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 joins calls for ACT Government to #RaiseTheAge of criminal responsibility
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today joined organisations from the youth, legal, human rights and Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander sectors to call on the ACT Government to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to at least 14 years old. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell, said: “ACTCOSS is […]
Media release: Extension of protections for renters welcomed, but more action is needed
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed yesterday’s announcement by the ACT Attorney General, Gordon Ramsay MLA, that the eviction moratorium for COVID-19 impacted residential tenants has been extended for three months to 22 October 2020. The Attorney General also responded to calls from ACTCOSS and other advocates to allow COVID-19 impacted households […]
Media release: Vale: Sue Salthouse – a great Canberra leader
The Board and staff of the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) express our deep shock and sadness at the tragic passing of Sue Salthouse. Sue Salthouse made an extraordinary contribution to the whole Canberra community. Sue was an important national and Canberra disability activist, the long-term Chairperson of Women with Disabilities ACT, the 2015 […]
Media release: Thousands of Canberrans face hardships as JobSeeker supplement reduced
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today expressed dismay at the decision to reduce the JobSeeker supplement leaving thousands of Canberrans facing reductions in income. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell, said: “Since the end of last year, the number of people on JobSeeker and Youth Allowance has more than doubled in the ACT. From […]
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 […]