.6 million […]
Media release: ACTCOSS welcomes long overdue funding for Canberra’s First Nations families
ACTCOSS today welcomed a long overdue funding announcement by the ACT Government to support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and families. The funding includes $4.9 million to implement recommendations of the Our Booris, Our Way review into the over-representation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in the ACT child protection system and $1.6 […]
Joint media release: Calls for social housing to be prioritised in tomorrow’s ACT Budget
Leaders from across the housing and community sector have today written to the Minister for Housing, Yvette Berry MLA, calling for the ACT Government to match its significant investments in infrastructure projects, such as light rail and renewable energy, with similar investments in social housing. The letter, signed by the Community Housing Industry Association ACT […]
Joint media release: Federal Parliament must retain consumer protections
Care and ACTCOSS joint media release. Care Financial Counselling Service and Consumer Law Centre (Care) and the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) have made a joint submission calling on Federal Parliament to ensure important consumer protections remain in place for the benefit of all Australians. Care CEO, Carmel Franklin, said: “Our joint submission to […]
Media release: Strong stance on sexual expression rights welcome
ACTCOSS today praised the ACT Government for calling on the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and the Federal Government to allow people with disability to use their National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funds for services to support sexual expression. This follows disappointing and inappropriate statements on these issues by the Federal Minister for the NDIS, […]
Joint media release: Investment in mental health services welcomed by community sector
MHCC ACT and ACTCOSS joint media release. The Mental Health Community Coalition ACT (MHCC ACT) and the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) have welcomed today’s announcement of $15.8 million to extend funding introduced during COVID-19 for mental health programs across Canberra. The package includes investment in community-based mental health services, funding for the Police, […]
Media release: ACTCOSS welcomes extra funding for homelessness services
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed today’s announcement by the ACT Government of an additional $2.6 million for the ACT’s homelessness sector. The funding over the next four years will: Expand the Early Morning Centre to a seven day per week service Increase emergency support and accommodation to OneLink to provide tenancy […]