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: Public transport must meet needs of all Canberrans
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today welcomed changes to the ACT’s transport network but cautioned that more needs to be done to support Canberrans facing transport disadvantage. Dr Emma Campbell, ACTCOSS CEO, said: “We are pleased that the Government has responded to community feedback with additional off-peak services and better connectivity and accessibility […]
Media release: ACTCOSS joins national call to Raise the Rate of JobSeeker for Good
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) joins hundreds of organisations and thousands of individuals who are calling on the Federal Government to Raise the Rate of the JobSeeker payment for good. The calls come as part of a National Day of Action today to demonstrate why we cannot turn back to the old Newstart […]
Media release: ACTCOSS condemns opaque ACT child protection system: community must have a say
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today condemned the ACT Government’s inadequate consultation on new legislation that will simplify the ability to dispense with parental consent for children to be adopted. ACTCOSS and other undisclosed partners were given only two weeks to comment on this profound legislation – that can determine whether a child […]
COVID-19 Update No.15, 19 June 2020
Key Updates Funding and ERO: ACTCOSS has received written confirmation from ACT Health (pdf) on funding including a commitment to pay Equal Remuneration Order (ERO) supplementation until the expiration of agreements in June 2022, except where funding agreements have already been re-negotiated or re-tendered to incorporate the effect of ERO increases into the wage costs […]
Media release: Social housing key to building back better in the ACT
Joint media release, ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) and ACT Shelter. The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) and ACT Shelter today called on the ACT Government to commit to investment in social housing in their plans for community recovery and rebuilding the economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr […]
COVID-19 Update No.4 for Organisations Supporting Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities, 18 June 2020
Does your organisation support culturally and linguistically diverse communities and service users? Or do you know someone from a CALD community who may need some help during COVID-19? If so, please share the information below. Let’s reach as many people as we can. The services below help all people, including temporary visa holders. […]
Media release: Let’s seize this chance for action on gambling harm
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed a policy announcement by the ACT Greens to cap pokies bets at $5 to reduce gambling harm. Dr Emma Campbell, ACTCOSS CEO, said: “The call from the ACT Greens for all pokies bets to have a $5 bet limit and a $100 load limit is a […]
Media release: ACT Government must introduce measures to help Canberrans find the best electricity offer
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today welcomed recommendations by the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) aimed at supporting ACT energy consumers to find a better electricity offer more easily. The final report of the ICRC’s retail electricity price investigation 2020-24 recommends that the ACT Government: develop a reference bill amount which consumers […]